Victor Howard, a 28-year-old resident of Sioux City, was found guilty by a jury in federal court on charges related to firearms possession and false statements. The conviction followed a three-day trial, concluding with the jury’s decision after four hours of deliberation.
Howard faced two counts of possessing firearms as an unlawful user of controlled substances and two counts of making false statements during firearm purchases. Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Howard admitted to shooting at an individual who approached his residence over a dispute. He also confessed to law enforcement that he was using marijuana and Xanax illegally at the time.
Investigations by Sioux City Police highlighted that Howard had purchased 25 firearms between November 2021 and September 2022, many after the initial shooting incident. During these purchases, Howard falsely certified that he was not an unlawful user of controlled substances.
Sentencing will be determined by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand following the preparation of a presentence report. Howard is currently in custody awaiting sentencing and faces up to 15 years in prison along with three years of supervised release.
The case involved investigations by multiple agencies including the Sioux City Police Department, Sgt. Bluff Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons is prosecuting the case.
