Davenport Alderman Bill Boom Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements to a Federal Grand Jury

DAVENPORT, IA - On April 18, 2017, William John Boom, age 65, from Davenport, Iowa, pleaded guilty to making false statements to a federal grand jury, announced United States Attorney Kevin E. VanderSchel. This charge carries a maximum potential penalty of not more than five years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than three years, and a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victims' Fund. Sentencing is scheduled for August 24, 2017, at 2:30 p.m. at the United States Courthouse in Davenport.  Boom was released pending sentencing pursuant to standard release conditions.

In July 2016, Boom was placed under oath and testified in front of a federal grand jury.  He was advised by an Assistant United States Attorney of his oath to testify truthfully and the potential criminal penalties for providing false testimony. During his testimony, Boom made the following declarations in response to questions from the Assistant United States Attorney:

(i) Q:  Prior to April 6th of 2016, were you aware that G.W. used methamphetamine?

A:  I wasn't aware that he used methamphetamines. There was a time when I found a syringe in his room, but he told me that that was from one of his frineds that had diabetes. But every time that I suspected something, I would give him holy hell.

Q:  So prior to April 6th of 2016, were you aware that G.W. used ice methamphetamine?

A:  No.

Q:  Have you ever given the person depicted in Exhibit I any money?

A:  No. The only person I ever gave money to was G.W., or his relatives, but never to this gentleman.

The person depicted in Grand Jury Exhibit I was Joseph Allen Terry, also known as Lump and/or Lumpy. At the time Boom made these declarations, he knew his answers were false. Prior to April 6, 2016, Boom knew G.W. used methamphetamine and Boom had given money to Terry, who has since pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and is pending sentencing on May 25, 2017. These questions and answers were material to an investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine in Southeastern Iowa.

This case was investigated by the Scott County Sheriff's Office. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa. 

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Learn more about this release by calling Rachel J. Scherle at 515-473-9300, or by emailing her at Rachel.Scherle@usdoj.gov.