Four Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Gun Conspiracy

Daniel Powell, age 25, from Lake City, Iowa, Tylor Boyd, age 26, from Homer, Nebraska, Colton Novak, age 27 from Dakota City, Nebraska, and Matthew Lynam, age 32 from Sioux City, Iowa, received prison terms, ranging from just over four years to 15 years for their roles in a conspiracy to steal and possess guns.          

Daniel Powell, Tylor Boyd, Colton Novak, and Matthew Lynam were each convicted of one count of conspiracy to possess and sell stolen firearms, one count of possession of a stolen firearm and one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

Evidence presented by the United States in court revealed Boyd, Powell, Novak and Lynam were all unlawful users of controlled substances, and that Boyd and Lynam were convicted felons.  Additionally, the evidence revealed Boyd, Powell, Novak traveled to Greene County, Iowa broke into a shop there, and stole five guns, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and other valuables.  The men tried to dispose of the guns, trading some for methamphetamine. 

Lynam joined the conspiracy after the break-in and participated in the crime by, among other things, attempting to protect to conspiracy by, on or about February 5, 2018 firing a round with one of the stolen guns to scare people who were in a dispute with his codefendants in Dakota County Nebraska.

Even after the conspiracy, Lynam continued his dangerous behavior.  On or about February 14, 2018, defendant robbed two men just moments apart. He fired the handgun to terrorize his victims and bystanders. Defendant also shouted the name of his gang while engaging in the robberies and while fleeing the crime scenes.

Powell, Boyd, and Novak were sentenced on March 11, 2019, and Lynam was sentenced on June 17, 2019, in United States District Court in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Powell was sentenced to 99 month’s imprisonment, Boyd was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment, Novak was sentenced to 50 months imprisonment, and Lynam was sentenced to 180 months imprisonment.  Powell, Boyd, Novak and Lynam were ordered to make restitution of $87,713.86.  Powell, Boyd, Novak and Lynam each must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

All are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a cooperative local, state, and federal program aimed at the enhanced prosecution of gun and violent crimes.  The case was investigated by the United States Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department, the Dakota County (Nebraska) Attorney’s and Sherriff’s Offices, the Woodbury County (Iowa) Attorney’s and Sherriff’s Offices, the Greene County (Iowa) Attorney’s and Sheriff’s Offices.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild. 

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

The case file numbers are 18-4045 and 18-4051.

Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.