Hawkeye Reporter

A Dubuque man, Kenneth Moore, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison on July 2, 2025. The sentencing followed a jury verdict on January 16, 2025, which found Moore guilty of possession of a firearm by a felon.

The trial presented evidence that on August 4, 2023, Moore engaged in an argument on the porch of a Dubuque residence. During the altercation, two individuals tried to push him away to de-escalate the situation. As this occurred, Moore fired a pistol toward the residence. The bullet narrowly missed two people before penetrating the front wall and lodging in the back living room wall. After firing the shot, Moore fled. He was arrested on August 16, 2023. Authorities recovered the firearm used in the incident from his car. At that time, Moore was prohibited from possessing firearms due to eleven prior felony convictions.

Moore received his sentence from United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams in Cedar Rapids. Alongside his prison term of 180 months, he will serve a three-year supervised release period post-incarceration. There is no parole option available under federal law.

This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative uniting various law enforcement levels with communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence while enhancing neighborhood safety. Since May 26, 2021, PSN has been part of a broader strategy by the Department of Justice focusing on community trust and legitimacy, support for violence prevention organizations, strategic enforcement priorities, and results measurement.

Until his transfer to federal prison is arranged, Moore remains in United States Marshal’s custody.

The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jared Manternach with investigations conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Dubuque Police Department.