A Silvis, Illinois man was sentenced on March 12 to five years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement and federal prosecutors to address gun violence and enforce firearm restrictions on individuals with felony convictions.
Court documents show that John Able Rubingh, Sr., age 45, fled from police at a convenience store and dropped a loaded pistol before struggling with an officer. Authorities said Rubingh was prohibited from having firearms due to previous felony convictions, including a 2022 conviction for felony eluding in Scott County, Iowa. At the time of his arrest, he was also on parole for a drug charge in Rock Island County, Illinois.
After serving his prison sentence, Rubingh will be required to complete three years of supervised release. Federal sentencing guidelines do not allow parole.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman announced the sentence and credited the Davenport Police Department with investigating the case. The prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which brings together law enforcement agencies and community organizations to reduce violent crime and gun violence. The Department of Justice launched an updated violent crime reduction strategy under PSN in May 2021 focused on building trust within communities, supporting prevention programs, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring results.
