Torion Tamaz Byrd, a 25-year-old resident of Waterloo, Iowa, was sentenced on April 8, 2025, to over three years in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm. He was convicted on November 1, 2024, following a trial where he was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The trial revealed that Byrd was caught with a handgun during a traffic stop conducted by Waterloo police. The stop led to the arrest of the car's passenger, who had an outstanding warrant. Police discovered a loaded handgun with an extended magazine in the glove compartment, and subsequent forensics revealed Byrd's DNA at three locations on the weapon.
U.S. District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand presided over Byrd's sentencing in Cedar Rapids. Byrd was given a 37-month prison sentence, which will be followed by a three-year supervised release. It was noted that parole is not available in the federal system.
The conviction resulted from efforts under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program which aims to bring together law enforcement and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence. The strategy underscores building trust within communities, supporting preventive community organizations, and setting strategic enforcement priorities.
Byrd is currently in the custody of the United States Marshal and will remain so until his transfer to a federal prison.
Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt prosecuted the case. It was investigated by a Federal Task Force, which included the Waterloo Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.