Mason City Man Charged with Interfering with Housing Rights of African-American Family

United States Attorney Matt M. Dummermuth announced today that JUSTIN HANSON, 21, from Mason City, Iowa, has been charged with one count of interfering with the housing rights of an African-American family.

The charge is contained in an Information filed today in United States District Court in Sioux City, Iowa.

The Information alleges that, on or about May 9 and May 10, 2008, HANSON, using a dangerous weapon, willfully injured, intimidated, and interfered with, and attempted to injure, intimidate, and interfere with, an African-American family consisting of a mother and her three minor children and her sister because of their race and national origin and because they were occupying a home in Mason City. The Information alleges HANSON fired a B.B. gun at the home and placed a racially offensive sign in the yard because the mother and her relatives were African-American and lived in HANSON’S neighborhood in Mason City.

If convicted, HANSON faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

HANSON’S first appearance in federal court in Cedar Rapids for an arraignment is set for April 20, 2009.

As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Mason City Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Trial Attorney Kevonne Small and Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.