SIOUX CITY – A Clarion man and three other Iowans have been sentenced to federal prison for a federal firearms conspiracy.
Charles Westfall, Jr, age 32, from Clarion, Iowa, Donald Rundall III, age 42, from Stratford, Iowa, Jami Stupka, age 29, from Ames, Iowa and Leah Hanson, age 32, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received prison terms, ranging from over 8 years to time served for their roles in a conspiracy to steal, possess, and traffic firearms.
Donald Rundall III and Leah Hanson were each convicted of one count of conspiracy to possess a stolen firearm, one count of possession of a stolen firearm and one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Jami Stupka was convicted of one count of conspiracy to possess a stolen firearm, and Charles Westfall, Jr., was convicted of one count of possession of a stolen firearm.
Evidence presented by the United States in court revealed before on or about June 17, 2017, Donald Rundall, III and Leah Hanson identified M.C.’s home to Charles Westfall, Jr. and Jami Stupka as containing valuables including firearms. On or about June 17, 2017, defendant Donald Rundall, III, using a crowbar broke into M.C.’s Humboldt County home and garage. Defendants, Charles Westfall, Jr., Donald Rundall, III, Jami Stupka, and Leah Hanson stole valuables including a Mossberg 535 12 gauge shotgun. The weapon and other valuables were concealed at Livermore Mini Storage Units, Leah Hanson’s home as well as other places. Defendants, Charles Westfall, Jr. and Jami Stupka, took a stole TV and the stolen firearm to be bartered, sold, and dispose of to B. H. in exchange for methamphetamine. Charles Westfall, Jr. and Jami Stupka, paid Donald Rundall, III and Leah Hanson in methamphetamine because they expected to obtain methamphetamine in exchange for the TV and firearm. B.H. subsequently sold the firearm to a felon, who could not have lawfully purchased a firearm.
Rundall was sentenced on May 1, 2020, Hanson was sentenced on July 8, 2020, Westfall was sentenced on June 26, 2020, and Stupka was sentenced on June 19, 2020, in United States District Court in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Rundall was sentenced to 96 month’s imprisonment, Westfall was sentenced to 104 months’ and 29 days’ imprisonment, and Stupka and Hanson were each sentenced to time served. Rundall, Hanson, Westfall, and Stupka each must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Westfall and Rundall are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the United States Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Humboldt County and Wright County Sheriff’s Offices, and the Eagle Grove, Iowa Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mikala M. Steenholdt and Forde Fairchild.
