A man from Des Moines, Bryan Keith Rainey, Jr., age 20, has been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm while being a drug user. The sentencing took place on February 6, 2026.
Court records and evidence presented at the sentencing indicate that Rainey and two others fired at least 36 rounds at a Des Moines home on December 16, 2024. The residence was occupied by two children and their mother. At least 11 bullets struck the house, but no injuries were reported.
Three days after the incident, police found Rainey in a parking lot and attempted to arrest him. He fled from officers but was apprehended. A loaded AR-15 style pistol was found in his pants; ballistics matched this weapon to shell casings recovered at the scene of the shooting. That same day, authorities searched Rainey’s home and discovered ammunition along with items related to drug use.
After serving his prison sentence, Rainey will be placed on supervised release for three years. Federal sentences do not allow for parole. His federal sentence will run partially consecutively to a state sentence he received for charges connected to the December shooting.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman for the Southern District of Iowa announced the sentencing. The Des Moines Police Department conducted the investigation, and Assistant United States Attorney Kristin M. Herrera prosecuted the case.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which coordinates law enforcement agencies and community organizations with the aim of reducing violent crime and gun violence. In May 2021, an updated strategy was launched focusing on building trust within communities, supporting violence prevention groups, prioritizing targeted enforcement actions, and evaluating results through measurable outcomes. More details about PSN can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psn.
