Iowa City Man Sentenced to Prison for Felon in Possession of a Firearm

DAVENPORT, Iowa — On Tuesday, December 29, 2020, United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey sentenced Darnell McConnell II, age 36, of Iowa City, to 100 months in prison for Felon in Possession of a Firearm announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Following his prison term, McConnell was ordered to serve three years of supervised release as well as pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

On August 16, 2019, law enforcement executed search warrants on two Iowa City residences associated with McConnell. At a residence on Taylor Drive, officers recovered three firearms: a .45 caliber pistol, a .40 caliber rifle, and a 12-gauge shotgun. Additionally, hundreds of packages of THC-infused edibles and vape pens were found. At a residence on Davis Street, officers recovered two additional firearms: a .38 caliber revolver and a .223 caliber rifle. Law enforcement also recovered multiple firearm magazines capable of accepting 30 and 40 rounds of ammunition. A review of McConnell’s phone pursuant to a search warrant revealed videos of him at a shooting range in possession of numerous firearms—five of which appear identical to the firearms recovered from the two search warrants. McConnell has previously been convicted of firearms-related and drug distribution felonies offenses in Cook County, Illinois.

This matter was investigated by the Iowa City Police Department Street Crimes Action Team. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.