A Dubuque man, Kenneth Moore, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison on July 2, 2025. Moore, aged 51, was found guilty of possessing a firearm as a felon by a jury verdict on January 16, 2025.
The trial evidence revealed that on August 4, 2023, at approximately 4:00 a.m., Moore engaged in an argument on the porch of a Dubuque residence. During the confrontation, two individuals attempted to intervene and de-escalate the situation. As they pushed Moore away, he discharged a pistol towards the residence. The bullet narrowly missed two people and penetrated the front wall before lodging in the back living room wall. Following this incident, Moore fled but was apprehended by officers twelve days later on August 16, 2023. A search of his vehicle led to the recovery of the pistol used during the altercation. Due to his eleven prior felony convictions, Moore was prohibited from possessing firearms.
United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams sentenced Moore in Cedar Rapids to 180 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. In the federal system, parole is not available.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. On May 26, 2021, an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy was launched by the Department to strengthen PSN’s core principles: fostering community trust and legitimacy, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
Moore remains in United States Marshal’s custody until his transfer to a federal prison.
The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jared Manternach. The investigation involved the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Dubuque Police Department.
