Luke Braniff, a 26-year-old resident of Mason City, Iowa, pleaded guilty on March 3, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City to being a felon in possession of ammunition. Braniff had previous convictions for two counts of lascivious acts with a child in 2017 and sex offender registry violations in 2018, 2023, and 2025, all in Iowa. These prior convictions made it illegal for him to possess firearms or ammunition.
During the plea hearing, Braniff admitted he knowingly possessed ammunition despite being prohibited from doing so due to his criminal history. Law enforcement discovered his illegal possession while investigating allegations that Braniff had sent explicit sexual messages to a minor via Snapchat and requested nude images from the child.
Braniff is currently held by the United States Marshal Service and will remain in custody until sentencing. Sentencing will take place before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand after completion of a presentence report. If convicted, Braniff could face up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release following imprisonment.
