Cedar Rapids Man Receives Second Conviction in Federal Court for Unlawfully Possessing a Gun After Armed Home Invasion to Steal Money and Drugs

A Cedar Rapids man who went with an associate to rob individuals of their money and drugs using a firearm was convicted by a jury October 24, 2019, after a 4-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

Carl McArthur, age 38, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was convicted of one count of being in possession of a firearm, specifically a Taurus .45LC/.410 caliber “Judge” handgun after having been convicted of a 2003 misdemeanor domestic abuse assault in Linn County, Iowa, and a 2009 federal, felony conviction for possessing a firearm as a drug user and as a person with a prior conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.  The verdict was returned on October 24, 2019, following about nine hours of jury deliberations.

The evidence at trial showed that on March 17, 2018, McArthur and an associate entered a residence on the southwest side of Cedar Rapids with firearms to rob the occupants of the house of any money or methamphetamine that was in their possession.  Three of the occupants of the house testified that McArthur and his associate forced their way into the residence, assaulted them, and threatened to shoot them and pour hot grease on them in an effort to get money and drugs from them.  One of the occupants called 911, and officers from the Cedar Rapids Police Department responded within minutes.  The officers found McArthur inside the residence, and his associate was outside.  The unknown associate fled the scene, leaving behind the ski mask he wore to conceal his identity.  Upon searching the residence officers found a Taurus .45LC/.410 caliber “Judge” handgun, a 9mm handgun, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  McArthur remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  McArthur faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley Corkery and Patrick Reinert and was investigated by Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force.  The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.