A Cedar Rapids man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his involvement in a shooting incident. Anthony Isiah Pennell, 28, pleaded guilty on June 30, 2025, to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
According to information presented at the sentencing hearing, the incident occurred on October 9, 2024, in a mall parking lot in Cedar Rapids. After an argument involving someone with Pennell and another individual, Pennell took a gun from a woman’s purse and fired at the other person. The gunfire struck the back of the intended target’s car as well as another parked vehicle. Officers arriving at the scene observed Pennell fleeing and saw him dispose of the firearm by throwing it into a storm drain. At the time, Pennell was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction related to assault in 2018.
United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams handed down the sentence of 180 months’ imprisonment along with three years of supervised release following his prison term. There is no possibility of parole in the federal system.
“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,” according to information provided by officials.
Additionally, this prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aimed at using resources from the Department of Justice to address illegal immigration issues, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect communities from violent crime.
Pennell will remain in United States Marshal’s custody until he is transferred to federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and investigated by multiple agencies including local police as well as federal authorities.
