SIOUX CITY – An Iowa man with a long criminal history was sentenced September 20, 2019, to more than 9 years in federal prison.
On April 25, 2019, Brandon Esquibel, age 26, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty to felon in possession of a firearm. Esquibel was previously convicted of a felony controlled substance violation in 2012 and possession of a controlled substance 3rd or subsequent offense in 2017, both in the Iowa District Court.
Evidence at the detention, change of plea, and sentencing hearings revealed that on October 30, 2018, defendant fled from law enforcement, grabbed a gun from his waistband and discarded it as he fled. During the foot pursuit, defendant ran into an officer, grabbing the handrails of the officer’s rifle. Esquibel continued to flee from officers and was subsequently tased, and taken into custody. Law enforcement later determined that the firearm defendant possessed – a loaded pistol — had been reported as stolen.
Esquibel has a substantial criminal history, including an assault conviction and involvement in an assault committed while he was in custody. In addition, Esquibel has a history of fleeing from law enforcement, and violating previous grants of release from custody.
Esquibel was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Esquibel was sentenced to 110 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Esquibel is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
