Sioux City, IA (KICD)– A Spencer man is going to federal prison on a conviction for illegally possessing a firearm.

35-year-old Joe Ripka was given just over a year behind bars on Friday after pleading guilty in August to possessing a firearm as a prohibited person due to a previous conviction for failing to affix a drug stamp back in 2017.

Ripka was arrested in December 2021 following a traffic stop in Larrabee that led to the discovery of a hadgun and a controlled substance.

Following his time in prison, Ripka will be required to serve three years on supervised release.