A man from Council Bluffs, Iowa, Rafael Partida, 47, received a sentence of 46 months in federal prison for the charge of firearm possession as a convicted felon. The sentence was pronounced on April 15, 2025.
According to court records, Partida tried to escape law enforcement officers while carrying a loaded pistol on May 19, 2024. The incident unfolded when an Iowa State Patrol Trooper attempted a traffic stop on Partida, who was riding a motorcycle. The pursuit ended when Partida crashed, ran on foot, abandoned his backpack, and was subsequently arrested. Authorities found a loaded handgun and 23 additional rounds of ammunition inside the backpack.
Upon completion of his prison term, Partida will be subjected to a three-year supervised release as there is no parole in the federal system.
Richard D. Westphal, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, announced the sentencing. The Iowa Department of Public Safety—Division of Narcotics Enforcement and the Iowa State Patrol jointly investigated the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a collaborative effort aiming to decrease violent crime and gun violence, ultimately enhancing community safety. Initiated on May 26, 2021, the program emphasizes building community trust, supporting violence-prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating the outcomes.
For more details on Project Safe Neighborhoods, interested parties can refer to Justice.gov/PSN.