A Cedar Rapids man has been sentenced to eleven years in federal prison for illegally possessing firearms. Kyler Goettsch, 28, pleaded guilty on May 31, 2024, to one count of being a prohibited person in possession of firearms. According to his plea, Goettsch admitted that in November 2023 he had two pistols despite previous convictions for four felonies and a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
At the sentencing hearing, evidence was presented that Goettsch was arrested following a brief standoff with law enforcement. During the incident, he did not comply with officers’ commands and police drew their weapons before taking him into custody.
United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand handed down the sentence in Cedar Rapids. Goettsch received 132 months in prison and must also serve three years of supervised release after completing his sentence. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings together law enforcement agencies and community organizations to reduce violent crime and gun violence. The Department of Justice launched an updated violent crime reduction strategy on May 26, 2021, focusing on building trust within communities, supporting prevention efforts by local organizations, setting targeted enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes.
Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
