CEDAR RAPIDS – A man whose criminal history includes attempted first degree murder, attempted armed robbery, and being an accessory after the fact to armed robbery, was sentenced today to more than 3 years in federal prison.
Edward Whitney, age 39, from Iowa Falls, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 17, 2017, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon.
At the guilty plea, Whitney admitted he possessed a Remington Arms .22 caliber rifle in June 2017, at his home in Iowa Falls. Information disclosed at the sentencing hearing showed that police went to Whitney’s residence after receiving a report of a domestic assault. During the investigation, officers located the .22 caliber rifle hidden under the couch cushions.
Whitney was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade. Whitney was sentenced to 41 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Whitney is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Lightfoot and investigated by the Iowa Falls Police Department.
WHITNEY, EDWARD RAY:
