Harrison County Couple Sentenced for Illegal Possession of Firearms

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced that on July 16, 2020, Walter Greenwood Stokes, 34 years of age, and his wife, Brittany Leah Lynne Stokes, 34 years of age, were sentenced to prison for possession of firearms while prohibited. Walter Stokes was sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, while Brittany Stokes was sentenced to a year and a day in prison followed by three years of supervised release. A third defendant, Laura Edith Chedester of Omaha, Nebraska, is awaiting sentencing on August 20, 2020.

The Stokes were convicted by jury on March 3, 2020. Walter Stokes was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and Brittany Stokes was found guilty of being a drug user in possession of a firearm and of falsifying a government document in the acquisition of a firearm.

The jury heard evidence that Woodbine Police Department along with the Logan Police Department served a search warrant on the Stokes’ residence located in Woodbine, Iowa. The search by law enforcement recovered 25 firearms, and over 14,000 rounds of ammunition. Five loaded semi-automatic assault type rifles were located in the master bedroom of the home. Evidence showed that Walter Stokes had built several of the assault weapons from parts obtained by Brittany Stokes. Evidence was also heard by the jury about an extensive history of drug use by the couple and that Walter Stokes had felony convictions dating back to 2003.

The investigation was conducted by the Woodbine Iowa Police Department, Logan Iowa Police Department, Council Bluffs Police Department, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.