ALTA, IA (northwestiowanow) – An Alta man has pled guilty in federal court to illegally possessing a firearm.
29-year-old Taxavier Ford entered the plea on August 11th in Sioux City. Ford has prior convictions in Indiana and Buena Vista County for drug possession and being a felon in possession of a firearm—making it illegal for him to own any firearm.
The charge stems from a traffic stop in Storm Lake back in March. Officers pulled Ford over for illegal window tint, and during the stop, they smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle. A search revealed a loaded firearm in Ford’s waistband, which he admitted to possessing.
Ford now faces up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Sentencing will be scheduled after a presentence report is completed. Ford remains free on bond.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods and Operation Take Back America, federal initiatives aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence.
The investigation was led by the Storm Lake Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kraig Hamit.
