A 20-year-old man from Burlington, Iowa, has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm. Garnett Adam Propst pleaded guilty on June 26, 2024, to two counts of aiding and abetting false statements during the purchase of a firearm and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
On September 12, 2023, while under high-risk supervision for a previous state felony offense, Propst obtained a Beretta handgun despite being prohibited from possessing firearms. He used the gun on September 30, 2023, firing multiple shots into a residence in Cedar Rapids. Following this incident, Propst transferred the firearm to another felon, Lawrence Lamar Newell.
United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams sentenced Propst in Cedar Rapids. In addition to his prison term, Propst will serve three years of supervised release. Federal sentences do not include parole.
Propst remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until he is transported to a federal facility.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin and investigated by several agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that collaborates with law enforcement and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence. The program aims to enhance community safety through strategic enforcement priorities and support for community-based organizations focused on violence prevention.