A Waterloo man has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Daijon Stokes, 32, received the sentence following his February 10, 2025, guilty plea.
According to information presented at sentencing, Stokes was stopped by an officer from the Waterloo Police Department on December 3, 2023. During the stop, he fled in his vehicle and reached speeds of nearly 90 mph through a residential area before crashing into another car carrying a woman and two young children. After the crash, Stokes attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended by officers. A loaded handgun, marijuana, and other drugs were found in his car.
United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams sentenced Stokes in Cedar Rapids to 104 months’ imprisonment and ordered him to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. Federal parole is not available.
“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.”
Stokes will remain in U.S. Marshal’s custody until he is transferred to federal prison.
The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt. The investigation involved a Federal Task Force including the Waterloo Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, and Cedar Falls Police Department.
