Cedrick Dequn Willingham, a 39-year-old resident of Davenport, was sentenced on March 12 to 90 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.
Willingham’s sentencing follows an incident in which he fled from officers in Bettendorf after they attempted to stop his vehicle. During a search of his residence in August 2024, law enforcement found a firearm, a drum magazine, and numerous rounds of ammunition. Willingham is legally barred from possessing firearms or ammunition due to previous felony convictions, including a 2025 conviction for possession of a controlled substance, third or subsequent offense, according to public court documents.
After serving his prison term, Willingham will be subject to three years of supervised release. There is no parole available in the federal system.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa announced the sentence. The Scott County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings together law enforcement and communities with the goal of reducing violent crime and gun violence. The Department of Justice launched an updated violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021, focusing on building community trust and legitimacy, supporting organizations that prevent violence before it occurs, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
