Sioux City Man Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

Terrance Payne Hayes, age 40, from Sioux City, sentenced March 25, 2025, to more than seven years in federal prison.  Hayes received the prison term after an October 16, 2024, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon, drug user and person convicted of domestic violence.

Hayes’ unlawful possession of a firearm and drug use were discovered by law enforcement during an investigation into a July 2023 home invasion and homicide.  The investigation revealed an individual entered Hayes’ residence, armed with knives, to steal back a stolen firearm Hayes possessed.  Hayes was repeatedly stabbed and repeatedly shot the invader with the stolen firearm, ultimately killing the invading individual. 

Hayes has a history of violence that the sentencing court described as “stunning.”  He has repeatedly been convicted of domestic abuse assault and assault.  He has repeatedly been convicted of a myriad of other crimes involving violent, dangerous, and freighting behavior.  For example, confronting his one-time girlfriend’s father and breaking the family’s gate; throwing a brick through the window of a home; threatening people with a gun, even causing a 13-year old bystander to fear for herself and her sister; “taunt[ing]” a security guard with a broken bottle; stalking his girlfriend at her workplace; threating a witness stating: “After the court date I’m going to come kill everyone in your house;” threating to knock a victim unconscious; banging repeatedly on the windows of a victim’s home; throwing a rock through the window of a victim’s home; slapping and holding the neck of his wife; and stalking a female taxi passenger.  Additionally, Hayes has been convicted of possession of controlled substances, attempted burglary, operating a motor vehicle without owner’s consent, and numerous other offenses. 

Hayes was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 90 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Timothy Duax stated, “Individuals like Mr. Hayes who repeatedly assault and threaten the citizens of our district will be caught, prosecuted, and punished. I compliment the Sioux City Police Department, the Woodbury County Attorney’s Office, and the ATF for their fine work which resulted in a dangerous criminal being removed from our streets.”         

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Hayes is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department, the Woodbury County Attorney’s Office, and the United States Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  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 number is 23-4068.

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