Felon who Possessed a Firearm that was Used in a Robbery Sentenced to Prison

A man who possessed a firearm as a felon was sentenced on April 23, 2026, to 60 months in federal prison.

Blake Allen Ott, age 23, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 10, 2025, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon.

In October 2024, while searching Ott's home, law enforcement officers found a loaded gun in his bedroom. They also found cash and marijuana around the home. Evidence showed that Ott was involved in distributing controlled substances. Prior to October 2024, Ott gave the gun to another person who used the gun to rob a home in Dubuque. Ott was aware the gun would be used in a robbery. Ott's prior convictions include participation in a riot and robbery.

Ott was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Ott was sentenced to 60 months' imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

Ott is being held in the United States Marshal's custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin and Dan Chatham and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Dubuque Drug Task Force.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.plLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..

The case file number is 25-CR-01038.

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