Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
Daniel Smith, a 38-year-old resident of Fort Dodge, Iowa, has pleaded guilty to illegal possession of firearms. The plea was entered on May 20, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City. Smith had prior convictions for Unauthorized Possession of Offensive Weapons in 2017 and Dominion/Control of Firearm/Offensive Weapon by a Felon in 2022, both within Iowa. These previous offenses legally barred him from possessing firearms.
During the plea hearing, Smith acknowledged that he possessed one rifle and two shotguns in November 2024 in Fort Dodge. He stated that another individual had provided him with these firearms for cleaning and storage purposes. On November 16, 2024, law enforcement responded to a shots fired call at Smith's residence and found evidence indicating a shotgun had been discharged. A subsequent search warrant executed on November 21 led to the seizure of three guns: a .22 rifle, a .410 shotgun, and a 16-gauge shotgun. Smith admitted to having received the firearms and testing two of them by firing.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that unites various levels of law enforcement with communities to combat violent crime and gun violence while enhancing neighborhood safety. In May 2021, the Department launched a strategy to reduce violent crime by reinforcing PSN through principles such as building community trust and legitimacy, supporting violence prevention organizations, prioritizing strategic enforcement efforts, and evaluating outcomes.
Smith's sentencing will be scheduled following the preparation of a presentence report before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Until then, Smith remains under the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing. He faces up to 15 years' imprisonment along with potential fines reaching $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release post-imprisonment.
Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde is prosecuting the case which was investigated by both the Fort Dodge Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
