An Iowa resident, Ian Jon Duffy, was sentenced to over seven years in federal prison for illegal firearm possession. The 35-year-old from Independence pleaded guilty on October 10, 2024, to two counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and one count of possession of an unregistered national firearms destructive device.
In October 2023, law enforcement stopped Duffy due to concerns about his wellbeing and found him with multiple loaded firearms. His prior domestic conviction barred him from owning firearms. After the stop, he had his wife acquire a Glock for him and later possessed several firearms at home, including an altered sawed-off shotgun.
United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams sentenced Duffy in Cedar Rapids to 87 months' imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. Federal sentences do not allow parole.
Duffy remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until transfer to a federal prison. Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin prosecuted the case, which involved investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Waterloo Police Department; and Cedar Falls Police Department.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aiming to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. Launched on May 26, 2021, PSN's strategy emphasizes community trust, supporting preventive organizations, strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.