Felon Found Hiding in a Closet During Search Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm

A two-time felon who possessed multiple handguns and methamphetamine was sentenced today to ten years in federal prison.

Eric Allen Boyer, age 36, from Hiawatha, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 2, 2018 guilty plea to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

In a plea agreement, Boyer admitted he was hiding in a bedroom closet in a house on Washington Avenue SE while the Cedar Rapids Police Department conducted a search there in April 2017.  During the search of the bedroom where Boyer was found, officers seized a pistol, a stolen revolver, approximately 50 grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale, syringes, and drug packaging.  Boyer had the firearms, at least in part, to protect the drugs from being stolen.  Boyer had previously been convicted of arson in the second degree in 2015, and of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in 2010.

Boyer was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade.  Boyer was sentenced to 120 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.  Boyer is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

The case was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham.