A Dubuque man, Kentrell Vantrice Powell, was sentenced to over twelve years in federal prison for attempting to discharge a firearm at a police officer. The sentencing took place on May 6, 2025, following Powell's guilty plea on November 20, 2024, to possession of a firearm by a felon.
The incident occurred on August 22, 2024, when Dubuque police officers encountered Powell at a gas station. According to the plea agreement and sentencing hearing details, Powell was intoxicated and had shoplifted liquor bottles from the station. When approached by officers, he resisted arrest and repeatedly reached into his back pockets despite commands to stop. An officer reported hearing a sound indicating the action of a firearm and saw Powell holding a small pistol pointed at him. Examination revealed that the pistol had misfired with an obliterated serial number.
Powell was sentenced by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams in Cedar Rapids to 150 months' imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. In the federal system, there is no parole.
Currently held in United States Marshal’s custody, Powell awaits transport to a federal prison.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy under PSN on May 26, 2021.
Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist prosecuted the case with investigations conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives alongside the Dubuque Police Department.