Source: United States Department of Justice News
DAVENPORT, Iowa – An Iowa City man, John Curtis Vest-Walker, age 35, was sentenced yesterday in federal court to 37 months in prison for Drug User in Possession of a Firearm, False Statement During a Purchase of a Firearm, and Conspiracy. Vest-Walker was ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow his prison term and immediately pay $300 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.
Law enforcement identified Vest-Walker as a subject in a large-scale straw purchasing investigation in December 2020, when he appeared at multiple search warrant locations seeking return of his firearms. On December 10, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Vest-Walker’s residence and seized one firearm. Vest-Walker admitted to law enforcement he was a marijuana user. Investigation revealed between May 2020 and January 2021, Vest-Walker purchased 13 firearms, but was only in possession of one firearm. Law enforcement recovered seven firearms purchased by Vest-Walker in the possession of felons, drug users, and others who were prohibited from possessing them. One firearm was recovered following a shots-fired incident. Law enforcement determined that Vest-Walker conspired with others to violate federal firearms laws by purchasing firearms for others and falsifying ATF Form 4473, indicating that he was the actual purchaser. Vest-Walker knew he was purchasing the firearms for others and immediately following the purchases he transferred the firearms to others. Vest-Walker pleaded guilty to the charges on December 6, 2021.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa City Police Department investigated the case.