Press Releases
CEDAR RAPIDS MAN CHARGED WITH BEING FELON AND DRUG USER WITH RIFLE
November 5, 2009
Contact: Bob Teig
United States Attorney Matt M. Dummermuth announced today that CECIL HOWELL, age 39, formerly from Marion and now from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has appeared in federal court on one count of being a felon and an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm. The charge is contained in an Indictment filed September 17, 2009, in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.
The Indictment alleges that, on or about August 29, 2007, HOWELL possessed a .22 rifle when he was a felon and an unlawful user of cocaine and marijuana.
Under federal law, it is illegal for an unlawful drug user to possess guns or ammunition. There is no such prohibition under Iowa law.
If convicted, HOWELL faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
HOWELL first appeared November 2, 2009, in federal court in Cedar Rapids and was released yesterday on conditions including home confinement with GPS monitoring. HOWELL’s trial is set for January 4, 2010.
As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bob Teig as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a cooperative local, state, and federal program aimed at the enhanced prosecution of gun crimes. The case was investigated by the Marion Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
