Multi-time Felon Sentenced For Stealing Weapons From Waterloo Home

A federal judge in Cedar Rapids has sentenced an Illinois man to eight years in prison for stealing over a dozen firearms from a house in Waterloo.  29-year old Justin Barnes, of Rock Island, Illinois was sentenced last week. He pleaded guilty last November to possession of stolen firearms and possession of firearms as a felon. According to court hearings, Barnes took the guns from an unoccupied home in Waterloo in June 2024 with the help of his then-girlfriend, Jena Wells, who acted as a lookout. Officials say the two took the guns to Wells’ home, and Barnes tried to sell them. Barnes has been previously convicted on six felonies in Iowa, including thefts, forgeries, and a gun offense. He was last sentenced in March to over three years in prison. In addition to the sentence, he must serve three years of supervised release.