A Clinton man, Caleb J. McManus, was sentenced on March 26 to 60 months in federal prison for possessing firearms as a felon.
The sentencing follows the discovery of 11 firearms at McManus’s residence in Clinton by law enforcement in January 2025. Of these firearms, six were handguns and one had an obliterated serial number. Federal law prohibits McManus from possessing any firearms due to his prior felony convictions.
Court documents show that at the time of the offense, McManus was on probation following a 2024 conviction for fraudulent purchase of firearms from the Iowa District Court for Clinton County. He also has previous convictions for assault with a firearm.
After serving his prison sentence, McManus will be required to complete a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole available under the federal system.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa announced the sentencing and said that the Clinton Police Department investigated the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which brings together law enforcement and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence. The Department launched an updated violent crime reduction strategy on May 26, 2021, focused on fostering trust within communities, supporting organizations working to prevent violence, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring results.
