A Coralville man was sentenced on March 25 to 13 years in federal prison after being found guilty of possessing a firearm as a felon and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at trial, Ricardo Wiley Steward, age 46, illegally possessed a loaded, stolen pistol at a residence in Coralville in February 2025. Steward also sold marijuana between 2024 and 2025 in the Iowa City area. As a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing firearms. The case record shows that Steward has several prior convictions related to violence, including assaults.
After a two-day trial ending on October 28, 2025, the jury found Steward guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. However, the jury did not find him guilty of possessing the firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.
Following his prison term, Steward will be required to serve four years under supervised release. There is no parole available under the federal system.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa announced the sentencing. The investigation was conducted by the Iowa City Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings together law enforcement agencies and communities with the goal of reducing violent crime and gun violence.
