A Monticello, Iowa man has been sentenced to one year in federal prison for possessing firearms despite being prohibited from doing so. Jonathan Michael Clark, 32, pleaded guilty on September 3, 2025, to a single count of possession of firearms by a prohibited person.
Court records show that Clark applied for a weapons permit in 2018 but was informed by the sheriff’s office that he was not allowed to possess guns. In June 2024, officers entered Clark’s residence with a warrant and observed ammunition. A subsequent search led authorities to discover six firearms inside his home. Investigators determined that at least three of the guns came from Clark’s grandmother; she purchased two of them herself.
Chief Judge C.J. Williams of the United States District Court in Cedar Rapids sentenced Clark on February 19, 2026, to 12 months and one day in prison. Following his release from prison, Clark will be subject to three years of supervised release. Federal sentencing guidelines do not allow parole. Clark remains free on bond until he is required to report to the Bureau of Prisons.
The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
“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.
