Felon and Drug User in Possession of a Stolen Firearm Sentenced to Prison

A convicted felon and admitted user of a controlled substance who possessed a stolen weapon with an obliterated serial number was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in federal prison.

Antonio Karlos Thigpen, 35, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea on January 15, 2016, to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  He was prohibited from possessing a weapon and ammunition because he was a convicted felon and used marijuana.

The evidence showed that Thigpen was in a verbal argument with others within Cedar Rapids city limits while armed with a loaded Glock pistol and under the influence of marijuana.  At his plea, he admitted to having two felony convictions and being a regular user of marijuana.  At sentencing, the Court noted that Thigpen created a very dangerous situation by his actions.

Thigpen was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  He was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed.  He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system. Thigpen 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 Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force. 

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

The case file number is 15-CR-102.

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