SIOUX CITY – An man armed with an illegal gun and marijuana led police on a wild chase through North Iowa and was sentenced to six years in federal prison.
Ahmed Abdullahai Khalif, 23, from Owosso, Michigan, was sentenced on October 23, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa, for illegally possessing a firearm.
Khalif pled guilty on March 30, 2023, to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Khalif was a user of marijuana and was previously convicted of Illegal Sale/Use of a Financial Transaction Device, a felony, in the Michigan District Court for Shiawassee County, on June 21, 2019. Both prohibit a person from possessing a firearm.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that on October 19, 2022, during a traffic stop, Khalif possessed a 9mm Taurus pistol and marijuana while being a felon. Prior to the traffic stop, an Iowa State Patrol trooper clocked the vehicle Khalif was driving on Interstate 35 in Franklin County, Iowa, in excess of 100 mph. After the trooper activated his emergency lights, Khalif led the trooper on a high-speed pursuit into Wright County, at times traveling toward oncoming traffic. Ultimately, Khalif intentionally rammed the trooper’s vehicle and fled on foot a short distance before being apprehended. The vehicle Khalif was driving came back as stolen out of Massachusetts. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement found the 9mm Taurus pistol and marijuana. Khalif has an extensive criminal history involving thefts of motor vehicles.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Khalif was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment and must serve a three year term of supervised release following imprisonment. His sentence was reduced by one year and five days due to time served on related state convictions. There is no parole in the federal system. Khalif remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa DCI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
