Charles City man sent to federal prison for illegal gun possession

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A Charles City man who possessed a firearm as a felon and domestic abuser was sentenced Tuesday to more than four years in federal prison.

Dashaune Terrell Burns-Johnson, age 32, received the prison term after an Oct. 23, 2024, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that on May 22, 2024, Burns-Johnson brought drugs and a loaded firearm to his neighbor’s house in Charles City. Burns-Johnson pulled the firearm out of his backpack and pointed it at someone in the house.

Burns-Johnson had previously been convicted of felony domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury, second offense, and had been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, specifically, domestic abuse assault, according to court records. Those convictions made it illegal for him to possess a firearm.

Burns-Johnson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand, to 57 months in prison. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

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

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Charles City Police Department.