DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Northern District of Iowa

For Immediate Release

Thursday, June 30, 2016
Kevin W. Techau
, United States Attorney
Contact: Timothy Duax

Jury Convicts Sioux City Man of Three Federal Firearm Offenses

A man who illegally possessed a firearm was convicted by a jury on June 30, 2016, after a two-day trial in federal court in Sioux City.

Brandon Hayes, 34, from Sioux City, IA, was convicted of one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, one count of possession of a firearm by a domestic abuser and one count of possession of a firearm with an altered serial number. The verdict was returned this morning following about three hours of jury deliberations.

Hayes was previously convicted of 5 felonies and six crimes of domestic violence. Hayes unlawfully possessed a 12 gauge shotgun (with an obliterated or altered serial number) which he ultimately sold to an undercover ATF agent in Sioux City on June 23, 2014.

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Hayes remains in custody of the United States Marshal and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Because of his extensive criminal history, Hayes faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, $300 in special assessments, and up to five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Sioux City Police Department.

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

The case file number is 14-4082.

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Kansas City Field Division