An Omaha resident, Rafael Rashad Adams, 41, has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The sentencing took place on August 6, 2025.
Court documents show that in September 2024, Council Bluffs police officers found Adams unconscious in the driver’s seat of a vehicle with front-end damage near South Expressway and 30th Avenue in Council Bluffs. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of about 31.5 grams of marijuana, scales, drug packaging materials, a stolen loaded nine-millimeter pistol, and a loaded 15-round magazine. Adams has prior convictions related to drug offenses, unlawful possession of firearms, and driving under the influence.
Following his prison sentence, Adams will serve three years of supervised release. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal for the Southern District of Iowa announced the sentencing. The investigation was conducted by the Council Bluffs Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through cooperation among law enforcement agencies and communities. In May 2021, the Department of Justice introduced an updated strategy for PSN focused on building trust within communities, supporting organizations that work to prevent violence before it happens, setting targeted enforcement priorities, and tracking results. More information about Project Safe Neighborhoods can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psn.
