WATERLOO -- A Waterloo man was sentenced to more than five years in prison last week for being a felon in possession of ammunition.

A U.S. District Court judge sentenced Tyris Easley, 30, to 70 months' imprisonment on Tuesday in Sioux City. Easley pleaded guilty to the ammunition charge in December.

In July 2005, Easley was convicted in Black Hawk County of possession with intent to deliver marijuana while in possession of a firearm.

In February 2006, Easley was arrested for possession with intent to distribute marijuana after an incident at a Waterloo bar. Easley tossed a baggie containing several ounces of marijuana as he fled the scene. He carried almost $2,500 in his pockets and admitted to possessing a half-pound of marijuana for the purpose of selling it.

Later, police discovered a loaded .25 caliber handgun clip in a gun box and .25 caliber ammunition in Easley's apartment. It is a violation of federal law for a felon to possess ammunition.

Easley's federal prison sentence will run concurrently with two Iowa prison sentences. In addition to the 70-month sentence, Easley must also serve a three-year term of supervised release and was assessed $100. There is no parole in the federal prison system.

Easley is being held by the U.S. Marshals Service until he can be transported back to an Iowa prison. When he is released from his Iowa sentence, he will be taken into federal custody.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bob prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Waterloo Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the incident.