Pair Sentenced for Firearms Charges

Andrea Harrington age 44, from Sioux City, received a prison term today after a June 22, 2026, guilty plea to sale or transfer of a firearm to a prohibited person.

Joseph Garlic age 36, from Hull, Iowa, was sentenced on September 9, 2026, after an April 28, 2026, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon.

Evidence in the case revealed on March 7, 2023, Harrington fraudulently claimed she was not an unlawful user of controlled substances and that she was buying the firearm in question for herself. She told both lies in order to purchase a firearm for her lover, Joseph Garlic, who was a convicted felon and could not legally buy or possess firearms. On Augst 25, 2024, Harrington, now more aware of Garlic's true nature, reported Garlic's armed and violent behavior to a Park Ranger at the Hillview Recreation Area in Hinton, Iowa. Law enforcement found a gun box but did not find a gun or Garlic at the campsite the two had shared. Three days later, on August 28, 2024, law enforcement and medical personnel responded to a Sioux City, Iowa store for a medical event involving Garlic. It was soon discovered Garlic had been in possession of the loaded firearm and had given it to Harrington to hide for him when law enforcement responded to his medical emergency. Officers retrieved the loaded handgun Harrington had concealed in her waistband. Garlic later advised officers that he was in possession of the handgun, and after he began to experience the medical event, he knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms and gave the loaded handgun to Harrington prior to medical personnel arriving.

Harrington purchased the firearm, completing the ATF Form 4473, falsely indicating that she was not an unlawful user of methamphetamine and that she was the intended recipient and actual buyer of the firearm. She had done same thing for Garlic repeatedly in the past without being detected.

Harrington was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 3 months' imprisonment. She must also serve a 2-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

Garlic was sentenced on September 9, 2026, in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 27 months' imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

Harrington and Garlic are being held in the United States Marshal's custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was investigated by Plymouth County, Iowa Sheriff's Department, Plymouth County, Iowa Conservation, and the United States Department of Justice's Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.

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 25-04004.

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