Iowa woman sentenced to probation for illegally purchasing firearms linked to violent crimes

Iowa woman sentenced to probation for illegally purchasing firearms linked to violent crimes
Handcuffed woman Photo 27767918 © Kelpfish | Dreamstime.com

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A 22-year-old Cedar Rapids woman was sentenced Wednesday to five years of federal probation for lying on federal forms to illegally purchase firearms that were later linked to multiple crimes, including shootings and a robbery.

Jasmin Alexandria Fox pleaded guilty in June to one count of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. Federal prosecutors said that between August and September 2023, Fox bought multiple guns from federally licensed firearms dealers, falsely claiming they were for her personal use. Instead, she provided the firearms to others, one of whom was a felon.

The guns Fox purchased were tied to two separate “shots-fired” incidents and a robbery in Cedar Rapids, according to court documents. One firearm was recovered during a struggle involving a felon, while another was found in the possession of a juvenile.

Fox was sentenced by Chief United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. In addition to probation, her sentence underscores the gravity of her actions, which prosecutors said enabled firearms to fall into the hands of individuals prohibited from possessing them.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole L. Nagin handled the prosecution as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through coordinated enforcement and community engagement.