Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
A Waterloo man with a lengthy criminal record has been sentenced to over four years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon. Chad James Wolf, 44, pleaded guilty on July 7, 2025, to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, in February 2025, Wolf was reported for harassing an ex-girlfriend by repeatedly visiting her home and making persistent phone calls. Law enforcement officers searched his residence in Waterloo and discovered a firearm that had been stolen from the ex-girlfriend’s house. Authorities also found items associated with drug distribution during the search.
Wolf has previously been convicted of twenty-five crimes, thirteen of which were felonies. His prior convictions include sexual abuse, going armed with intent, and three counts of failing to register as a sex offender.
United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams sentenced Wolf in Cedar Rapids to 53 months in prison. After completing his sentence, Wolf will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole available in the federal system.
"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," according to officials.
Wolf remains in United States Marshal’s custody pending transfer to federal prison.
The investigation was conducted by the Waterloo Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Nagin prosecuted the case.
