Federal Court Sentences Fort Madison Man on Charge of Being Felon in Possesion of a Firearm

DAVENPORT, IA - On October 1, 2015, Richard Tommy Williams, age 28, of Fort Madison, Iowa, was sentenced by United States Senior District Court Judge James E. Gritzner to 77 months in prison on the charge of possession of a firearm as a felon, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Williams was also ordered to serve two years of supervised release, and to pay $100 towards the Crime Victims Fund.

On March 14, 2015, Keokuk, Iowa, Police Department officers responded to a traffic accident and identified Richard Tommy Williams as the involved driver. After an investigation at the scene, Williams was advised he was under arrest on the charge of Operating While under the Influence (OWI). Williams attempted to flee the scene, and physically resisted arrest. During the struggle, Williams grabbed the handgun grip of one of the officer’s guns, and began pulling the gun towards him. After several officers were able to gain control of Williams, officers found a loaded Taurus .380 caliber handgun in Williams’ sweatshirt pocket. Williams has two prior felony convictions in Wisconsin.

Williams pleaded to the charge of possession of a firearm as a felon on July 8, 2015.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Keokuk Police Department, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the Project Safe Neighborhood initiative.