Drug User Possessing a Weapon off to Prison

A man who possessed a handgun while intoxicated and had marijuana and cocaine within his system was sentenced today to five years in federal prison.

Darius Omar Akheen Rhone, age 27, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 16, 2015, guilty plea to a single count Indictment of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  Rhone’s prohibited status was established by his illegal drug use.

At the guilty plea, Rhone admitted his drug use and possession of the weapon and ammunition on September 1, 2015.  At the sentencing hearing, the facts revealed that Rhone, while intoxicated at a local bar, frequently displayed a .22 caliber pistol kept in his waistband and had threatened to hurt someone.  The loaded magazine was in the weapon but a round was not chambered.  Further investigation revealed Rhone was in possession of a small quantity of marijuana and later tested positive for both marijuana and cocaine use.

Rhone was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade to 60 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed and he must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Rhone is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Steve Young and investigated by the Dubuque Police Department. 

Court file information at: https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 15-CR-01025.

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