A woman from Palos Hills, Illinois, Daniella Maldonado-Paraday, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison following her guilty plea in December 2024 to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. She had illegally purchased several firearms for her boyfriend, a convicted felon prohibited from owning guns. Maldonado, who herself admitted to being a drug user, claimed she was not using marijuana unlawfully when buying the firearms.
Chief Judge C.J. Williams of the United States District Court sentenced Maldonado in Cedar Rapids. In addition to her prison term, she will serve a three-year supervised release following her incarceration. It’s important to note that the federal system does not allow parole.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by several law enforcement agencies including the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Marion Police Department, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a collaboration among law enforcement and community groups aimed at reducing violence and gun-related crimes. This initiative, which strengthened its strategy in May 2021, focuses on fostering community trust, supporting violence-prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the effectiveness of these actions.