A Waterloo man with a history of felony convictions has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm. Chad James Wolf, 44, pleaded guilty on July 7, 2025, to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, in February 2025, Wolf was involved in an incident where he harassed his ex-girlfriend by repeatedly visiting her home without permission and making unwanted phone calls. During a search of Wolf’s residence in Waterloo, law enforcement officers found a firearm that had been stolen from the ex-girlfriend’s house. Officers also discovered items that indicated drug distribution activity.
Wolf has previously been convicted of twenty-five crimes, thirteen of which are felonies. His record includes offenses such as sexual abuse, going armed with intent, and failing to register as a sex offender on three occasions.
Chief Judge C.J. Williams of the United States District Court sentenced Wolf to 53 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole available in the federal system.
“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 officials.
Wolf remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until he is transferred to federal prison. The investigation was conducted by the Waterloo Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Nagin prosecuted the case.
