Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
Lawrence Moore, a 37-year-old resident of Bode, Iowa, has been sentenced to 96 months in federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm. The sentencing took place on September 4, 2025, following Moore’s guilty plea in April to the charge of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Moore’s prior convictions include armed robbery and three counts of aggravated battery in Cook County, Illinois. These convictions legally barred him from possessing firearms or ammunition.
During court proceedings, evidence was presented that Moore had engaged in negotiations to buy and sell firearms with others. In the fall of 2024, he communicated with an undercover agent about purchasing or trading a firearm and discussed selling marijuana. On November 18, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Moore’s residence and found a fully loaded Smith & Wesson Model 59 semi-automatic pistol hidden inside a mattress in his bedroom. Authorities also seized marijuana and drug paraphernalia from the home.
The case was presided over by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Moore received a sentence of eight years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole available in the federal system. He remains in custody awaiting transfer to federal prison.
According to the press release: "This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results."
