CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A 23-year-old Dubuque man was sentenced this week to five years in federal prison for illegally possessing a loaded firearm that he provided to another person knowing it would be used in a robbery.

Blake A. Ott (also referred to as Brett Ott) pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). U.S. District Judge Leonard T. Strand imposed the 60-month prison term, followed by three years of supervised release. Federal sentences do not include parole. 

The case originated from a law enforcement search of Ott’s Dubuque home in October 2024. Officers found a loaded gun in his bedroom, along with cash and marijuana. Prior to the search, Ott had given the firearm to another individual who used it to rob a home in Dubuque. Ott also has prior convictions for participation in a riot and robbery. 

Federal prosecutors pursued the charge due to Ott’s felony record and the gun’s connection to a violent crime. The sentence reflects U.S. Sentencing Guidelines considerations, including his criminal history, the firearm’s link to another felony, and his acceptance of responsibility through the guilty plea.

After prison, Ott will serve three years of supervised release with strict conditions, including bans on possessing firearms or ammunition, drug restrictions, and compliance monitoring. Violations could lead to additional time behind bars.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa announced the sentencing via press release. Ott is in federal custody and will be designated to a Bureau of Prisons facility.

This case is part of ongoing federal-local efforts to address prohibited persons possessing guns, especially when tied to drugs or violence, in communities like Dubuque. Similar prosecutions in the region have resulted in sentences ranging from several years to over a decade, depending on criminal history and offense details.

Court records are available through the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa (Cedar Rapids division) via PACER.