Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
A Cedar Rapids man, Kirby Joe Truesdell, 48, was convicted by a federal jury for possessing a firearm after having five prior felony convictions and a misdemeanor domestic abuse conviction. The verdict followed a two-day trial in Cedar Rapids and was reached after just over an hour of jury deliberations.
According to evidence presented at trial, Truesdell was found in an unoccupied residence. When officers from the Cedar Rapids Police Department arrived to investigate, they found Truesdell coming out of the garage. He did not cooperate with police and was taken into custody. Officers discovered a loaded revolver inside a backpack that was in his possession. Truesdell’s previous felony convictions include two counts of operating while intoxicated (third offense), burglary, theft, and forgery. He also has a prior conviction for assault causing bodily injury related to domestic abuse with enhanced penalties.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, which is a national initiative led by the Department of Justice to address illegal immigration, eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime. More information about Operation Take Back America can be found at https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline.
This prosecution also falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which brings together law enforcement agencies at all levels with community partners to reduce violent crime and gun violence. In May 2021, the Department of Justice introduced a strategy to strengthen PSN through principles such as building trust in communities, supporting organizations that prevent violence, setting focused enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
Sentencing for Truesdell will take place before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J., following preparation of a presentence report. He remains in custody pending sentencing and faces up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release after imprisonment.
Assistant United States Attorney Emily Nydle and Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Hudson are prosecuting the case. The investigation involved the Cedar Rapids Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Linn County Sheriff’s Department, US Marshal Service, and Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation.
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