An Iowa City resident, Javeyel Johnta Jones, 22, has been sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon. This decision follows his identification at the scene of a May 2023 shooting in Muscatine, where his fingerprint was found on a recovered gun. Further investigation in 2024 revealed Jones had another firearm in West Liberty.
Jones had previously been convicted of the same offense in the Iowa District Court for Johnson County and was on probation when federally indicted. After serving his prison sentence, he will undergo three years of supervised release, as there is no parole option within the federal system.
The announcement came from United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa. The case was investigated by both the Muscatine County Police Department and the Muscatine County Drug Task Force.
This legal action is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The initiative emphasizes building trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, focusing on strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes. For more details about PSN, visit Justice.gov/PSN.