Michael Turner, a 35-year-old resident of Fort Dodge, Iowa, has been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm. The sentencing took place on July 1, 2025, in Sioux City federal court.
Turner had admitted during a plea hearing on February 5, 2025, that he possessed a Glock .45 caliber pistol between March 1 and March 29, 2024. At the time, he was aware of his prior conviction for a crime punishable by more than one year of imprisonment and his status as an unlawful user of controlled substances. On March 29, 2024, authorities stopped Turner and found him with the firearm. Ballistic evidence later confirmed that this weapon was used in a shooting on March 8, 2024, in Fort Dodge. Surveillance footage also placed Turner at the scene of the incident.
United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand presided over Turner’s sentencing. In addition to the prison term, Turner is required to serve two years of supervised release after completing his sentence. Federal parole is not an option; thus Turner remains under the custody of the United States Marshal until his transfer to a federal facility.
This case is linked to Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration among law enforcement agencies and community groups. Launched by the Department on May 26, 2021, PSN focuses on building community trust and legitimacy while supporting organizations dedicated to violence prevention.
Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde prosecuted Turner’s case following investigations by several agencies: Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Dodge Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
