Fort Dodge Man to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearms

Daniel Smith, 38, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was sentenced on October 8, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City.  On May 20, 2025, Smith pled guilty to one count of illegal possession of firearms.  Smith was previously convicted of Unauthorized Possession of Offensive Weapons, in 2017, and Dominion/Control of Firearm/Offensive Weapon by a Felon, in 2022 both in Iowa.  These convictions prohibit a person from possessing any firearm. 

Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that in November 2024, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, Smith possessed three firearms (rifles/shotgun) which had been provided to him by another person.  On November 16, 2024, law enforcement went to Smith’s residence for a shots fired call and observed evidence of a shotgun being fired.  During a follow-up search warrant on November 21, 2024, at Smith’s residence, law enforcement seized 3 firearms, a .22 rifle, a .410 shotgun, and a 16-gauge shotgun.  Smith admitted he had received the firearms and had fired two of the firearms to test their functioning.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Smith was sentenced to 39 months’ imprisonment and must serve a term of 3-years of supervised release following imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Smith remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.  

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Fort Dodge Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.     Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 24-3052.  Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.