Armed Drug Dealer Sentenced to Over Fourteen Years in Federal Prison

“Dangerous and Out of Control Man” Caught by Police With Meth and Two Guns – Police Had to Use Tasers to Take Him Into Custody

A man described as “dangerous and out of control” by the judge was sentenced November 26, 2019, to more than fourteen years in federal prison.

Paul Hoff, age 40, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a June 13, 2019 guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of firearms in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime.

Information at sentencing showed that on February 18, 2019, law enforcement was attempting to arrest Hoff on an outstanding arrest warrant.  Officers located Hoff in a Chevy Tahoe.  Hoff drove the vehicle towards a car containing law enforcement officers, before swerving and getting stuck on a snowbank.  As officers approached the Tahoe on foot, Hoff continued spinning the wheels in an attempt to get unstuck.  Hoff refused commands to exit the vehicle and officers had to deploy tasers to take him into custody.  Officers found over a 138 grams of methamphetamine and two handguns in the car.

In sentencing Hoff, the District Court noted his long criminal history and prior behavior.  Hoff’s first involvement with the criminal justice system came at the age of 10.  He has previously been convicted of assault, thefts, interference with official acts, burglary, OWI, disorderly conduct for punching a man in the face several times, drug trafficking, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, and escape.  Additionally, on August 17, 2018, Hoff fled from law enforcement officers in a car, driving recklessly and dangerously, and striking a parked car.  Hoff also tossed a handgun from the car while eluding the police.  Officers eventually found a shotgun and a bulletproof vest in the trunk of the car.

Hoff was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Hoff was sentenced to 178 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Hoff is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.