A man from Dubuque has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for firing a pistol during a dispute. The sentencing took place on July 2, 2025.
Kenneth Moore, 51, residing in Dubuque, Iowa, received this sentence following a jury’s guilty verdict on January 16, 2025, for one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
During the trial, evidence revealed that on August 4, 2023, at approximately 4:00 a.m., Moore engaged in an argument with another person on the porch of a residence in Dubuque. As the confrontation escalated, two individuals tried to intervene and de-escalate the situation by pushing Moore away. In the process, Moore discharged a pistol toward the residence, narrowly missing two individuals. The bullet penetrated the front wall of the house and became lodged in the back living room wall. Following this incident, Moore fled the scene. On August 16, 2023, he was arrested, and authorities discovered the firearm used in the incident in the vehicle he was driving. Moore was prohibited from possessing firearms due to his prior convictions totaling eleven felonies.
The sentencing was pronounced by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams in Cedar Rapids. Moore was sentenced to 180 months in prison and is required to serve an additional three years of supervised release following his prison term. Notably, there is no possibility of parole within the federal system.
This case forms part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a national initiative that unites law enforcement and community members to combat violent crime and gun-related offenses, ultimately aiming to enhance community safety. In May 2021, the Department reinforced its violent crime reduction strategy within PSN, emphasizing trust-building, support for community organizations, strategic enforcement, and rigorous evaluation of outcomes.
Currently, Moore is being held in the custody of the United States Marshal awaiting transfer to a federal correctional facility.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards alongside Special Assistant United States Attorney Jared Manternach, with investigations conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Dubuque Police Department.
