A man from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been sentenced to over nine years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm. Trajuan Laroy West, 28, was sentenced after his guilty plea to possessing a firearm as a prohibited person on November 14, 2024. His sentencing took place in Cedar Rapids, overseen by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams.
The incident occurred on January 3, 2024, when Iowa State Patrol Troopers stopped West's vehicle for speeding. During the traffic stop, marijuana and a gun with a slide reported stolen from Arkansas were found. West, prohibited from possessing firearms due to three prior felony drug-related convictions and a misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence, was sentenced to 112 months in prison. Following this, he is required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. In the federal system, parole is not an option.
This sentencing is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program aiming to reduce violent crime and gun violence through cooperation between law enforcement and communities. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a strategy to strengthen the program with core principles including fostering community trust and setting strategic enforcement priorities.
Until his transfer to federal prison, West is in the custody of the United States Marshal. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and investigated by several law enforcement agencies, including the Iowa State Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.