Alden Man Who Illegally Possessed a Firearm Sentenced to 71 Months in Federal Prison
Peterson was a user of marijuana and meth, and a convicted felon
SIOUX CITY, Utah — Seth Peterson, 30, from Alden, Iowa, was sentenced on January 5, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City, to 71 months’ imprisonment. Peterson pled guilty on August 4, 2023, to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Peterson was previously convicted of Aggravated Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Aggravated Domestic Abuse Assault with the Intent or Display a Weapon, and Extortion.
At the hearings, evidence showed that an investigation into Peterson for vandalism led to search warrants for his social media, and ultimately his residence. At his residence, law enforcement found a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun with an obliterated serial number and drug paraphernalia. Peterson admitted to knowingly possessing the firearm, being a felon at the time he possessed the firearm, and being a user of methamphetamine and marijuana, all of which prohibit him from possessing a firearm.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Peterson was sentenced to 71 months’ imprisonment and must serve a term of supervised release of three years following the imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Peterson remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
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.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-3007. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
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