United States of America v. Bruce Jovon Williams

A man who possessed a firearm as a felon pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Bruce Jovon Williams, age 34, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was convicted of one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.



Evidence at a prior hearing showed that, on August 28, 2024, in Cedar Rapids, a woman reported to law enforcement that Williams had physically assaulted her and hit her with a gun. Law enforcement officers found and approached Williams. When Williams saw the officers, Williams ran into a nearby backyard and hid in a small garage. He refused to leave the garage and was apprehended by a K9. In the backyard, near the small garage, law enforcement officers found a firearm. Williams has two felony convictions for theft in the second degree.



This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.



Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Williams remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Williams faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years' imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.



The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, comprised of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the Marion Police Department.