Lennox Vanvacter, a 32-year-old resident of Fort Dodge, Iowa, has been sentenced to federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm. A jury convicted Vanvacter on October 10, 2024, after a three-day trial in Sioux City federal court. The verdict came after approximately seven hours of jury deliberation.
The case stemmed from an incident on July 30, 2023, when law enforcement officers in Fort Dodge and Webster County observed Vanvacter driving a vehicle. Officers attempted to stop him due to an active arrest warrant related to a previous eluding charge. Upon activation of emergency lights and sirens, Vanvacter led officers on a high-speed chase lasting about 30 minutes. During the pursuit, speeds reached over 70 mph within Fort Dodge and exceeded 100 mph outside city limits in Webster County. Officers deployed spike strips that eventually stopped the vehicle. After stopping, Vanvacter attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended shortly thereafter.
A loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol was found near the end of the vehicle's path. Video footage from patrol car cameras confirmed that Vanvacter had thrown the firearm from his vehicle during the chase. This incident added to his history of leading police on high-speed pursuits.
United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Vanvacter to 144 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release without parole options in the federal system. He remains in custody awaiting transfer to a federal facility.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021, focusing on building community trust and legitimacy, supporting preventive community-based organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.