Hawkeye Reporter

Victor Howard, a 28-year-old from Sioux City, was found guilty by a jury in federal court after a three-day trial. Howard faced charges for possessing firearms as an unlawful user of controlled substances and making false statements during firearm purchases. The jury reached its verdict after approximately four hours of deliberation.

During the trial, evidence revealed that Howard was involved in a shooting incident at his residence over a dispute. He admitted to law enforcement that he had been smoking marijuana and illegally using Xanax at the time of the incident. Furthermore, investigations showed that Howard purchased 25 firearms between November 2021 and September 2022, often making false claims about not being an unlawful user of controlled substances.

Howard's sentencing will be determined by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand after a presentence report is prepared. Following the verdict, Howard was taken into custody by the United States Marshal and will remain detained until sentencing. He could face up to 15 years in prison and three years of supervised release.

The case involved multiple agencies including the Sioux City Police Department, Sgt. Bluff Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons is prosecuting the case.