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1/22/24
An Iowa City man has been sentenced to federal prison after police say he brandished a handgun during an argument in an apartment complex parking lot.
43-year-old Sanchez Lavelle Watson was given a ten year sentence on Thursday on a conviction for Felon in Possession of Ammunition.
According to public court documents and sworn testimony during sentencing, Watson was identified by law enforcement after Iowa City Police were dispatched to the Villa Garden Apartments on Cross Park Avenue last April in reference to a man waving a gun and threatening others. Officers located a vehicle that was known to have left the scene and initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of 1st Avenue and Lower Muscatine Road. Watson was identified as the driver prior to him fleeing from police in the vehicle. The vehicle eventually stopped, and Watson proceeded to flee on foot. Nearby the stopped vehicle, officers located a fanny pack containing a handgun with an extended magazine and marijuana. The fanny pack was known to be associated with Watson.
As a convicted felon, Watson is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Watson will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
If convicted on all original charges against him, Watson would have faced a maximum of 34 years in prison.