Silvis Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Gun Charge

DAVENPORT, Iowa - A Silvis, Illinois man was sentenced on March 12, 2026, to five years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.

According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, John Able Rubingh, Sr., 45, ran from police at a convenience store and dropped a loaded pistol. Rubingh then rushed at the officer and struggled with him. Rubingh was eventually detained. Rubingh was prohibited from possessing firearms as a felon, including a 2022 conviction for felony eluding in the Iowa District Court for Scott County. Rubingh was on parole for a drug charge in the Illinois Circuit Court for Rock Island County at the time of the offense.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Rubingh will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Davenport Police Department investigated the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.