CEDAR RAPIDS – A woman who lied before the grand jury regarding another person’s possession of firearms pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids to the crime of perjury.
Danielle Ayers, age 41, from Atkins, Iowa, was convicted of one count of committing perjury before a federal grand jury. At the plea hearing, Ayers admitted she lied under oath in the grand jury. When asked if she had seen another particular person with a firearm in the past five years, she said no. Ayers admitted that was a lie and that she had, in fact, seen that person with a firearm in the last five years.
“Lying to a federal grand jury goes to the heart of the criminal justice system,” said United States Attorney Kevin W. Techau. “We will vigorously prosecute any person we find knowingly lies to the grand jury.”
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Ayers remains subject to home confinement and electronic monitoring pending sentencing. Ayers faces a possible maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, $100 in special assessments, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney C.J. Williams and was investigated by the Marion Police Department, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.
