Northern District of Iowa
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Fort Dodge Man Sentenced to More Than 13 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm and Meth ConvictionsRead the Press Release
Nicholas Janvrin, 32, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was sentenced on October 23, 2024, to more than 13 years in federal prison.
Janvrin pled guilty March 27, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City to illegally possessing a firearm and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Janvrin was previously convicted of burglary, third degree, a felony, in the Iowa District Court for Hamilton County, which prohibits Janvrin from possessing any firearm.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that on August 1, 2023, law enforcement was called to a local hotel in Webster City regarding a disturbance where they observed Janvrin, who was arrested for outstanding arrest warrants. During a search of the hotel room, law enforcement seized a firearm (Smith & Wesson .22 revolver) and drug user/distribution paraphernalia from a bag in the room. The Iowa DCI Criminalistics Laboratory matched DNA from a known sample of Janvrin to the handle of the firearm and a toothbrush. Evidence further established Janvrin’s involvement in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from January 2023 through August 2023. Janvrin obtained more than 40 pounds of methamphetamine from a source in Des Moines to re-distribute to others in the Fort Dodge area.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Janvrin was sentenced to 160 months’ imprisonment and must serve a five-year term of supervised release following the imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Janvrin remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, the Webster City Police Department, the Fort Dodge Police Department, the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa DCI Laboratory, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-3026. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Jury Convicts Michigan Man for Illegal Possession of Marijuana, Methamphetamine, and Using a Loaded Shotgun in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
A man with four prior felony convictions was convicted by a jury today, after a 3-day trial in federal court in Sioux City.
Caleb Root, age 44, from Concord, Michigan, was convicted of one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance – marijuana, one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance – methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The verdict was returned this afternoon following about 3-hours of jury deliberations.
Evidence in the case revealed at about 3:00 am, on May 23, 2023, a uniformed police officer, of the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department, on routine patrol in a marked police car saw a pickup truck, pulling a box trailer, driving toward him on Hamilton Blvd. As the officer and the truck passed, the truck behaved suspiciously by: (1) the motorist changed course (by using a parking lot as a throughfare); (2) drove away from the officer; and (3) drove into a residential neighborhood in an attempt to lose the officer. After observing the truck’s behavior, the Officer positioned himself, to observe the motorist’s travel. The truck eventually exited the neighborhood and returned to its original line of travel.
The Officer initiated a traffic stop for using a parking lot as a throughfare. The driver refused to roll the window down all the way to talk to the officer, then lied to the officer claiming he did not have an ID and could not remember his own birth date.
Eventually the driver identified himself as Caleb Root, and admitted lying to the officer, and to being a convicted felon. At this time, law enforcement officers looked into the truck – from the outside – and, in plain view, saw marijuana.
Root was arrested, the truck and trailer searched, and about 4 pounds of marijuana, a loaded shotgun, and more than 12 grams of pure methamphetamine were found inside.
Root was released from custody the next day, and on July 22, 2023, he was stopped for speeding in Adair County, Iowa. Root was stopped for speeding, 90 in a 70-mph, upon approach, the officer detected the odor of marijuana. Root again provided a false identification to the officer. Further investigation led the officer to locate more than 1 pound of marijuana and 1 gram of methamphetamine.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Root remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Root faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, and 3-years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-4041.
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Charles City Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
A man who possessed a firearm as a prohibited person pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Dashaune Terrell Burns-Johnson, age 31, from Charles City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
At the plea hearing, Burns-Johnson admitted that, on May 22, 2024, in Charles City he knowingly possessed a Taurus G3c, 9x19 mm pistol. At the time he possessed the gun, he knew that he had been convicted of a felony, domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury, second offense, and that he had been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, specifically, domestic abuse assault.
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.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Burns-Johnson remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Burns-Johnson faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the Charles City Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 24-CR-2033. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Cedar Rapids Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who sold methamphetamine and unlawfully possessed a firearm was sentenced today to more than 14 years in federal prison.
Julius Anthony Montgomery, age 39, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 17, 2024 guilty plea to distribution of a controlled substance following a conviction for a prior serious drug felony.
Evidence at the sentencing hearing demonstrated that four times in January 2023, Montgomery sold methamphetamine. On January 26, 2023, law enforcement officers searched his home in Cedar Rapids. Montgomery, another adult, and six minor children were home at the time. When Montgomery realized that law enforcement officers had arrived, he tried to escape out the upstairs window with a firearm. Ultimately, he surrendered to officers. Inside his house and car, officers found over seven pounds of ice methamphetamine, his firearm, and over $2,000 in drug proceeds. Montgomery has prior federal felony convictions for conspiracy to distribute marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school after having been convicted of a felony drug offense, and for possession of ammunition by a felon and drug user.
Montgomery was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Montgomery was sentenced to 169 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.
Montgomery is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Iowa Department of Public Safety Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the United States Probation for the Northern District of Iowa.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-44.
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Felon Convicted of Possessing Firearms and Transporting Stolen VehicleRead the Press Release
A man with fifteen prior felony convictions who used a stolen motorcycle to drive from Minnesota to Iowa and broke into a Winneshiek County home to steal firearms and other items pled guilty on October 15, 2024, in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Steven Michael Current, age 58, from Canton, Minnesota, was convicted of one count of possession of firearms as a felon and one count of interstate transportation of a stolen motor vehicle.
In a plea agreement, Current admitted that he had fifteen prior felony convictions, and on September 26, 2022, he broke into a rural Winneshiek County home and stole eight firearms. Current also admitted that he drove a stolen 2004 Harley Davidson Motorcycle from Canton, Minnesota, to the burglary scene in Iowa on September 26, 2022. This motorcycle was stolen from a home in Rochester, Minnesota, on June 9, 2022. Current admitted that, during the burglary, he dropped two unscratched Minnesota lottery tickets from his pocket. Current was identified by images captured on a home camera system, and by images from the Minnesota store where Current purchased the lottery tickets.
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.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Current remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Current faces a possible maximum sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, and3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Reinert and was investigated by Winneshiek County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Office, Fillmore County, Minnesota, Sheriff’s Office, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-02050.
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Repeat Federal Offender to Federal Prison for Meth DistributionRead the Press Release
Jermiah Preston, 41, from Fort Dodge, Iowa was sentenced on October 9, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City. Preston pled guilty May 22, 2024, to distribution of methamphetamine.
In March 2017, Preston was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and distributing a controlled substance in the United States District Court in Northern District of Iowa.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that on January 23, 2023, law enforcement, utilizing a confidential informant, set-up and conducted a 1.5 ounce controlled methamphetamine transaction from Preston. During a traffic stop after the transaction, Preston was observed to throw two bags of methamphetamine out the window of the vehicle. The controlled buy money expended was found on Preston’s person and DNA came back on each bag of methamphetamine matching Preston.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Preston was sentenced to 66 months’ imprisonment which was imposed consecutive to his 24-month sentence previously imposed on the revocation of his previous federal supervised release. Preston must also serve a term of four years of supervised release following the imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Preston remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa DCI Laboratory, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Fort Dodge Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-3029. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Mason City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
A man who possessed a firearm as a prohibited person and possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute was sentenced October 11, 2024, to more than 8 years in federal prison.
Tirrell Harlan Hopkins, Jr., age 24, from Mason City, Iowa, received the prison term after a plea on May 3, 2024, to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
At the plea hearing Hopkins admitted that on November 18, 2023, in Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, he knowingly possessed a firearm, a Springfield Armory, Model: Saint, Caliber: 2.33 NATO, Type: Pistol. At the time, Hopkins possessed the gun, he knew he was a user of illegal drugs, had been convicted of a felony, and convicted of a crime of domestic violence, all of which prohibited him from legally possessing a gun. Hopkins also admitted that on or about November 18, 2023, in the Northern District of Iowa, he was in possession of methamphetamine, and intended to distribute some or all of the methamphetamine to another person.
Hopkins was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Hopkins was sentenced to 98 months. He must also serve a 6-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Hopkins is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher and was investigated by the Mason City Police Department, Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Cerro Gordo County Attorney’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations Laboratory, and the United States Marshal’s Service.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-03008.
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Hull, Iowa Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Meth Distribution and Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
Victor Perez-Martinez, 24, from Hull, Iowa was sentenced on October 11, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City. Perez-Martinez pled guilty May 24, 2024, to seven counts, which included conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, four counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that Perez-Martinez was involved in the distribution of sizable quantities of pure methamphetamine during four controlled drug purchases with law enforcement, some within 1000 feet of a protected location (totaling more than 264 grams of methamphetamine). In October 2023, during a search warrant executed at Perez-Martinez’s residence, law enforcement seized: 329 grams of methamphetamine, two cellular telephones; various items of drug use and distribution paraphernalia; $4,267 in cash, and a .380 ACP pistol. Evidence also showed that Perez-Martinez was involved in a conspiracy that distributed over 500 grams of methamphetamine to a number of individuals in the Spencer and Orange City, Iowa area.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Perez-Martinez was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment and must serve a term of ten years of supervised release following the imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Perez-Martinez remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa DCI Laboratory, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Spencer, Iowa Police Department, and the Iowa State Patrol.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-4067. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Man Who Received and Downloaded Child Pornography Sentenced to More than Eight Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who received child pornography over the internet was sentenced today to more than eight years in federal prison.
Christopher Goins, age 47, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 13, 2024, guilty plea to one count of receiving child pornography.
In a plea agreement, Goins admitted that between December 2019 and December 2021, he knowingly received and downloaded photos and videos of child pornography, including depictions of minors under 12 years of age. During a search of Goins’ home in December 2021, agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation seized 33 storage devices containing over 600 images of child pornography. In January 2024, following his arrest on federal child pornography charges, Goins said that additional child pornography would be found on his phone. During a search of Goins’ home, FBI agents found child pornography on Goins’ laptop and additional storage devices which Goins had obtained after his home was searched in December 2021.
Goins was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Goins was sentenced to 97 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $3,000 in restitution to a child victim depicted in videos and photos he possessed. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Goins is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-06.
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Jury Convicts Fort Dodge, Iowa Man for Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed a firearm was convicted by a jury on October 10, 2024, after a three-day trial in federal court in Sioux City.
Lennox Vanvacter, 31, was convicted of one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. The verdict was returned following about 7 hours of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that on July 30, 2023, law enforcement officers observed Vanvacter operating a motor vehicle. Based on their observations and the fact Vanvacter had an active arrest warrant for a previous eluding charge, officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop and apprehend him. When emergency lights/sirens were activated, Vanvacter engaged in a high-speed attempt (approximately 30 minutes in duration) to elude law enforcement, including speeds of 70 mph or more in Fort Dodge and 100 mph or more outside city limits in Webster County. Two sets of spike strips deployed by officers ultimately stopped the vehicle. Once stopped, Vanvacter attempted to flee from the officers on foot, through the passenger door, but was captured a short distance later. Officers located a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol, near the end of the vehicle’s flight path. Later, officers determined by review of patrol car camera video, that the firearm was thrown from the vehicle at the end of the pursuit.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Vanvacter remains in custody of the United States Marshal and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Vanvacter faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
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.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa DCI Laboratory, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-3037.
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Iowa Farmer Sentenced to More Than Fifteen Years in Cattle Theft and Bankruptcy Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Clayton County farmer who stole over $5 million in livestock and COVID-19 pandemic benefits was sentenced on October 10, 2024, to more than 15 years in federal prison. Michael Wayne Butikofer, age 54, from Monona, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 1, 2023, guilty plea to one count of theft of livestock, one count of wire fraud, and one count of false bankruptcy declaration.
Evidence in the case established that Butikofer operated a large farming operation in northeast Iowa known as “Fawn Hollow.” Butikofer operated a so-called “custom cattle” feeding operation in which employees of his organization would raise and care for cattle owned by other individuals, including cattle investors located across the United States. Fawn Hollow then sold the cattle, primarily to a Wisconsin slaughterhouse.
At no time was Butikofer or “Fawn Hollow” registered with the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) as a “dealer” under the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 (“the Act”). Butikofer participated in the “H-2A” visa program and recruited agricultural workers from the Republic of South Africa to work at Fawn Hollow.
Between July 2020 and February 2022, Butikofer converted the proceeds of sales of cattle owned by eight cattle investors, totaling over $2.5 million, to his own use. Butikofer had convinced the cattle investors to allow Butikofer to sell the cattle in his own name. When Butikofer sold the cattle to the Wisconsin slaughterhouse, Butikofer falsely represented to the slaughterhouse that he had “good and merchantable title to” the cattle when he did not, in fact, own or otherwise have title to the cattle. By convincing the cattle investors to permit Butikofer to sell their cattle in his own name, and by fraudulently concealing the true ownership of the cattle from the slaughterhouse, Butikofer attempted to evade the requirements of the Act and its regulations for registration, posting of a dealer bond, and prompt payment, which would have protected the cattle investors’ funds.
In July 2020 and August 2020, Butikofer defrauded the USDA of more than $1.2 million in emergency assistance funds designed to assist livestock producers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, applications were submitted in the name of another individual and entitled “Coronavirus Food Assistance Program” (“CFAP”) payments. A cattle producer qualified for CFAP payments on a per head basis based on the producer’s owned inventory of eligible beef cattle on a date selected by the producer between certain dates in calendar year 2020. It was part of Butikofer’s wire fraud scheme that Butikofer falsely represented in CFAP applications that he and some of his associates owned cattle when, in truth, they did not own the cattle in question.
In February 2022, Butikofer received over $1.5 million from the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) as part of an application for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”). Butikofer made false representations to the SBA about his financial condition and intended use for the SBA loan funds. Butikofer used part of the SBA funds to file for bankruptcy later that same month.
During the bankruptcy case, Butikofer perjured himself five times and made a series of false and fraudulent statements about his financial condition in bankruptcy filings. In March 2022, Butikofer submitted a false and fraudulent statement of financial affairs in his bankruptcy case. There were more than 100 creditors in Butikofer’s bankruptcy case, and Butikofer used the bankruptcy case to intentionally delay and hinder their legitimate collection efforts.
In 2018, Butikofer used forced labor to financially benefit Fawn Hollow. Butikofer dumped dead cattle near a house in which the H2-A workers lived on his farm. The workers had no hot water or furniture, and their water was contaminated. On one occasion, Butikofer assaulted one worker, grabbing the migrant worker by the shirt and pushing him towards a corn auger. Butikofer also tied the hands of another South African H-2A worker with a cable tie to an electric jigsaw and threatened workers with hanging and an electric shock dog collar. In 2020, three migrant workers obtained a $247,000 civil judgment against Butikofer in federal court for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Trafficking Victims Protective Reauthorization Act. Butikofer later used his fraudulent bankruptcy proceeding to convince the workers to settle their judgment for $75,000.
From April 2023 to November 2023, while on federal pretrial release, Butikofer recruited and caused another person in the Fawn Hollow criminal organization to recruit H-2A workers to the United States under false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises. The false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises included: (1) the housing conditions provided to the employees; (2) the location of the employees’ work; (3) the terms and timing of reimbursement for the employees’ work and expenses; and (4) payment for injuries sustained during the employment. For example, Butikofer convinced an H2-A worker from South Africa to come to the United States and bring his wife and teenaged daughter with him. When the family arrived, however, Butikofer moved the family to live in a camper without water, electricity, or heat. Ultimately, agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security rescued the family and paid for their food and shelter at a hotel in Cedar Rapids. Agents later rescued other workers bound for Fawn Hollow in April 2024.
While Butikofer’s criminal case was pending, he repeatedly contacted witnesses in violation of a court order. Butikofer also attempted to convince grand jury and trial witnesses to make false statements and sign false documents in attempts to obstruct justice.
Butikofer was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. At the sentencing, Judge Williams observed that Butikofer was operating a “Ponzi” scheme with investor cattle. Butikofer was sentenced to 188 months’ imprisonment. Butikofer was ordered to make over $5.7 million in restitution, forfeit $500,000, and repay $5,000 in attorney fees. Butikofer must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. As part of his plea agreement, Butikofer promised to pay the H-2A workers’ entire $247,000 judgment and also to voluntarily terminate and cease participation in foreign labor programs with respect to any program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor or U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Butikofer is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
United States Attorney Timothy T. Duax stated, “Butikofer treated his victims and the rule of law with equal contempt, and fully deserves his fifteen-year sentence to federal prison. This office will continue to aggressively prosecute people who defraud the government through the agricultural sector, the bankruptcy court, and by the mistreatment of foreign workers.”
“Michael Butikofer exploited the H-2A program in order to enrich himself at the expense of agricultural workers. Butikofer recruited H-2A workers from South Africa. Once the workers were in the United States, Butikofer used threats of force to compel them to work for him. This sentencing sends a clear message that those who abuse the H-2A program will be held accountable. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who exploit foreign labor certification programs,” said Casey Howard, Special Agent-in-Charge, Central Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
“This sentencing demonstrates the commitment to holding individuals accountable for defrauding government programs, especially those designed to provide critical relief during the pandemic,” said Brady Ipock, Special Agent in Charge of the SBA OIG’s Central Region. “Our office will continue to pursue justice for victims and ensure the integrity of SBA’s disaster relief programs. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their collaboration and dedication to justice.”
“The defendant in this case was held accountable for a number of serious fraudulent activities,” said Justin Bundy, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG). “He converted more than $2.5 million through a cattle investment scam and used those funds to enrich himself, at the expense of unsuspecting victims. He also falsely represented his financial condition and the intended use for SBA loan funds and defrauded the USDA of more than $1.5 million in funds designed to assist livestock producers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also egregious was his use of forced labor to financially benefit his business and his mistreatment of migrant works that he employed. The FDIC OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate and bring to justice those who participate in fraudulent schemes and threaten to undermine the integrity of our Nation’s banking system and government programs intended to benefit the American people.”
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and was investigated by the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General, the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, the United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-1018.
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Marion Woman Charged with Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Megan Middaugh, age 38, from Marion, Iowa, has been charged with five counts of wire fraud. The charges are contained in an Indictment filed today in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.
The Indictment alleges that, beginning in about January 2020, and continuing until June 2023, Middaugh devised a scheme to defraud and to obtain the funds of a dependent person. Middaugh used and misappropriated funds and assets from a dependent person’s bank accounts. Middaugh had access to the bank accounts as a conservator and trustee. She used the misappropriated funds for her own purposes and not for the benefit of the dependent person. This included the alleged use of approximately $52,000 for online games through the gaming platform, Skillz, Inc. The Indictment alleges five transfers of amounts between $100 and $500 to Skillz, Inc. between January 30, 2020, and January 22, 2021.
If convicted on all charges, Middaugh faces a possible maximum sentence of 100 years’ imprisonment, a $1,250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
Middaugh’s first appearance in federal court in Cedar Rapids for arraignment is set for October 21, 2024.
As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and was investigated by Marion Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-0089.
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Arizona Man Sentenced to More than 8 Years in Federal Prison for Iowa Fentanyl PossessionRead the Press Release
Benito Curiel, 25, from Phoenix, Arizona, who had recently resided in South Sioux City, Nebraska, was sentenced on October 8, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa, to nearly nine years’ imprisonment. Curiel pled guilty on March 20, 2024, to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that on May 17, 2023, Curiel was involved in an attempt to flee law enforcement. Officers observed Curiel unconscious in his vehicle in South Sioux City, Nebraska. Curiel ultimately was awoken and fled the area in his vehicle. The pursuit, which reached speeds of approximately 90 miles per hour, crossed over the Veteran’s Bridge which connects Nebraska and Iowa. At one point stop sticks were deployed, puncturing the two front tires of the vehicle, but Curiel continued to operate the vehicle through residential areas in Sioux City, Iowa, before eventually crashing into a retaining wall. Law enforcement conducted a search of Curiel and found 437 fentanyl pills in his pocket.
Curiel was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Curiel was sentenced to 105 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a four-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Curiel remains in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick T. Greenwood and Kevin Fletcher, and investigated by Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; Woodbury County Attorney’s Office, and the Iowa State Patrol. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 23-4044. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Mason City, Iowa Man Sentenced for Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
A Mason City man who sold pounds of methamphetamine and illegally possessed firearms in furtherance of his drug distribution, was sentenced today to more than 15 years in federal prison.
Andrew Lofton, age 48, of Mason City, received the prison term after a May 17, 2024, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings revealed that between January 2023, and continuing through April 2023, Lofton distributed approximately six pounds of methamphetamine. On several occasions during this time, Lofton sold methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with the government. On April 20, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Lofton’s residence in Mason City and found drug distribution-related items, and multiple firearms.
Lofton was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 190 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Lofton is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-3013.
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Tama Man Sentenced to over Two Years in Prison for Assaulting His GirlfriendRead the Press Release
A Tama man who attacked his girlfriend was sentenced today to a little over two years in federal prison.
Roeles Reyes Cavazos, age 29, from Tama, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 29, 2024, guilty plea to domestic abuse assault.
Evidence at the plea hearing and sentencing showed that in August 2022, Cavazos repeatedly punched his girlfriend in the face and stomach. She suffered significant injuries to one eye, her mouth, and stomach. She was later transported to a local hospital because of her injuries. Officers responded to Cavazos’ residence and found he was intoxicated. When officers tried to arrest Cavazos, he resisted arrest and tried to head butt one of the officers. Cavazos has over 30 criminal convictions, including multiple convictions involving battery, assault, and violating no contact orders.
Cavazos was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by Chief United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Cavazos was sentenced to 25 months’ and 29 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery and investigated by the Meskwaki Nation Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 24-CR-5.
Des Moines Woman Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Federal Prison for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Pamela Brownell, 64, from Des Moines, Iowa was sentenced on October 1, 2024 to 152 months in federal prison after a May 28, 2024, guilty plea in federal court in Sioux City, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings, showed that from September 2022 through October 2023, Brownell and others conspired to distribute more than 65 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Des Moines/Fort Dodge, Iowa areas. In October 2023, law enforcement purchased 3 ounces and ½ pound of methamphetamine from Brownell in two controlled drug transactions. In October 2023, a traffic stop of Brownell, followed by a search warrant at her residence resulted in the seizure of 2½ pounds of methamphetamine which she intended to distribute to others. In 2006 Brownell was previously convicted in federal court of an attempt to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Brownell was sentenced to 152 months’ imprisonment and must serve a term of eight-years of supervised release following the imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Brownell remains in custody of the United States Marshal until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Iowa State Patrol, the Iowa DCI Laboratory, and the Polk, Hamilton, and Webster County Sheriffs’ Offices.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-3007. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced to over 18 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who worked with others to sell large quantities of cocaine in Dubuque, Iowa, and was found with a firearm was sentenced today to more than 18 years in federal prison.
Silvester Jameral Durrah, age 40, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 12, 2024, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine near numerous parks and educational institutions, after being convicted of a serious violent felony, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
At the guilty plea, Durrah admitted he had sold at least 5 kilograms of cocaine in Dubuque between 2017 and April 2021, when law enforcement officers searched his house. Durrah admitted his distributions occurred within 1000 feet of numerous parks and educational institutions in Dubuque, such as, Allison-Henderson Park, Gay Park, Jackson Park, Jefferson Park, Loras College, Madison Park, Marshall Elementary School, and the University of Dubuque. Durrah also admitted he had previously been convicted of robbery in Dubuque in 2003. Durrah also admitted he unlawfully possessed a firearm because had two prior felony convictions when he possessed a firearm on April 16, 2021, when the police searched his residence.
Durrah was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Durrah was sentenced to 222 months’ imprisonment, and he must also serve a 8-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Additionally, Durrah was ordered to forfeit the firearms and over $3,000 in drug proceeds seized from him. There is no parole in the federal system.
Durrah is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick J. Reinert and Nicole Nagin and was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office and the Dubuque Drug Task Force, comprised of Dubuque Police Department, Dubuque Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-01013.
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Central American Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being DeportedRead the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced today to more than three months in federal prison.
Jorge Oswaldo Sajcap-Rodriguez, age 31, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Postville, Iowa, received the prison term after a July 10, 2024, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported.
At the guilty plea, Sajcap-Rodriguez admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Sajcap-Rodriguez was previously deported in September 2015. On June 10, 2024, immigration officials learned Sajcap-Rodriguez had illegally returned to the United States and found Sajcap-Rodriguez at the Allamakee County Jail following his arrest on state charges.
Sajcap-Rodriguez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Sajcap-Rodriguez was sentenced to 108 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Sajcap-Rodriguez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-1020.
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Waterloo Man Sentenced to Prison after Being Caught with “Ghost Gun” at High School Football GameRead the Press Release
A Waterloo man who possessed a loaded privately made firearm, also known as a “ghost gun,” and ammunition at a Waterloo high school football game was sentenced yesterday to nearly four years in prison.
Dayton Amaru Shakur Bruce, age 20, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 4, 2024, guilty plea to possession of ammunition by a drug user.
Information disclosed during the plea and sentencing hearings revealed that, in August 2023, Waterloo police officers responded to Waterloo East High School after a fight broke out. Officers observed Bruce in the crowd and attempted to contact him after learning he may be involved in the fight. Bruce ran and officers chased him throughout the parking lot. Along the way, Bruce threw a fully loaded “ghost gun” in the back of a pickup truck. Bruce did not know the owner of the pickup truck. Officers took Bruce into custody and located the gun in the pickup truck. Bruce was under the influence of marijuana at the time and was a regular user of marijuana. “Ghost guns” are guns which are often assembled from kits, do not contain serial numbers, and are sold without background checks, making them difficult to trace and easy to acquire by criminals.
At sentencing, the court also found that Bruce was involved in a shooting in June 2023. During that incident, Bruce shot into a car hitting the victim in the back of the head. The victim survived that incident. Bruce was later located by police and the gun used in that shooting was found nearby.
Bruce was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by Chief United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Bruce was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24gv-CR-2010.
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Le Mars Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Meth and Firearm ConvictionsRead the Press Release
Timothy Mullally, 49, from Le Mars, Iowa, was sentenced September 25, 2024 to 66 months’ imprisonment. Mullally pled guilty on May 16, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of prohibited person in possession of firearms.
At the plea and sentencing hearings evidence showed that between January 2022 through September 2022, Mullally and others distributed more than two kilograms of methamphetamine. Evidence showed that on two occasions in August and September 2022 Mullally distributed more than 800 grams of pure methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. During investigation of this matter, law enforcement and United States Postal Inspection Service interdicted a three-pound package of methamphetamine coming from California to Mullally’s house in September 2022. During the investigation, including search warrants at Mullally’s properties and vehicles, law enforcement seized $5,830 and two firearms. Mullally admitted to being a regular user of methamphetamine, and thereby was prohibited from possessing firearms.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Mullally was sentenced to 66 months’ imprisonment, $1,000 fine, and must serve a three-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Mullally remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-4083. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Iowa Drug User Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
On September 24, 2024, Richard Quintana, 24, from Dolliver, Iowa, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment for illegal possession of a firearm. Quintana pled guilty on May 23, 2024, to one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that Quintana illegally purchased and possessed firearms on five occasions between 2021 and 2022. Despite being a drug user, Quintana marked on his firearm purchasing forms that he was not. As a drug user, defendant was prohibited from purchasing and possessing firearms. Three of the firearms Quintana purchased were later recovered by law enforcement as part of crimes committed by other individuals. In December 2023, law enforcement observed Quintana driving a vehicle in Fort Dodge, Iowa. As law enforcement attempted to stop the vehicle Quintana was driving, he led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit through residential areas of Fort Dodge before ultimately stopping and being arrested.
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.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Quintana was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment and must serve a two-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Quintana remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and Fort Dodge, Iowa Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-3034. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
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Nicaraguan Man Sentenced to Prison for Document FraudRead the Press Release
A man who used a fraudulent social security card was sentenced today to four months in federal prison.
Sen Sequeira-Miranda, age 45, a citizen of Nicaragua residing in the Cresco, Iowa, area, received the prison term after a June 26, 2024, guilty plea to one count of unlawful use of an identification document and one count of misuse of a social security number.
At the guilty plea, Sequeira-Miranda admitted he used a fraudulent Social Security card bearing an alias name, to prove his authorization to work in the United States when he completed employment and tax forms in April 2024 at a business in Charles City, Iowa. The number on the Social Security card was assigned to the person whose name was on the Social Security card.
On January 11, 2024, Sequeira-Miranda was encountered by the U.S. Border Patrol after he illegally entered the United States near Eagle Pass, Texas. On February 8, 2024, defendant was released from immigration custody with a GPS ankle bracelet and ordered to report to immigration officials in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. GPS data appeared to show Sequeira-Miranda was working and ICE agents were able locate him at his place of employment in Charles City. As an alien, Sequeira-Miranda was not authorized to work in the United States. ICE officers were able to obtain copies of the fraudulent documents Sequeira-Miranda used from his employer, which included the fraudulent Social Security card and a fraudulent California ID card with his alias name and bearing his photo.
Sequeira-Miranda was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Sequeira-Miranda was sentenced to 125 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Sequeira-Miranda is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-2022.
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Felon Who Ran from the Police While Armed and Resisted Officers Sentenced to Serve Time in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who possessed a firearm as a felon was sentenced today to 57 months in federal prison.
Lawrence Lamar Newell, III, age 20, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 12, 2024 guilty plea to one count of possessing a firearm as a felon. Newell had previously been convicted of burglary in the second degree and assault while displaying a dangerous weapon.
During a traffic stop, Newell, who was a passenger in a car, tried to run from police on foot. Newell and a law enforcement officer struggled on the ground and Newell tried, multiple times to reach for a gun located in his waistband. During the struggle, Newell retrieved the firearm from his waistband and continued to resist commands to drop the gun.
Newell was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Newell was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Newell is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.
Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders works together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 24-CR-00007.
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Iowa Man Sentenced for Illegally Purchasing Firearms for OthersRead the Press Release
Tyler Meriweather, age 24, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was sentenced on September 17, 2024, to 30 months’ imprisonment for illegally purchasing firearms for others.
Meriweather pled guilty on March 4, 2024, to the straw purchase of firearms. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that Meriweather purchased multiple firearms from federal firearms licensed businesses in Iowa for individuals he knew were prohibited from possessing or purchasing firearms, including a relative in California who is a felon. After a firearm was recovered from a minor in Fort Dodge, investigators determined the firearm had originally been purchased by Meriweather. Further investigation showed Meriweather purchased additional firearms. When interviewed, Meriweather ultimately admitted to purchasing firearms on behalf of others who could not legally purchase them. Additionally, Meriweather admitted to being a user of marijuana, despite denying it on his firearms purchasing forms.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Meriweather was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment and must serve a one-year term of supervised release following the term of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jack Lammers and Patrick Greenwood and was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and Fort Dodge Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-03038. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Waterloo Fentanyl Dealer Found Guilty After Four Day TrialRead the Press Release
A Waterloo man who traveled to Mexico to acquire fentanyl was convicted by a jury today after a four‑day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Javoni Marcelius Butler, age 43, from Waterloo, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, one count of international money laundering, and one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. The verdict was returned this morning following about forty minutes of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that, beginning in January 2022, and continuing until December 20, 2023, Butler traveled to Mexico on several occasions to acquire fentanyl. During that time, Butler obtained over 10,000 pills containing fentanyl and a significant quantity of fentanyl powder. After obtaining the fentanyl from his Mexican source of supply, Butler worked with several people in Waterloo, Iowa, to distribute the fentanyl. On at least one occasion, Butler conducted an international wire transfer of drug proceeds.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Butler was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the verdict was returned and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Butler faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 100 years’ imprisonment, a $10,500,000 fine, and a lifetime term of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Hudson, and it was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force consisting of the Waterloo Police Department, Cedar Falls Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department, Evansdale Police Department, Waverly Police Department, Hudson Police Department, La Porte City Police Department, and the Bremer County Sheriff’s Department; the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the United States Postal Inspection Service; and Homeland Security Investigations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23‑CR‑02078‑CJW.
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Red Oak Woman to Federal Prison for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
On September 19, 2024, Ann Sulsberger, 49, from Red Oak, Iowa, was sentenced to 6 years’ imprisonment for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing on April 18, 2024, Sulsberger admitted that between April 2023 and May 2023, she and others conspired to distribute over a pound of methamphetamine in the Woodbury and Monona County areas.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Sulsberger was sentenced to 6 years’ imprisonment and must serve a term of four years supervised release following the imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Sulsberger remains in custody of the United States Marshal until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Bureau of Indian Affairs, DEA Laboratory, Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-4002.
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Fort Dodge Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed firearms was sentenced on September 20, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City.
Matthew Knowles, 38, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, pled guilty on May 3, 2024, to possessing a .380 ACP pistol, and a .410-gauge shotgun on November 10, 2022, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. As part of an investigation of stolen property, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Knowles’ residence. There, officers recovered thousands of dollars of stolen tools, the two firearms, and controlled substances. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that Knowles was a user of methamphetamine, marijuana, and was a felon when he possessed the firearms. As a felon and drug user, Knowles was prohibited from possessing firearms.
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.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Knowles was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment and must serve a two year term of supervised release after the term of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Knowles remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Iowa DCI Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-3039.
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Armed Burlington Fugitive Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who shot two people in Burlington, Iowa, and was found in Cedar Rapids with a firearm was sentenced September 19, 2024, to over four years in federal prison.
Kejonte Daishawn King, age 21, from Burlington, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 29, 2024, guilty plea to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
At the guilty plea, King admitted he was previously convicted in Wisconsin for robbery by threat. King failed to appear for his sentencing in that case. King was in Burlington on March 24, 2023, when he shot two people and then fled the area. The Eastern Iowa Fugitive Task Force, led by the United States Marshals Service, found King in Cedar Rapids on April 18, 2023, with two firearms. King was later convicted of willful injury and intimidation with a dangerous weapon and is still serving his prison sentence in that case.
King was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. King was sentenced to an additional 54 months’ and 21 days’ imprisonment to be served concurrently with the remainder of his prison sentence for the Burlington shooting and consecutive to any sentence imposed for his Milwaukee robbery conviction. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.
King is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be returned to the Iowa Department of Corrections to complete service of his Iowa sentence and then be sent to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Reinert and investigated by the Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force comprised of officers from the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Cedar Rapids Police Department, Waterloo Police Department, Marion Police Department, Independence Police Department, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Iowa Department of Corrections, the Southern Iowa Fugitive Task Force, the Burlington Iowa Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-00010.
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Woman Who Distributed Large Amounts of “Ice” Methamphetamine in Iowa Falls and Surrounding Areas Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A woman who trafficked methamphetamine was sentenced on September 17, 2024, to 180 months in federal prison for her involvement in a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of “ice” methamphetamine.
Courtney Annette Kappel, age 43, from Iowa Falls, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 12, 2024 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
Starting in August or September of 2022, Kappel received large quantities of methamphetamine from her drug supplier, Victoria Kay Oestereich. Kappel received at least 17 pounds of methamphetamine from Oestereich for redistribution. In January 2024, when law enforcement searched Kappel’s residence in Iowa Falls, they located over 1,000 grams of methamphetamine.
Kappel was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Kappel was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Kappel is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tri‑County Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force, the Black Hawk County Sherriff’s Office, and the Iowa Falls Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-00008.
South Dakota Surgical Hospital and United Surgical Partners International Agree to Pay More Than $12.7 Million to Resolve Alleged False Claims Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
Siouxland Surgery Center LLP, doing business as Dunes Surgical Hospital (Dunes), United Surgical Partners International Inc. (USPI) and USP Siouxland Inc. have agreed to pay approximately $12.76 million to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations relating to improper financial relationships between Dunes and two physician groups. Dunes is a surgical hospital located in Dakota Dunes, South Dakota. Since July 1, 2014, USPI has maintained partial ownership of Dunes through USP Siouxland, a wholly owned subsidiary of USPI. Dunes and USPI disclosed the arrangements at issue to the government following an internal compliance review and independent investigation.
The settlement resolves allegations that, from at least 2014 through 2019, Dunes made significant financial contributions to a non-profit affiliate of a physician group whose physicians referred patients to Dunes. Those payments allegedly funded the salaries of athletic trainers who generated referrals to both the physician group and to Dunes. The settlement also resolves allegations, that during the same time period, Dunes provided another physician group with free or below-fair-market-value clinic space, staff, and supplies. The United States alleged that these arrangements violated both the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) and the Physician Self-Referral Law, commonly known as the Stark Law. The AKS prohibits the provision of remuneration to induce the referral of services or items that are paid for by a federal health care program. The Stark Law prohibits hospitals from billing for certain services referred by physicians with whom the hospital has a financial relationship, unless that relationship satisfies one of the law’s statutory or regulatory exceptions. A claim submitted in violation of the AKS or the Stark Law can also violate the False Claims Act.
“The AKS and Stark Law are designed to ensure that decisions about patient care are based on physicians’ independent medical judgment and not their personal financial interest,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “As this settlement reflects, we will hold accountable those who violate these important safeguards, but we will also give to those who disclose their wrongdoing, take appropriate remedial actions and meaningfully cooperate with the government’s investigation.”
In connection with the settlement, the United States acknowledged that Dunes and USPI took a number of significant steps entitling them to credit for cooperating with the government. Following an internal compliance review and independent investigation, Dunes and USPI promptly took remedial actions and disclosed the relevant arrangements to the government. Dunes and USPI also provided the government with a detailed and thorough written disclosure and cooperated with the government throughout its investigation.
“Illegal kickbacks and self-referrals make healthcare more expensive and create the potential for medical decisions that are not based on what is best for patients,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy T. Duax for the Northern District of Iowa. “Our office welcomes the cooperation of those who self-disclose and will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that taxpayers do not bear the costs of illegal and unethical practices.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is dedicated to fostering a healthcare environment that prioritizes patient well-being above all,” said U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell for the District of South Dakota. “We stand firmly against any actions that could undermine the trust and transparency that form the cornerstone of patient care and remain committed to working closely with healthcare professionals and regulatory bodies to promote ethical practices to ensure patients receive the highest standard of care.”
“Individuals and entities that participate in the federal health care system are required to obey laws designed to preserve the integrity of program funds and ensure the provision of appropriate, quality services to patients,” said Special Agent in Charge Linda T. Hanley of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Together with our federal and state law enforcement partners, we remain committed to investigating allegations of improper arrangements that can put patient safety at risk.”
The settlement resolves allegations of false billings to the Medicare, TRICARE and Medicaid programs. The Medicaid program is jointly funded by the federal and state governments. In addition to the approximately $12.76 million to be paid to the federal government for alleged violations of the False Claims Act, South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska will collectively receive approximately $1.37 million for their share of the Medicaid portion of the settlement.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota; and HHS-OIG.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
Trial Attorney Nathan Green, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Gray for the Northern District of Iowa and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis Warner for the District of South Dakota handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the United States in the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
South Dakota Surgical Hospital Agrees to Pay More Than $12.7M to Resolve Alleged False Claims Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
Siouxland Surgery Center LLP, doing business as Dunes Surgical Hospital (Dunes), United Surgical Partners International Inc. (USPI) and USP Siouxland Inc. have agreed to pay approximately $12.76 million to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations relating to improper financial relationships between Dunes and two physician groups. Dunes is a surgical hospital located in Dakota Dunes, South Dakota. Since July 1, 2014, USPI has maintained partial ownership of Dunes through USP Siouxland, a wholly owned subsidiary of USPI. Dunes and USPI disclosed the arrangements at issue to the government following an internal compliance review and independent investigation.
The settlement resolves allegations that, from at least 2014 through 2019, Dunes made significant financial contributions to a non-profit affiliate of a physician group whose physicians referred patients to Dunes. Those payments allegedly funded the salaries of athletic trainers who generated referrals to both the physician group and to Dunes. The settlement also resolves allegations, that during the same time period, Dunes provided another physician group with free or below-fair-market-value clinic space, staff, and supplies. The United States alleged that these arrangements violated both the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) and the Physician Self-Referral Law, commonly known as the Stark Law. The AKS prohibits the provision of remuneration to induce the referral of services or items that are paid for by a federal health care program. The Stark Law prohibits hospitals from billing for certain services referred by physicians with whom the hospital has a financial relationship, unless that relationship satisfies one of the law’s statutory or regulatory exceptions. A claim submitted in violation of the AKS or the Stark Law can also violate the False Claims Act.
“The AKS and Stark Law are designed to ensure that decisions about patient care are based on physicians’ independent medical judgment and not their personal financial interest,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “As this settlement reflects, we will hold accountable those who violate these important safeguards, but we will also give to those who disclose their wrongdoing, take appropriate remedial actions and meaningfully cooperate with the government’s investigation.”
In connection with the settlement, the United States acknowledged that Dunes and USPI took a number of significant steps entitling them to credit for cooperating with the government. Following an internal compliance review and independent investigation, Dunes and USPI promptly took remedial actions and disclosed the relevant arrangements to the government. Dunes and USPI also provided the government with a detailed and thorough written disclosure and cooperated with the government throughout its investigation.
“Illegal kickbacks and self-referrals make healthcare more expensive and create the potential for medical decisions that are not based on what is best for patients,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy T. Duax for the Northern District of Iowa. “Our office welcomes the cooperation of those who self-disclose and will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that taxpayers do not bear the costs of illegal and unethical practices.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is dedicated to fostering a healthcare environment that prioritizes patient well-being above all,” said U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell for the District of South Dakota. “We stand firmly against any actions that could undermine the trust and transparency that form the cornerstone of patient care and remain committed to working closely with healthcare professionals and regulatory bodies to promote ethical practices to ensure patients receive the highest standard of care.”
“Individuals and entities that participate in the federal health care system are required to obey laws designed to preserve the integrity of program funds and ensure the provision of appropriate, quality services to patients,” said Special Agent in Charge Linda T. Hanley of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Together with our federal and state law enforcement partners, we remain committed to investigating allegations of improper arrangements that can put patient safety at risk.”
The settlement resolves allegations of false billings to the Medicare, TRICARE and Medicaid programs. The Medicaid program is jointly funded by the federal and state governments. In addition to the approximately $12.76 million to be paid to the federal government for alleged violations of the False Claims Act, South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska will collectively receive approximately $1.37 million for their share of the Medicaid portion of the settlement.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota; and HHS-OIG.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
Trial Attorney Nathan Green, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Gray for the Northern District of Iowa and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis Warner for the District of South Dakota handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the United States in the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
Settlement
Mexican Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being Deported Five TimesRead the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced today to more than three years in federal prison.
Pedro Salazar-Trejo, age 37, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Coralville, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 10, 2024, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported following a conviction for an aggravated felony.
At the guilty plea, Salazar-Trejo admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Salazar-Trejo has prior convictions in Texas for forgery of government documents, a social security card and driver’s license, in 2005 and fleeing the scene of an accident in 2008. He was first deported in March 2008. Salazar-Trejo was deported a second time in May 2014 following a conviction in the Southern District of Texas for illegal entry into the United States. He was deported a third time in December 2017 following his arrest during a traffic stop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, by immigration officials. He was also deported a fourth time in September 2019 following a conviction in the Western District of Texas for Illegal Reentry of a Deported Alien, a felony.
Salazar-Trejo was convicted in January 2022 in the Northern District of Iowa of possession of a firearm by an alien, served 27 months’ imprisonment and placed on a three-year term of supervised release before being deported a fifth time in September 2023. On March 22, 2024, Salazar-Trejo was arrested in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for violating the terms of his supervised release by reentering the United States without permission.
Salazar-Trejo was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Salazar-Trejo was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Salazar-Trejo was also sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment to be served consecutively for violating the terms of his supervised release on his prior firearm conviction. There is no parole in the federal system.
Salazar-Trejo is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file numbers are 24-CR-27 and 21-CR-48.
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Mason City Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
Lance Kohler, age 46, from Mason City, Iowa, was sentenced September 13, 2024, to 6 years in federal prison after a May 6, 2024, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
At the guilty plea, Kohler admitted that on December 5, 2023, law enforcement responded to a rollover accident in Cerro Gordo County. Kohler was the sole occupant of the vehicle. Officers could see a firearm in plain view and a few hypodermic needles. Law enforcement eventually seized firearm and approximately 13 grams of methamphetamine from the vehicle. Kohler told the arresting officer he was “just” a user of methamphetamine, and initially denied owning the firearm. During a subsequent interview with another officer, Kohler admitted to possessing the methamphetamine and the firearm. Lab results later confirmed that defendant had methamphetamine and cocaine in his system at the time of the accident.
Kohler was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 72 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 2-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Kohler is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-3002.
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Council Bluffs Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Meth and Marijuana ConvictionsRead the Press Release
Dereck Meyer, 34, from Council Bluffs, IA, was sentenced on September 13, 2024, to 144 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana. Meyer pled guilty April 19, 2024, to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. In 2011, Meyer was previously convicted in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa for possession with intent to distribute more than 5 grams of methamphetamine within a protected location.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that on November 19, 2022, law enforcement officers in Denison, Iowa stopped a vehicle driven by Meyer. Meyer admitted to being in possession of marijuana, failed to follow officer’s commands and drove off at a high rate of speed initiating a pursuit through Denison, Iowa. Meyer ultimately drove into the alley and was taken into custody. During a search of the vehicle officers located 55.46 grams of methamphetamine in the rear seat next to Meyer’s wallet. Officers also seized four plastic bags, each containing approximately one ounce (about 28 grams) of marijuana, a clear plastic bag containing 4.4 grams of marijuana, and a clear plastic bag containing 3 grams of suspected cocaine. Meyer intended to distribute some or all of the drugs to another person or persons.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Meyer was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment and must serve an eight-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Meyer remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa DCI Laboratory, and the Denison Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-4013. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Escape from CustodyRead the Press Release
A man who escaped from custody in the Gerald R. Hinzman Center was sentenced September 13, 2024, to 24 months in federal prison.
Casey Duhme, age 35, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the sentence after an April 16, 2024, guilty plea to one count of escape from federal custody. At the plea hearing, Duhme admitted that he was in custody at the Hinzman Center under a federal court order pursuant to his prior conviction for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. Duhme admitted that, between June 12, 2023, and August 31, 2023, he left custody without authorization by failing to return to the Hinzman Center as required.
Duhme was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Duhme was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR 24-20.
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Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
A felon who possessed a firearm was sentenced today to 46 months in federal prison.
Malachi Patton Handley, age 23, of Cedar Rapids, received the sentence after a January 30, 2024, guilty plea to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. At the plea hearing, Handley admitted that, between December 2022 and March 2023, he possessed an SCCY pistol after having been convicted of three felonies.
Handley was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Handley was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Marion Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is CR 23-57.
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Jury Convicts Pennsylvania Woman of Bank Fraud, Money Laundering, and ConspiracyRead the Press Release
An accountant and adjunct business instructor who laundered over $800,000 of the proceeds of a multi-state business email compromise scheme was convicted by a jury after a three-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Margo Ann Williams, age 62, from Scranton, Pennsylvania, was convicted of one count of bank fraud, three counts of money laundering, three counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity, and one count of money laundering conspiracy. The verdict was returned this morning following about five hours of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that, between December 2022 and July 2023, five victims—a Cedar Rapids church, two businesses, a non-profit, and an individual—had their electronic payments misdirected due to hacked email accounts. The email accounts were hacked while the victims were in the process of making large wire and automatic clearinghouse (“ACH”) transactions to others. The victims received “spoofed” emails that falsely appeared to come from legitimate and trusted sources. The fraudulent emails contained instructions to change the routing information for the wire and ACH transactions. Unbeknownst to the victims, those accounts listed in the new instructions belonged to Williams. After receiving “spoofed” emails, the victims instructed their banks to wire the funds according to the new payment instructions. Williams received the funds into bank accounts she controlled, and then she rapidly transferred the stolen money to other bank accounts that she controlled. Williams eventually transferred stolen funds to two national cryptocurrency exchanges and an individual in Florida.
For example, in June 2023, a Cedar Rapids church was engaged in a $7 million renovation of its campus. The hackers compromised the email account of the project’s architect and caused the church to receive “spoofed” emails in which the email domain of the project’s general contractor was slightly changed. As a result, the church representatives thought they were engaged in email correspondence with the project’s general contractor when, in truth, unknown individuals were impersonating the general contractor’s employees. As a result, the church unwittingly wired over $466,000 to Williams’s shell corporation, “MBCI & Evercorp, LLC.” Other victims in the business email compromise scheme included a hotel manager in Colorado, a large non-profit in Washington state, a self-employed homebuilder in Montana, and a general commercial contractor in Pennsylvania.
During the scheme, Williams repeatedly opened bank accounts at major national banks, including one in the name of her shell corporation. As the banks discovered the fraud and closed the accounts, Williams would continue to open new accounts at other banks in an effort to continue to perpetrate the fraud. Williams claimed at trial that she was doing so at the direction of a famous British actor with whom she had formed a romantic relationship. Williams earned approximately $25,000 from the scheme. Williams made many personal purchases with the stolen money, including an Apple Watch and a Louis Vuitton handbag.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Williams remains free on bond previously set pending sentencing. Williams faces a possible maximum sentence of 140 years’ imprisonment, a $4.25 million fine, and 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and Kyndra A. Lundquist and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-64.
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Rock Rapids Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Re-entry of a Removed Alien After Aggravated Felony and Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
A man who re-entered the country as an aggravated felon, failed to register as a sex offender, and violated his supervised release was sentenced September 6, 2024, to 21 months in federal prison.
Melvin Geovani Aguilar-Lopez, age 31, from Rock Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 3, 2024, guilty plea to one count of illegal re-entry as an aggravated felon; a May 17, 2024, guilty plea to one count of failure to update his registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2250(a); and a May 17, 2024, admission to violations of his supervised release.
At a plea hearing, Aguilar-Lopez admitted to re-entering the country after being deported in April of 2023, after a conviction for re-entry of a removed alien convicted of an aggravated felony in the Southern District of Texas. On December 9, 2016, the defendant was convicted in the Iowa District Court for Lyon County for Sex Abuse in the Third Degree, a Class C felony in Case No. FECR005748.
In a plea agreement, Aguilar-Lopez admitted that he was required to register and update his registration under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act by reason of a conviction of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree in the Iowa District Court for Lyon County Criminal No. FECR005748 on December 9, 2016. Aguilar-Lopez admitted he knew he needed to update his sex offender registration to reflect the fact he had been living in Rock Rapids for approximately 5 months and working in Lyon County for approximately 2 months. Aguilar-Lopez also admitted to violations of his supervised release.
Aguilar-Lopez was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Aguilar-Lopez was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Fletcher and was investigated by the Lyon County Sheriff’s Department, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations (Sex Offender Unit) and the United States Marshal’s Service.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-04004 and 23-Cr-4077.
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Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, Man Guilty of Distributing CocaineRead the Press Release
A man who conspired with others to distribute large quantities of cocaine that resulted in the death of a young Dubuque woman pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Michael Samuel Knight, age 38, from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams of more of cocaine within 1000 feet of several parks and schools in Dubuque, Iowa, between 2017 and April of 2021, that resulted in the death of a young Dubuque woman on February 14, 2021. Knight also pled guilty to personally distributing the cocaine on February 14, 2021, that caused the woman’s death.
At the plea hearing, Knight admitted he was a member of a conspiracy to distribute cocaine in the Dubuque area near numerous parks and schools. He admitted getting cocaine from the individual who brought it from Chicago, and then worked with others to distribute the cocaine to customers in Dubuque. On February 14, 2021, Knight distributed cocaine to a young woman in Dubuque who went home, used the cocaine and died.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Knight remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Knight faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $6,000,000 fine, and up to life on supervised release following any imprisonment. Knight will also be required to pay restitution to the family of the young woman who died using the cocaine distributed by him.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick J. Reinert and Nicole Nagin and was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department
of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office and the Dubuque Drug Task Force, comprised of Dubuque Police Department, Dubuque Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-01013.
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Sheldon Woman to Federal Prison for Meth and Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Kelli Biller, 39, from Sheldon, Iowa, was sentenced on September 4, 2024, to over 9 years in federal prison. On April 24, 2024, Biller pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that from about January 2022 through November 2023, Biller was involved in a conspiracy that distributed more than 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine and at least 200 grams of fentanyl. Biller admitted to helping transfer 2,000 fentanyl pills from a source in Sioux City to another for re-distribution in the Sheldon/Primghar area. Biller also admitted obtaining several ounces of methamphetamine from her source for redistribution in Northwest Iowa. During a traffic stop in Sioux City on November 10, 2023, agents seized 19 M30 type fentanyl pills from Biller for re-distribution.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Biller was sentenced to 119 months’ imprisonment and must serve a four-year term of supervised release following the imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Biller remains in custody of the United States Marshal until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-4010.
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Goodell, Iowa Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a Gun and Ammunition While Being an Illegal User of MarijuanaRead the Press Release
A man who possessed a firearm while being an illegal drug user was sentenced today to 6 months in federal prison.
Larry Wayne Robbins, age 67, from Goodell, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 11, 2024, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by an unlawful drug user, marijuana, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3), and 18 U.S.C. § 924(a)(8).
In a plea agreement, Robbins admitted he waived a gun at a neighbor in Hancock County while that individual was mowing a ditch approximately 300 yards east of Robbins’s house. A search warrant later executed at Robbins’ home located guns, ammunition, and marijuana.
Robbins was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Robbins was sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment less 46 days credit for time served on his sentence in Hancock County. He must also serve a 2-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Robbins will remain on supervision by United States Probation until he can self- surrender to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher and was investigated by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Hancock County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-03031.
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Spencer Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
A man who was prohibited from possessing a firearm pled guilty August 29, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City.
Casey Tuttle, 26, from Spencer, Iowa, was convicted of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Tuttle was previously convicted in the Iowa District Court of burglary, third degree; possession of methamphetamine, third or subsequent offense; and burglary, second degree. Each of these are felony convictions which prohibited Tuttle from possessing any firearm or ammunition.
At the plea hearing, evidence showed that on April 4, 2024, Spencer Police Department officers stopped Tuttle riding his bike in the dark without taillights or reflectors. It was then determined that Tuttle had outstanding arrest warrants, so he was placed under arrest. During a search of Tuttle at arrest, law enforcement located .22 ammunition, 1 gram of marijuana, multiple knives, 1 gram of methamphetamine, a German .22 caliber revolver, a methamphetamine pipe, scale, and pills. Tuttle admitted being a drug user and possessing the firearm which he obtained in exchange for methamphetamine.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Tuttle remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Tuttle faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Spencer, Iowa Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-4032. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Mexican Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being Deported Six TimesRead the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced today to more than two months in federal prison.
Roberto Medina-Soto, age 39, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Shullsburg, Wisconsin, received the prison term after a July 10, 2024, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported.
At the guilty plea, Medina-Soto admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Medina-Soto was previously deported in March 2020, April 2020, and four times in October 2020. On April 29, 2024, immigration officials learned Medina-Soto had illegally returned to the United States and found Medina-Soto at the Dubuque County Jail following his arrest on state charges for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (OWI). On June 20, 2024, Medina-Soto was convicted in state court of OWI and sentenced to 50 days’ imprisonment.
Medina-Soto was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Medina-Soto was sentenced to 75 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Medina-Soto is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-1015.
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Clear Lake Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
A man who possessed a firearm as a felon and person convicted of domestic violence was sentenced today to more than 4 years in federal prison.
Michael Ryan Mikkelson, age 37, from Clear Lake, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 26, 2024, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and a person convicted of domestic violence.
In a plea agreement, Mikkelson admitted that on the night of September 15, 2023, he was riding his bicycle in Clear Lake, when an officer from the Clear Lake Police Department spotted him. The officer was aware Mikkelson had an arrest warrant out of Cerro Gordo County and made contact with him. After being advised he was to be taken into custody on the warrant, Mikkelson ran. After a short foot pursuit, the officer lost Mikkelson in the dark between houses at the end of an alley. Mikkelson later turned himself in. On October 3, 2023, a resident found a handgun next to a garage where the officer lost sight of Mikkelson during the foot pursuit. Mikkelson later admitted the gun was his.
Mikkelson was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Mikkelson was sentenced to 51 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.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Mikkelson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher and was investigated by the Clear Lake Police Department, Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office, Mason City Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Cerro Gordo County Attorney’s Office, and United States Marshal’s Service.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-03009.
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Man Who Sold Methamphetamine to Undercover Agent Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who sold methamphetamine to an undercover agent was sentenced today to 306 months in federal prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
James Douglas Morrison, age 40, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 22, 2024 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
In 2022, an undercover agent purchased methamphetamine from Morrison in Waterloo, Iowa. Morrison also directed others, including co-defendant Heather Sue Hartzell, to sell “ice” methamphetamine on his behalf. Approximately one month later, law enforcement officers stopped Morrison while he was driving back from Des Moines with Hartzell. Hartzell and Morrison had almost 2,000 grams of “ice” methamphetamine inside the car that Morrison had obtained from his supplier in Des Moines, Iowa. Morrison also had a gun.
Morrison was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Morrison was sentenced to 306 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Morrison is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tri‑County Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Black Hawk County Sherriff’s Office, and the Waterloo Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-2045.
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Waterloo Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a Gun and DrugsRead the Press Release
A felon who possessed a firearm and drugs was sentenced today to five years in federal prison.
Carlos Danacio Traywick, age 51, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 27, 2024 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that deputies stopped a car that Traywick was driving in Waterloo on July 16, 2022. During the traffic stop, Traywick removed methamphetamine and marijuana from his pockets. Traywick attempted to run from officers, but he was apprehended after a brief foot chase. In the car that Traywick was driving, deputies located a loaded firearm and cocaine.
Traywick was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Traywick was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a four-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Traywick is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
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.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, Waterloo Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-2023.
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Honduran Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being Deported Six TimesRead the Press Release
A man who had been deported, illegally returned to the United States, and then used someone else’s social security number to obtain employment was sentenced Monday to ten months in federal prison.
Elder Moises Ramirez-Melgar, age 32, a citizen of Honduras illegally present in the United States and residing in Postville, Iowa, received the prison term after a June 17, 2024, guilty plea to one count of unlawful possession of an identification document and one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported.
In a plea agreement, Ramirez-Melgar admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Ramirez-Melgar was previously deported in December 2009, September 2014, March 2016, March 2017, May 2020, and March 2023.
Ramirez-Melgar also admitted he possessed a fraudulent Social Security card bearing an alias name when he was arrested on January 30, 2024, for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence (OWI). Ramirez-Melgar admitted he knowingly used the fraudulent Social Security card to prove his authorization to work in the United States when he completed employment and tax forms at businesses in West Union, Iowa in December 2021, in Lime Springs, Iowa in August 2022, and in Cresco, Iowa in November 2023. Illegal aliens are not authorized to work in the United States. The number on the Social Security card was a real Social Security number assigned to a United States citizen. On the employment applications, Ramirez-Melgar falsely claimed to be a citizen of the United States.
On January 31, 2024, immigration officials learned Ramirez-Melgar had illegally returned to the United States and found Ramirez-Melgar at the Allamakee County Jail following his arrest for OWI. On March 15, 2024, Ramirez-Melgar was convicted of OWI in state court and sentenced to 35 days’ imprisonment. Ramirez-Melgar was previously convicted in January 2023 in the Northern District of Iowa of illegally reentering the United States, served four months’ imprisonment and was deported. Ramirez-Melgar was also convicted in the District of Arizona in February 2017 and March 2020 of illegal entry into the United States.
Ramirez-Melgar was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Ramirez-Melgar was sentenced to ten months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Ramirez-Melgar is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-1004.
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Fort Dodge Man to Federal Prison for Illegal Purchase of Firearm ConvictionRead the Press Release
A man who illegally purchased three firearms was sentenced on August 20, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City.
Hunter Collier, 22, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, pled guilty on April 1, 2024, to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that Collier, a marijuana user, purchased a .380 ACP pistol in July of 2022, from a federally firearms licensed business, in Fort Dodge. At the time of the purchase, Collier represented on the federal purchasing form that he was not a marijuana user, and that he was purchasing the firearm for himself, when in fact he was purchasing the firearm for another. The next day, Collier illegally purchased two additional firearms in Des Moines, Iowa.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Collier was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment and must serve a two-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Collier was taken into U.S. Marshals custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Webster County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-3035.
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Man Who Distributed Fentanyl Powder Resulting in an Overdose Sentenced to over 9 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who sold fentanyl powder, pills containing fentanyl, and “ice” methamphetamine in Dubuque, Iowa, was sentenced today to 118 months in federal prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
Alexander John Chapman, age 31, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 20, 2024 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
From March 2023 through December 2023, Chapman obtained controlled substances through the mail from three sources of supply in Arizona. While some of the packages with controlled substances were shipped directly to Chapman’s residence in Dubuque, Chapman also had packages mailed to other addresses.
In May 2023, Chapman received a package from one of his suppliers containing fentanyl pills and fentanyl powder and re-distributed the substances to others.
An individual who used the fentanyl powder distributed by Chapman and overdosed. From March 2023 through December 2023, Chapman received at least 28 packages containing controlled substances from his sources of supply in Arizona.
Chapman was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Chapman was sentenced to 118 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Chapman is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force and the United States Postal Inspection Service, at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 24-CR-01003.
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Illegal Alien Found Guilty of Federal Meth and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Oscar Navarro-Zepeda, 42, from Spencer, Iowa, was convicted by a jury on August 22, 2024, after a 3 ½ day trial in federal court in Sioux City. Navarro-Zepeda was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of firearm by prohibited person; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Evidence at the trial showed that between April 2021 and April 2023, in the Northern District of Iowa and elsewhere Navarro-Zepeda was involved in a conspiracy that distributed more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, including more than 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine. Evidence also showed that on April 18, 2023, during a search warrant at Navarro-Zepeda’s residence in Spencer, Iowa, law enforcement seized approximately 33 pounds of methamphetamine, which he intended to distribute to others in the Spencer, Iowa, area. Officers also seized $17,932; an AR-15 style .223 caliber rifle, with two loaded magazines in a rifle case and a partial box of .223 ammunition, as well as various items of drug distribution and use paraphernalia. Navarro-Zepeda was prohibited from possessing firearms and possessed either or both firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking, to protect himself, his drugs and drug proceeds from others.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Navarro-Zepeda remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. On all of the convictions, Navarro-Zepeda faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-4029. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.