Daniel Smith, 38, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, pled guilty on May 20, 2025, to one count of illegal possession of firearms, in federal court in Sioux City. Smith was previously convicted of Unauthorized Possession of Offensive Weapons, in 2017, and Dominion/Control of Firearm/Offensive Weapon by a Felon, in 2022 both in Iowa. These convictions prohibited Smith from possessing firearms.
At the plea hearing, Smith admitted that in November 2024, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, he possessed one rifle and two shotguns which had been provided to him by another person to clean/store. On November 16, 2024, law enforcement went to Smith’s residence regarding a shots fired call and observed evidence of a shotgun being fired. During a follow-up search warrant on November 21, 2024, at Smith’s residence, law enforcement seized 3 guns, a .22 rifle, a .410 shotgun, and a 16-gauge shotgun. Smith admitted he had received the firearms and had fired two of the firearms to test their functioning.
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, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Smith remains in custody of the United States Marshal and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Smith faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Fort Dodge Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.