Chicago Man Sentenced to 96 Months in Federal Prison for Firearm Charge

DAVENPORT, Iowa - A Chicago man was sentenced on Thursday, June 27, 2024, to 96 months in federal prison for being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

According to public court documents, Nicolas Oneal Garrett, 35, was arrested by the Iowa City Police Department after they were notified that Garrett had taken a firearm from his ex-girlfriend's residence in Chicago and was on his way to Iowa City on a bus. Garrett was in possession of the firearm when he was apprehended. Garrett had previously been convicted of multiple felonies and a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence and was prohibited from possessing firearms.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Garrett will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Iowa City Police Department.

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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.