Sioux City Man Sentenced for Possession of a Firearm as a Felon and Drug User

A Sioux City man who barricaded himself inside his residence, with a firearm when sheriff’s deputies attempted to serve a protection order was sentenced June 21, 2024, to more than 2 years in federal prison.

Gabriel Krusen, age 46, from Sioux City, received the prison term after a February 13, 2024, guilty plea to one-count of possession of a firearm by a felon and drug user.

Evidence in the case revealed Woodbury County Sheriff’s deputies attempting to serve a protection order on Krusen were met with resistance and evasion as Krusen either fled when he observed law enforcement, or would barricade himself inside of his residence with barrels, barbed wire, and other obstacles. Krusen also kept a shotgun near the barricaded door.

On the night of July 31, 2023, Sheriff’s Deputies were able to take defendant into custody on multiple driving violations and served him with the protection order. During the subsequent execution of a search warrant, paraphernalia, methamphetamine, marijuana, and the firearm were seized.

On February 3, 2024, while Krusen was on pre-trial release, deputies with the Woodbury County Sheriff’s office were dispatched to disturbance at Krusen’s residence, where an assault had taken place.  Members of the SWAT team were called to assist with the arrest of the defendant because of his past, and used an armored vehicle to approach Krusen.  Krusen eventually surrendered without further incident. The defendant was arrested and charged with domestic abuse assault- injury or mental illness. These charges are pending in the Woodbury County, Iowa District Court.

Krusen was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 34 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.

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.

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

The case was investigated by Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office and 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 23-4069.

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