Northern District of Iowa
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Sioux City Man Sentenced for Possession of a Firearm as a Felon and Drug UserRead the Press Release
A Sioux City man who barricaded himself inside his residence, with a firearm when sheriff’s deputies attempted to serve a protection order was sentenced June 21, 2024, to more than 2 years in federal prison.
Gabriel Krusen, age 46, from Sioux City, received the prison term after a February 13, 2024, guilty plea to one-count of possession of a firearm by a felon and drug user.
Evidence in the case revealed Woodbury County Sheriff’s deputies attempting to serve a protection order on Krusen were met with resistance and evasion as Krusen either fled when he observed law enforcement, or would barricade himself inside of his residence with barrels, barbed wire, and other obstacles. Krusen also kept a shotgun near the barricaded door.
On the night of July 31, 2023, Sheriff’s Deputies were able to take defendant into custody on multiple driving violations and served him with the protection order. During the subsequent execution of a search warrant, paraphernalia, methamphetamine, marijuana, and the firearm were seized.
On February 3, 2024, while Krusen was on pre-trial release, deputies with the Woodbury County Sheriff’s office were dispatched to disturbance at Krusen’s residence, where an assault had taken place. Members of the SWAT team were called to assist with the arrest of the defendant because of his past, and used an armored vehicle to approach Krusen. Krusen eventually surrendered without further incident. The defendant was arrested and charged with domestic abuse assault- injury or mental illness. These charges are pending in the Woodbury County, Iowa District Court.
Krusen was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 34 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.
Krusen is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office 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 23-4069.
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Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty in COVID-19 Pandemic Loan SchemeRead the Press Release
A Pennsylvania man who organized a scheme to defraud the government out of COVID-19 pandemic loan moneys pled guilty on June 14, 2024, in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Alhaji Kundu Aly, age 35, from Chester, Pennsylvania, was convicted of one count of wire fraud.
In a plea agreement, Aly admitted that he and others recruited and assisted various individuals in the Northern District of Iowa and elsewhere to apply for Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans for which they did not actually qualify, in exchange for a fee. False, fraudulent, and fictitious documents and statements were submitted to various lending institutions in support of the PPP loans for the PPP applicants. After the PPP applicants received the fraudulent PPP loans, it was part of the scheme to demand a portion of the PPP moneys from the PPP applicants and, if necessary, Aly traveled to demand payment in person. Aly traveled to Iowa and demanded payment in person from a PPP applicant. Aly admitted in his plea agreement that he is responsible for no less than $250,000 in loss based on no less than 21 fraudulent PPP loans as a result of the scheme to defraud.
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.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Aly remains free on bond previously set pending sentencing. Aly faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 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 Timothy L. Vavricek and was investigated by the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, and 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-9.
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Central American Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being Deported Four TimesRead 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.
Manuel De Jesus Segovia, age 48, a citizen of El Salvador illegally present in the United States and residing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 3, 2024, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported.
At the guilty plea, Segovia admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government.
Segovia first illegally entered the United States in October 2004 and was apprehended by immigration officials at the border. Segovia was released on his own recognizance and absconded from ICE supervision. Segovia was not found by immigration officials until March 2007 and was first deported in June 2007. Segovia was again deported in March 2014 after illegally reentering the United States. On two consecutive days in June 2022, Segovia was apprehended at the border and returned to Mexico. On March 13, 2024, immigration officials learned Segovia had illegally returned to the United States and arrested him near his residence in Cedar Rapids.
Segovia was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Segovia was sentenced to 98 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.
Segovia 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-23.
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Cedar Rapids Contractor Sentenced to Federal Prison for Scamming Derecho VictimsRead the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids, Iowa, contractor who scammed victims of the 2020 derecho was sentenced on June 11, 2024, to four years in federal prison. Scott Gregory Adkins, age 48, received the prison term after a February 1, 2024, guilty plea to one count of wire fraud. In a plea agreement, Adkins admitted that, from December 2020 through March 2022, he devised and perpetrated a scheme to defraud his customers, including victims of the 2020 derecho. Adkins was a contractor doing business as “Adkins Home Improvements LLC.”
On August 10, 2020, a severe storm, commonly referred to as a derecho, struck multiple counties in the Northern District of Iowa, as well as other parts of the States of Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana. Media reporting on the event, citing public and private sources, have estimated that the derecho, with winds exceeding 100 mph, caused an estimated total of $7.5 billion in damage across the affected states. The derecho caused long-duration power outages across the Northern District of Iowa and the larger region, millions of acres of crops were damaged or destroyed, and numerous semi-trucks were blown off major interstate highways. Just within the city of Cedar Rapids, power was cut to nearly all of the city’s residents by the derecho, and damage estimates indicate that over 1,000 housing units were rendered unlivable while hundreds of additional homes suffered damage. Many of the city’s businesses were also damaged during the storm.
Adkins organized “Adkins Home Improvements LLC” in October 2020, approximately two months after the derecho. By means of “Adkins Home Improvements LLC,” Adkins offered home repair services to victims of the derecho, as well as other individuals in the Cedar Rapids area who needed projects completed in the tight-labor, post-derecho construction market.
As a part of his scheme, Adkins offered to provide construction services and materials to prospective customers of “Adkins Home Improvements LLC,” including but not limited to victims of the derecho. Adkins provided estimates to those customers and demanded substantial advance deposits or downpayments before undertaking work on the projects. Instead of completing the projects, Adkins spent some of the advanced funds on personal expenses, including but not limited to food, and transferred other such funds to a family member by means of a mobile payment service. Adkins also made false statements and excuses to his customers about the status of their projects to conceal his illicit use of the funds and to lull his customers into a false sense of security.
In total, Adkins stole over $190,000 from 22 victims as part of his scheme. One of Adkins’ victims was an elderly widow who suffered roof damage to her Cedar Rapids residence from the derecho. Adkins has a lengthy criminal history, including theft-related convictions in Iowa and Michigan.
Adkins was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Adkins was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $192,770.72 in restitution the victims. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Adkins 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 Timothy L. Vavricek and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-66-LTS-MAR.
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Sioux City Woman Pleads Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Dominique Burow, 37, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty June 12, 2024, in federal court, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, evidence showed that from January 2022 through February 2023, Burow and others distributed at least 5 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Sioux City area. Evidence showed that twice in 2022, Burow distributed or aided another in the distribution of methamphetamine to individuals cooperating with law enforcement. Burow also admitted to obtaining at least nine pounds of meth from a number of sources to distribute in Sioux City. Burow also wired money – drug proceeds, to sources in Mexico and California. Burow was also caught with methamphetamine while on pre-trial release for her original charges.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Burow remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Burow faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 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 imprisonment.
The case is being 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 23-4038. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Omaha Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with the Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A man who possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute pled guilty on June 12, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City.
Jose L. Velez, Sr., age 39, from Omaha, Nebraska, was convicted of one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, Velez admitted on or about February 23, 2024, he knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and 50 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Velez remains in custody of the United States Marshal and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Velez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher and was investigated by the North Central Iowa Drug Task Force, the Cerro Gordo Sheriff’s Office, the Clear Lake Police Department, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Mason City Police Department, the Iowa State Patrol, the Iowa DCI Laboratory, and the Cerro Gordo County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-03018.
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Mailing Drugs to Iowa Results in Federal Prison Sentence for California ManRead the Press Release
A California man who used the mail to send dangerous drugs to Iowa was sentenced June 11, 2024, to more than seven years in federal prison.
Tyler Vuong Le, age 28, from Anaheim California, received the prison term after a January 3, 2024, guilty plea to distribution of a controlled substance.
In a plea agreement, Le admitted he mailed packages on multiple occasions from California to Iowa that were pressed to look like oxycodone pills, but instead contained other controlled substances including fentanyl. Le believed the pills would be redistributed in Iowa. Le also sent cocaine, counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine, and LSD to Iowa. Fortunately, these items were being sent to an individual that was working with law enforcement and the controlled substances, including over 5,900 of the counterfeit oxycodone pills, were seized by law enforcement before they could be redistributed. According to the DEA, fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid drug that is 100 times more potent that morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/Fentanyl%202022%20Drug%20Fact%20Sheet-update.pdf
Le was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Le was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 4-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Le 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 Emily K. Nydle 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 United States Postal Inspectors, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-cr-2042.
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Woman who Sent Fentanyl Mixture into Jail Sentenced to 71 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A woman who sent controlled substances into a jail was sentenced on June 10, 2024, to 71 months in federal prison.
Brookelyn Marie Lindquist, age 42, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 11, 2024 guilty plea to one count of distribution of a controlled substance.
Lindquist sent multiple packages to another individual in jail. That individual was in prison pending sentencing for a federal drug trafficking conviction. Inside these packages, Lindquist sent the individual controlled substances that included a mixture of fentanyl and heroin. When the individual used the controlled substances sent by Lindquist, they suffered an overdose. Lindquist was on state parole at the time of her conduct due to another drug trafficking conviction.
Lindquist was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Lindquist was sentenced to 71 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a three-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 Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Waterloo Police Department, the Black Hawk County Sherriff’s Office, and the Tri-County Drug Task Force.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 23-CR- 2079. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Woman who Sent Fentanyl Mixture into Jail Sentenced to 71 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A woman who sent controlled substances into a jail was sentenced on June 10, 2024, to 71 months in federal prison.
Brookelyn Marie Lindquist, age 42, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 11, 2024 guilty plea to one count of distribution of a controlled substance.
Lindquist sent multiple packages to another individual in jail. That individual was in prison pending sentencing for a federal drug trafficking conviction. Inside these packages, Lindquist sent the individual controlled substances that included a mixture of fentanyl and heroin. When the individual used the controlled substances sent by Lindquist, they suffered an overdose. Lindquist was on state parole at the time of her conduct due to another drug trafficking conviction.
Lindquist was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Lindquist was sentenced to 71 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a three-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 Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Waterloo Police Department, the Black Hawk County Sherriff’s Office, and the Tri-County Drug Task Force.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR- 2079.
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Man Pleads Guilty to Multiple Counts of Firearm Possession by a Drug User and Making False Statements to Purchase FirearmsRead the Press Release
A man who possessed firearms as a drug user and made false statements during the purchase of firearms pled guilty on June 7, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City.
Brian Lee Byers, age 39, from Christmas, Florida, was convicted of 4 counts of possession of a firearm by an unlawful drug user and 4 counts of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.
At the plea hearing, Byers admitted that between July of 2019 and February of 2020, in Cero Gordo County, Iowa, Black Hawk County, Iowa, Winnebago County, Iowa, Grundy County, Iowa and Hancock County, Iowa he possessed multiple firearms while using marijuana and methamphetamine. He admitted that on July 25, 2019, November 9, 2019, February 22, 2020, and February 24, 2020, he stated on federal forms he was not a drug user while purchased multiple firearms.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Byers remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Byers faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ up to life, a fine of $250,000, and 5 years of supervised release.
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 Kevin Fletcher and was investigated by the Mason City Police Department, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.
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The case file number is 23-CR-3018.
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Clear Lake Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
A man who possessed a firearm as a felon and illegal drug user was sentenced on June 7, 2024, to more than 4 years in federal prison.
Riley Joe Morris Brekke, age 24, from Clear Lake, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and an unlawful drug user.
In a plea agreement, Brekke admitted that on May 11, 2023, while outside a liquor store in Mason City, he was approached by Mason City Police officers regarding outstanding warrants for a probation violation and escape from custody. Brekke ran from the officers, was caught, and arrested. While running, Brekke threw the backpack he was carrying. During a search of Brekke, officers located a needle and a bag of methamphetamine on his person. They also located a gun, ammunition, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia in the backpack he threw. Brekke had previously been convicted of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, a felony, in Cerro Gordo County in 2022.
Brekke was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Brekke was sentenced to 54 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.
Brekke 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 Fletcher and investigated by Mason City 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 23-CR-03020.
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Cedar Rapids Woman Involved in Methamphetamine Conspiracy Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A woman who conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced today to more than 12 years in federal prison.
Brandy Herman, age 48, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 7, 2023 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and three counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that Herman was involved in a large-scale drug trafficking organization that was responsible for mailing methamphetamine from California to Iowa through the United States Postal Service. Herman received multiple packages to her address in Cedar Rapids containing methamphetamine from California on behalf of one of her co‑conspirators. In addition, Herman and one of her co-conspirators utilized Herman’s daughter’s address to receive packages from California that contained methamphetamine.
Herman was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Herman was sentenced to 145 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.
Herman 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 Adam J. Vander Stoep 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 United States Postal Inspection Service,
the Internal Revenue Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force. The DEA Task Force consists of the DEA, the Linn County Sheriff's Office, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Marion Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-91.
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California Man Involved in Methamphetamine Trafficking Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced today to more than six years in federal prison.
Alan Sanchez, age 32, from San Jacinto, California, received the prison term after an October 23, 2023 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that Sanchez was involved in a large-scale drug trafficking organization that was responsible for mailing methamphetamine from California to Iowa through the United States Postal Service. Sanchez mailed packages that contained many pounds of methamphetamine on behalf of the drug trafficking organization.
Sanchez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Sanchez was sentenced to 76 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.
Sanchez 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 Adam J. Vander Stoep 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 United States Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force. The DEA Task Force consists of the DEA, the Linn County Sheriff's Office, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Marion Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-91.
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Sac County Man Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Federal Prison for Meth and Firearm ConvictionsRead the Press Release
A man who possessed methamphetamine and illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced June 7, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City.
Edwin Diaz, 34, from Odebolt, Iowa, was convicted of two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm on February 9, 2024. Diaz was previously convicted of felony theft, burglary, and possession of a controlled substance, which prohibit a person from possessing firearms.
At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that in the early morning hours on December 31, 2022, an Ida County Sheriff’s Deputy, stopped to check on an oddly parked vehicle, finding defendant and another in the vehicle. The deputy seized a baggie with 45 grams of methamphetamine and another bag with 35 grams of marijuana. Evidence further showed that days later, in the early morning hours of January 4, 2023, Diaz and his girlfriend coaxed the person with Diaz on December 31 into a vehicle. Then Diaz forced this person to sign a note, written by Diaz, saying the methamphetamine seized from Diaz’s vehicle on December 31, was this person’s and not Diaz’s. During the execution of a search warrant at Diaz’s residence, agents seized evidence of Diaz’s conduct in obtaining the false letter, including handcuffs and the false note. Diaz’s conduct constituted obstruction of justice. Agents also seized approximately ½ ounce of methamphetamine, a small quantity of marijuana, various pills, drug distribution paraphernalia, a Ruger .22 rifle with a loaded magazine and 27 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Diaz was sentenced to 185 months’, 27 days’ imprisonment and must serve a term of four years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Diaz is being held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service 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 Ida County Sheriff’s Office, Sac County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa Public Safety-Division of Criminal Investigation 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 23-4012.
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Mason City Woman Pleads Guilty to Being a Drug User in Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
A drug user who possessed firearms pled guilty on June 3, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa.
Brittany Graham, age 36, of Mason City, was convicted of one count of being a drug user in possession of firearms. At the plea hearing, Graham admitted that, in August 2022, she possessed four pistols while she was an unlawful user of marijuana.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Graham remains free on bond previously set. Graham faces a possible maximum sentence of fifteen years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
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 is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mason City Police Department, the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is CR 23-3014.
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Manly, Iowa, Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Drug UserRead the Press Release
A man who possessed a firearm as un unlawful drug user pled guilty June 3, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City.
Cory Allen More, age 33, from Manly, Iowa, was convicted of one count of possession of a firearm by a drug user.
In a plea agreement, More admitted that on October 23, 2023, his vehicle ran out of gas in Clear Lake, Iowa. A Clear Lake police officer saw More pull his vehicle over to the side of the road. The officer made contact with More while he was outside of his vehicle near the engine bay where he had just opened the hood. At that time, the officer observed 2 marijuana baggies with a green leafy substance on the ground between More’s feet and the officer’s feet. The officer seized the two baggies which were found to contain marijuana. More also had a handgun in a holster on his belt in plain view of the officer. On October 27, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at More’s residence in Manly, Iowa and seized marijuana, scales, drug paraphernalia, and an additional 16 firearms and ammunition.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. More remains free on bond previously set. More faces a potential mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
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.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher and was investigated by the Clear Lake Police Department, Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office, Manly Police Department, Worth County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol, Cerro Gordo County Attorney’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, 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-03006.
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Iowa Surgical Center Agrees to Pay $125,000 to Resolve Allegations It Violated the Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
First Choice Surgical Center, an ambulatory surgical center located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has agreed to pay $125,000 to the United States to resolve allegations that it violated civil provisions of the Controlled Substances Act.
First Choice Surgical Center is the surgical center affiliated with Fox Eye Laser & Cosmetic Institute, P.C., a practice performing laser vision correction and cataract surgery. The settlement resolves allegations that First Choice failed to maintain complete and accurate records concerning the controlled substances it purchased and dispensed and failed to provide effective controls and procedures to guard against theft and diversion of controlled substances.
In August 2019, other employees of First Choice discovered that Sabrina Thalblum, a registered nurse at First Choice, had been tampering with vials of fentanyl. The fentanyl was kept at First Choice for patient use during out-patient surgical procedures. A criminal investigation revealed that Thalblum stole the fentanyl for her own use. Thalblum withdrew fentanyl from the vials, reinjected saline into the vials, and returned the vials, which now contained less than declared values of fentanyl, to storage at First Choice. In January 2021, Thalblum pled guilty in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to charges related to the theft and, in January 2022, was sentenced to five years-probation.
A related civil investigation identified at least 130 separate occasions in which the record-keeping requirements of the Controlled Substances Act were allegedly violated by First Choice. The DEA’s investigation found that First Choice employees “batch signed” records indicating they had witnessed the wasting of fentanyl remaining after surgery when it was not First Choice’s practice to ensure those employees had witnessed the wasting. Additionally, First Choice failed to make a timely report to DEA after it learned of the fentanyl theft.
With the passage of the Controlled Substances Act, Congress took steps to create “a closed system” of distribution of controlled substances in which every facet of the handling of the substances – from their manufacture to their consumption by the ultimate user – is subject to intense governmental regulation. This mission was taken against the backdrop of trying to prevent the diversion and abuse of legitimate controlled substances, while still ensuring that an adequate supply of those substances meet the medical and scientific needs of the United States.
“This settlement highlights one part of our office’s efforts to battle the opioid crisis,” said Timothy T. Duax, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa. “Healthcare providers must do their part to ensure the safety of our community by maintaining accurate records and safeguarding access to dangerous controlled substances.”
“The DEA works vigilantly to make sure hospitals are enforcing the rules and regulations that ensure patient safety,” DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Steven T. Bell said. “Lives are unnecessarily put at risk when accuracy and good record keeping habits are brushed aside. These rules are in place for a reason and should provide families with peace of mind that they are receiving the best care possible when they walk in the door of any hospital in the United States.”
The claims asserted against First Choice are allegations only; there was no determination of liability.
The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Brandon J. Gray and was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Office of Diversion Control.
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Federal Felon Who Fled Police Found Guilty of Meth OffenseRead the Press Release
A man who fled from law enforcement while possessing methamphetamine pled guilty May 31, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City.
Chad Hughes, 40, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Hughes was previously convicted of a federal firearms offense in 2005.
At the plea hearing, Hughes admitted possessing almost ½ pound of methamphetamine which he intended to distribute to others in Sioux City. Evidence showed that on June 24, 2023, law enforcement attempted to stop the motorcycle Hughes was operating. Hughes fled from law enforcement with high-speed pursuits overlapping in cities of Sioux City, Iowa and North Sioux City, South Dakota during which Hughes ditched the motorcycle and a backpack to avoid apprehension. Law enforcement seized the backpack which contained methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and other items (one shoe, lottery tickets, etc.) which aided in the ultimate identification of Hughes.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Hughes remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Hughes faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 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 imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa State Patrol, North Sioux City, South Dakota, Police Department, and 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 23-4053. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Waterloo Marijuana Dealer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
A Waterloo man who possessed over 1,000 grams of marijuana and two firearms was sentenced May 29, 2024, to more than three years in federal prison.
Daquavion Marquise Walker, age 21, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 10, 2024 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a drug user.
Information disclosed at sentencing showed that, in March 2022, Walker was charged in state court with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and failure to affix a drug tax stamp. In June 2022, while the state charge was pending, Walker had someone buy him a Glock pistol from a federal firearms licensee in Cedar Falls, Iowa. In January 2023, law enforcement officers searched an apartment and a vehicle associated with Walker and they seized two Glock pistols, including the Glock purchased for Walker in June 2022, which had a thirty‑one‑round magazine attached to it; a fifty‑round drum magazine; and over 1,000 grams of marijuana.
Walker was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Walker was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment, and 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.
Walker 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 Dillan Edwards and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and 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‑02053.
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Fort Dodge Sex Offender Sent to Federal Prison for 13 Years for Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
A man who shot into a residence and threatened people was sentenced on May 28, 2024, to 13 years in federal prison. Archester Rodgers, age 42, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 23, 2024, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Evidence in the case revealed that on September 20, 2022, in Fort Dodge, police officers responded to a call from a woman being threatened by Rodgers, who was outside her apartment with an assault rifle. During the call, the victim heard Rodgers fire the gun and other people began calling 911 to report hearing shots. Rodgers fled from police when they arrived, eventually crashing his car. In Rodgers’ crashed car, officers found spent shell casings which were determined to be fired from Rodgers’ assault rifle, which was later recovered by police. It was later determined that earlier the same night, Rodgers shot his assault rifle into another residence in Fort Dodge at least three times. Rodgers was also in violation of his duty to register as a sex offender. Rodgers has a lengthy criminal history, including convictions for: Rape, Sexual Battery, Domestic Assault—Bodily Harm (twice), Failure to Register as a Sex Offender (four times), Assault, Terroristic Threats, Criminal Sexual Conduct—Fifth Degree—Nonconsensual Sexual Contact, Domestic Assault—Commits Act to Cause Fear or Immediate Bodily Harm or Death, Possession of a Controlled Substance (twice), and Eluding (twice).
Rodgers was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 156 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. Rodgers is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
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.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and was investigated by the Fort Dodge Police Department and the United States Marshal Service.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-3027.
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Former Clutier City Clerk Sentenced to Nearly Two Years in Federal Prison for Stealing from the CityRead the Press Release
A woman who formerly worked as the city clerk for the City of Clutier, Iowa, and who committed wire fraud to steal from the city was sentenced today to nearly two years in federal prison.
Keri Kopriva, age 44, from Elberon, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 26, 2023, guilty plea to one count of wire fraud.
Information from a plea agreement and at sentencing showed that Kopriva was working as the city clerk for the City of Clutier between January 2016 and December 2018. During this time, Kopriva stole money from the city in various ways, including writing checks to herself and to family members, using city credit cards for personal expenses, and pocketing money meant for utility payments from citizens of the city. Information at sentencing showed that over the nearly three years, Kopriva stole more than $107,000 from the city.
Kopriva was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Kopriva was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment. She was ordered to make more than $108,000 in restitution to the City of Clutier. She must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Kopriva 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 Anthony Morfitt and 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-13.
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Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Distribution and Money Laundering CrimesRead the Press Release
A man who conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine and launder proceeds from trafficking drugs was sentenced May 30 to 30 years in federal prison.
Albert McReynolds, age 35, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 2, 2023, jury verdict finding him guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and one count of engaging in a monetary transaction involving property derived from unlawful activity.
The evidence at trial showed that McReynolds was a methamphetamine dealer in the Cedar Rapids area. Between September 2020 and November 2021, McReynolds worked with others to distribute methamphetamine. The evidence at trial showed that McReynolds and one of his coconspirators, Calvin Williams, traveled to California to meet with another person to get methamphetamine. Following the meeting, the source of supply in California sent packages containing methamphetamine through the United States Postal Service to several addresses in Cedar Rapids. McReynolds had the packages sent to other individuals’ addresses to avoid having the methamphetamine delivered directly to him. Investigators intercepted and searched three packages that were mailed from California to addresses associated with McReynolds in Cedar Rapids. In each of those packages, investigators located multiple pounds of methamphetamine. In total, investigators identified 46 packages mailed from California to the Cedar Rapids area between September 2020 and November 2021 that all shared similar characteristics to the packages that investigators intercepted and searched. These 46 packages had a combined total mailing weight of over 700 pounds.
The evidence at trial showed that, between October 2020 and November 2021, McReynolds also conspired with others to commit money laundering. McReynolds and others distributed the methamphetamine McReynolds received from California. McReynolds vacuum-sealed the money that he made from selling methamphetamine, and McReynolds and Williams sent packages containing cash through the United States Postal Service to multiple different addresses associated with the methamphetamine source in California. McReynolds and Williams placed fake names and addresses on the return labels of the packages containing the cash so law enforcement would not be able to link McReynolds and others to those packages. On July 28, 2021, McReynolds mailed a package from Cedar Rapids to an address associated with his source in California. Investigators intercepted and searched that package and located $56,470 in cash.
McReynolds was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. McReynolds was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a ten-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
McReynolds 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 Adam J. Vander Stoep and Shawn S. Wehde 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 United States Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force. The DEA Task Force consists of the DEA, the Linn County Sheriff's Office, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Marion Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-91-CJW.
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Cedar Rapids Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Prohibited Person in Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
A prohibited person who possessed firearms pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Kyler Goettsch, age 26, of Cedar Rapids, was convicted of one count of being a prohibited person in possession of firearms. At the plea hearing, Goettsch admitted that, in November 2023, he possessed a Springfield pistol and a Sig Sauer pistol after having been convicted of four felonies and a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Goettsch remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Goettsch faces a possible maximum sentence of fifteen years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
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 is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR 24-16.
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Akron Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Second Meth Conspiracy ConvictionRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced in federal court in Sioux City on May 30, 2024, to 30 years’ imprisonment.
Britt Lander, 42, from Akron, Iowa, was convicted by a jury on December 6, 2023, of conspiring to distribute more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine. In 2012, Lander was previously convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.
The evidence at trial and sentencing showed that Lander, along with others, conspired to receive at least 88 pounds of methamphetamine by mail and vehicle transport from California and Mexico to distribute in the Sioux City and Akron, Iowa areas. Evidence also showed Lander assisted in unloading 5 to 15 pound loads of methamphetamine, and audio/video recordings showed Lander and another using cutting tools to remove 7 kilograms (roughly 15 pounds) of methamphetamine from inside a spare tire that was used to transport the methamphetamine from Mexico.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Lander was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment and must serve term of 10 years supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Lander 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 South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City 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; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-4071. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Repeat Federal Offender Pleads Guilty to Meth DistributionRead the Press Release
Jermiah Preston, 41, from Fort Dodge pled guilty May 22, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City 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.
At the plea hearing, evidence showed that on January 23, 2023, Preston participated in a meth transaction with a confidential informant. During a traffic stop after the transaction, Preston was observed to throw two bags of methamphetamine out the truck window. The buy money expended was found on Preston’s person, and DNA on the discarded bags of meth matched Preston’s.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Preston remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Preston faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $8,000,000 fine, and at least eight years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being 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, and Iowa State Patrol.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-3029. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Des Moines Woman Pleads Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty May 28, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City.
At the plea hearing, Pamela Brownell, 63, from Des Moines, Iowa, admitted that from September 2022 through October 2023, she and others conspired to distribute more than 45 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Fort Dodge, Iowa area. In October 2023, law enforcement purchased ½ pound of methamphetamine from Brownell in a controlled drug transaction. Also in October 2023, a traffic stop of Brownell resulted in the seizure of ½ pound 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 before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Brownell remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Brownell faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, and at least ten years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being 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.
Le Mars Man Pleads Guilty to Meth and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
Timothy Mullally, 48, from Le Mars, Iowa, 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 hearing, Mullally admitted that between January 2022 through September 2022, he and others distributed more than two kilograms of methamphetamine. Evidence showed that on two occasions in August and September 2022 he 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 intercepted a three pound package of methamphetamine coming from California to Mullally’s house in September 2022. During the investigation, including a search warrant 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 any firearm.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Mullally was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the guilty plea and will remain in custody pending sentencing. On the drug conviction, Mullally faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 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 imprisonment. For the firearm conviction, Mullally faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and not more than three years of supervised release.
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.
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The case file number is 22-4083. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Cedar Rapids Man Charged with Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child and Destruction of EvidenceRead the Press Release
Joshua Johnson, age 49, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been charged with attempted sex trafficking of a child and destruction of evidence. The charges are contained in an Indictment filed on May 9, 2024, in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.
The Indictment alleges that, in December 2023, Johnson attempted to recruit, entice, obtain, patronize, and solicit a person he believed to be under 14 to engage in a commercial sex act. The Indictment also alleges that Johnson destroyed electronic data with the intent to impede, obstruct, and influence the investigation.
If convicted, Johnson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, and at least five years and up to life on supervised release following any imprisonment.
Johnson appeared for a detention hearing on May 20, 2024, in federal court in Cedar Rapids and was held without bond. Johnson’s next appearance for trial is set for July 15, 2024.
As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Iowa Division of Criminal 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 is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR 24-38.
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Rock Rapids Man Pleads Guilty to Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
A man who failed to register as a sex offender pled guilty on May 17, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City.
Melvin Geovani Aguilar-Lopez, age 31, from Rock Rapids, Iowa, was convicted of 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).
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.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Aguilar-Lopez was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the guilty plea and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Aguilar-Lopez faces a term of imprisonment of between 15 to 21 months, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being 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.
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Sioux City Man Sent to Federal Prison for Receiving and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A man who was convicted by a jury for receiving and possessing child pornography was sentenced, May 16, 2024, to 16 years in federal prison.
Anthony Michael Tucker age 35, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a jury verdict finding him guilty of Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography.
Evidence at trial showed that in January 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a Cybertip from Google that accounts belonging to Tucker contained over 85 images and seven videos of child sexual abuse material. The images and videos included depictions of sadistic or masochistic conduct as well as prepubescent children and toddlers. During trial, jurors watched a video-recorded interview of Tucker speaking with an Iowa DCI agent where he admitted he was responsible for the content on the Google account and stated, “there’s more that I run across…those are just the ones I kept.” In 2010, Tucker was previously convicted for Lascivious Acts with a Child. Tucker, then 21, had sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old female.
Tucker was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Tucker was sentenced to 192 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to the victims of the offense. He was also ordered to pay $1,200 in additional fines and assessments. Tucker must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Tucker is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
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.”
The case was investigated by the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Investigation, Cyber Crime Bureau and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-4045.
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Nurse Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Pain Medication from Patients and Fined $20,000Read the Press Release
A Carroll County registered nurse who stole controlled substances from patients and falsified medical records at a life care center where she was employed was sentenced today to 7 months in federal prison and ordered to pay a $20,000 fine.
Cassandra Lynne Vonnahme, age 32, from Arcadia, Iowa, pled guilty to one count of acquiring a controlled substance by means of misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge, and one count of false statements relating to health care matters on November 30, 2023.
Vonnahme admitted that between November 2020 and December 2020, she diverted controlled substances and falsified related medical records. The controlled substances Vonnahme stole and the records she falsified pertained to actual patients. Evidence at sentencing also revealed that Vonnahme burglarized 5-6 homes after losing her job as a nurse for stealing patient’s medication. Vonnahme was later convicted of impersonating a public official after another burglary in Carroll County in 2021, where she pretended to be a county assessor in order to gain entry into a stranger’s home and then stole controlled substances.
Vonnahme was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 7 months’ imprisonment and fined $20,000. She must also serve a 2-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Vonnahme was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set.
The case is being investigated by the Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and is being 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 23-4019.
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Strawberry Point Felon Sentenced for Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Scott Wesley Timmerman, age 56, from Strawberry Point, Iowa who was found in a park after hours with a sawed-off shotgun was sentenced May 3, 2024, to more than five years in federal prison.
Timmerman received the prison term after a November 1, 2023, guilty plea to one count of possession of a short-barreled shotgun as a previously convicted felon.
In a plea agreement, Timmerman admitted he possessed a short-barreled Winchester shotgun when officers found him in a park after hours. The firearm was not registered to him in the federal registry. Timmerman also had two prior felony convictions in Arizona.
Timmerman was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Timmerman was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment and fined $500. 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.
Timmerman 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 Patrick Reinert and was investigated by the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Clayton County Sheriff’s Office, 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-CR-2054.
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Sioux City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
A man who admitted to using and selling drugs while in possession of a firearm, was sentenced May 3, 2024, to more than 2 years in federal prison.
Devonta Cobbs, age 23, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 19, 2024, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a drug user.
Evidence in the case revealed that from about May 2022 through June 2022, Cobbs, while being an admitted user of marijuana, possessed multiple firearms. During an investigation into a shooting incident, while executing search warrants on Cobbs’ property, officers located several guns, ammunition, magazines as well as more than $2,000 in cash and marijuana.
Cobbs was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced to 34 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.
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.
Cobbs 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 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 22-4069.
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Nebraska Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethRead the Press Release
A Nebraska man who planned to distribute methamphetamine, was sentenced on May 7, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City.
Calvin Wright, 33, from Creighton, Nebraska, pled guilty on January 24, 2024, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Wright was previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in 2016 in Nebraska.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that on July 5, 2023, in Sioux City, Iowa, law enforcement stopped a vehicle in which Wright was a passenger. Due to suspicious activity, a K-9 was deployed and indicated the presence of a controlled substance in the vehicle. In a backpack which had been between Wright’s legs in the vehicle, law enforcement found approximately 95 grams of pure methamphetamine, scales, and drug paraphernalia.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Wright was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment and must serve a term of ten years supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Wright 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 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 23-4052.
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Mason City, Iowa Man Sentenced to 18.5 Years Federal Imprisonment for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A man from Mason City, originally from Alabama, was sentenced May 6, 2024, to more than 18 years in federal prison. Tristan Walker, age 44, received the prison term after a January 2, 2024, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence in the case revealed between October 2022, and December 2022, Walker knowingly and intentionally conspired and to distribute 195 grams of pure “ice” methamphetamine. Walker has an extensive criminal history, including convictions for attempted first degree murder (two counts), domestic battery, domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury, assault causing bodily injury, accessory after the fact, burglary, and going armed with intent.
Walker was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 222 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. Walker 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 office and Iowa Department of Public Safety – Division of Narcotics 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 23-3019.
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Mason City Man Pleads Guilty to 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 pled guilty May 3, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City.
Tirrell Harlan Hopkins, Jr., age 23, from Mason City, Iowa, was convicted of 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 taking hearing, Hopkins admitted that on or about November 18, 2023, in Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, he knowingly possessed a firearm, a Springfield Armory, Model: Saint, Caliber: 5.56 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.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Hopkins remains in custody of the United States Marshal after the guilty plea and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Hopkins faces a potential of a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $2,000,000 fine, and 6 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
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.
The case is being 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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Cedar Falls Office Manager Sentenced to Federal Prison for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
A Cedar Falls office manager who stole approximately $250,000 in a two-year period was sentenced on May 2, 2024, to over two years in federal prison. Teresa Mae Chiappone, formerly known as Teresa Mae Combs, Teresa Mae Hughes, and Teresa Mae King, age 57, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 19, 2023 guilty plea to one count of wire fraud.
At the guilty plea and sentencing hearings, Chiappone admitted she had worked as the office manager for a Cedar Falls small business since 2014. Between September 2020 and September 2022, Chiappone embezzled approximately $250,000 from the small business. Chiappone abused her position of trust at the small business to write over $160,000 in unauthorized checks drawn on the small business’s bank account for her own benefit. Chiappone also intercepted at least $50,000 in cash deposits, and she made no less than $3,000 in unauthorized credit card charges. Chiappone gambled away thousands of the small business’s moneys at Iowa casinos. As a result of the fraud, the small business had to take out a loan to cover its losses, contract with a local accounting firm to conduct a forensic audit, and max out its line of credit at a local bank.
Chiappone was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Chiappone was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment and fined $1,000. She was ordered to make $255,639.16 in restitution to the victim and its insurance company. She must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Chiappone was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Cedar Falls Police Department assisted in the investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-2047.
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Sending Thousands of Fentanyl Pills through the Mail Leads to Federal Prison for Arizona ManRead the Press Release
An Arizona man who sent thousands of fentanyl pills to Marion, Iowa, in the mail was sentenced May 1, 2024, to more than seven years in federal prison.
Dominique Holliday, age 28, from Tempe, Arizona, received the prison term after a December 28, 2023 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Information disclosed at sentencing showed that, starting in April 2021 and continuing until December 21, 2021, Holliday sent packages containing 200 to 300 fentanyl pills to an individual in Marion through the mail every two weeks, totaling approximately 3,200 pills. The Marion man utilized a financial application to pay Holliday for the fentanyl pills, disguising the nature and source of the payments. On two separation occasions in December 2021, an individual suffered non‑fatal overdoses after ingesting fentanyl pills that Holliday had sent to Iowa.
Holliday was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Holliday was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment, and he must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Holliday 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 Dillan Edwards 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; the Marion Police Department; and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 23-CR-00021-CJW.
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Fort Dodge Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed firearms pled guilty May 3, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City.
Matthew Knowles, 37, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, admitted at the plea hearing to possessing a .380 ACP pistol, and a .410 gauge shotgun on November 10, 2022, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He further admitted to being a user of methamphetamine, marijuana, and knowing he 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 before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Knowles remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Knowles 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 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. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Online Predator Who Enticed Minors to Create Child Pornography Sentenced to over a Quarter of a Century in PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who convinced two minor females from other states to record and send him child pornography was sentenced April 30, 2024, to 28 years in federal prison.
Alex McClanahan, age 21, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 7, 2023 guilty plea to one count of sexual exploitation of children.
In a plea agreement, McClanahan admitted that in 2022 he had sexually explicit conversations over Instagram with a 13‑year‑old and a 15‑year‑old. He also admitted that he requested or persuaded the 13‑year‑old to record herself performing sexually explicit conduct, and she complied. In November 2022, law enforcement officers seized McClanahan’s cell phone and found dozens of sexually explicit videos and photos depicting the 15‑year‑old involved in sexually explicit conduct. In all, investigators also found approximately 700 videos containing child pornography on McClanahan’s phone.
McClanahan was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. McClanahan was sentenced to 336 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $33,000 in restitution to child victims depicted in videos and photos he possessed. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
McClanahan 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 Dubuque County Sheriff’s Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jason Norwood and Dan Chatham.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23‑CR‑1010‑CJW‑MAR.
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Felon Who Unlawfully Possessed a Gun Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A woman who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced May 2, 2024, to more than 2 years in federal prison.
Andrea Crystal Lee, age 36, from Emmetsburg, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 19, 2023, guilty plea to Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.
Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that on January 24, 2023, Lee was on state probation for possession of a controlled substance offense. During a probation check, a state probation officer located methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in Lee’s home. Law enforcement secured a search warrant, and a search of Lee’s home was conducted. During the search, law enforcement found a loaded 9mm handgun concealed in a floor vent, ammunition, and magazines. As a drug user and felon, Lee was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Lee was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Lee was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a 3-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.
Lee is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick T. Greenwood and Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-3011. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Colorado Woman Sent to Federal Prison for Possessing Meth & FirearmsRead the Press Release
A woman who possessed a pound of methamphetamine and 150 pounds of marijuana was sentenced on May 1, 2024, to 8 years in federal prison.
Amy Cruz age 37, from Denver, Colorado, received the prison term after an October 13, 2022, guilty plea to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
Evidence in the case showed that on April 27, 2022, Cruz and a co-defendant committed several offenses in Colorado before traveling cross country to deliver drugs to Minnesota. Locally, Cruz and a co-defendant stole a vehicle from a car dealership in Sioux City, Iowa, and led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit with speeds exceeding 100mph. During the pursuit, Cruz and the co-defendant began discarding items from the stolen vehicle before switching to a second stolen vehicle. The pursuit ended when they crashed into an unoccupied car in Le Mars, Iowa. The two were transported to the hospital with varying degrees of injury. Several totes were found Cruz’s path, and some in the stolen vehicles, which contained stolen marijuana from a Colorado dispensary, approximately one pound of methamphetamine, three firearms, and numerous other items that had been reported stolen.
Cruz was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Cruz was sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a 4-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Cruz is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case 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. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick T. Greenwood and Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-4045.
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Jury Finds Sioux City Man Guilty of Kidnapping and Possessing Ammunition as a Felon and Drug UserRead the Press Release
A recidivist felon was convicted by a jury on April 26, 2024, after a 5-day trial in federal court in Sioux City.
Bobby Rhoden, age 49, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of kidnapping and one count of possession of ammunition by a felon and drug user.
Evidence at trial showed that Rhoden used threats to get his victim, a former girlfriend, into his car to help him recover a phone she had taken. Over the next 36 hours, he brutalized her, and drove her to at least two locations in an effort to find his phone. The victim escaped Rhoden by running away from him to a neighbor’s house. As she ran, Rhoden fired his gun at or near her. A subsequent investigation of the kidnapping revealed live ammunition and a spent casing in the garage where Rhoden lived, and one of the locations where he held his victim.
Rhoden was previously convicted of two counts of forgery in Scott County, Iowa, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in Scott County, Iowa and conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.
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.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Rhoden remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Rhoden faces a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department, ATF and is 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 22-04073.
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Mason City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Thomas Alan Newman, from Mason City, Iowa, who received, distributed, and possessed images of child pornography was sentenced on April 25, 2024, to 6 years in federal prison.
Newman, age 60, from Swaledale, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 18, 2023, guilty plea to Possession of Child Pornography.
Evidence at the hearing showed that in May 2021, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a report from Facebook of a user trafficking in child pornography. Pursuant to a search warrant, the content of Newman’s account was provided to law enforcement. The content included several chats of a sexual nature where Newman solicited child pornography from others. Newman and another individual proposed they create a group on Facebook in order to share and trade child pornography. When interviewed by agents, Newman admitted to the activity associated with the NCMEC CyperTip report as well as sharing and receiving child pornography that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct or the sexual abuse and exploitation of an infant or toddler. Newman admitted he shared approximately 50 videos of child pornography.
Newman was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Newman was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay a total of $30,000 in fines and assessments. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term and register as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal system.
Newman is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
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.”
The case is being was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-3016.
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Man Who Downloaded Child Pornography After Previous Conviction for Child Pornography Offense Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
A man who received child pornography over the internet while in a residential facility for a prior child pornography charge pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Brady David Salow, age 27, from Vinton, Iowa, was convicted of one count of receiving child pornography.
In a plea agreement, Salow admitted that he was convicted of four counts of possession of a depiction of a minor in a sex act in Dubuque County in 2019. As a condition of his sentence in that case, in 2023 he was residing at a residential facility in Vinton. Per the rules of the facility, Salow was not permitted to have access to a phone or a computer. Beginning in the summer of 2023, however, Salow repeatedly persuaded an employee at the facility to loan him her cellular phone under the pretense that he was going to use it for either looking up photos of celebrities or to listen to music. By at least August 2023, Salow began receiving and downloading child pornography to the employee’s phone without the employee’s knowledge, saving downloaded images to a hidden folder on the phone. In October 2023 a fellow resident alerted staff that Salow had been using a phone, and the staff member turned over her phone for examination. A forensic examination of the phone revealed child pornography, and Salow admitted that he had downloaded child pornography to the phone.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Salow remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Salow faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and lifetime term of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23‑CR‑00089.
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Cascade Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Rolling Back OdometersRead the Press Release
A man who was responsible for forty-seven cars that had lower, false odometers was sentenced to federal prison on April 8, 2024.
Randolph Forrest, age 69, from Cascade, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 17, 2023 guilty plea to one count of wire fraud.
Information from sentencing showed that from June 2012 through July 2021 Forrest conspired with others to roll back odometers on used cars to sell them for more money. Forrest and others involved in the scheme tampered with the odometers of at least forty-seven cars by having the odometers fraudulently altered to reflect lower mileages. They then sold the cars to unsuspecting buyers at higher sales prices than the buyers would have paid had the true mileage been disclosed. As part of the fraud, Forrest mailed forms to a repair business requesting that odometers be changed to reflect lower mileages. Forrest advertised the cars with the lower, false mileages on Facebook and Craigslist.
Forrest was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Forrest was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and six months’ home confinement. He was ordered to make $140,178.55 in restitution to forty-seven victims of his offense. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that odometer fraud in the United States results in consumer losses of more than $1 billion annually and has established a special hotline to handle odometer fraud complaints. Individuals with information relating to odometer tampering should call (800) 424-9393 or send an email to [email protected].
More information on odometer fraud is available on the NHTSA website https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/odometer-fraud and tips on detecting and avoiding odometer fraud are available at this page: www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nvs/pdf/811284.pdf.
Forrest was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marshal on May 6, 2024.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by the United States Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Iowa Department of Transportation, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-1016.
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Sheldon, Iowa Woman Pleads Guilty to Meth and Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Kelli Biller, 38, from Sheldon, Iowa, pled guilty April 24, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City. Biller was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
At the plea hearing, Biller admitted that from about January 2022 through November 2023, she was involved in a conspiracy that distributed at least 1200 grams of methamphetamine and at least 200 grams of fentanyl. Biller admitted to facilitating the receipt of 2,000 fentanyl pills from a source in Sioux City to later distribute in the Sheldon and Primghar area. Biller further admitted to obtaining several ounces of methamphetamine from her source for redistribution in and around Northwest Iowa. During a traffic stop in Sioux City on November 10, 2023, agents seized 19 M30-type fentanyl pills from Biller.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Biller remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Biller faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being 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. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Man Who Fled Scene after Contributing to Overdose Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who distributed heroin and fentanyl to a victim who subsequently overdosed was sentenced today to more than 19 years in federal prison.
Jacob Lee Blauer, age 32, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 29, 2023 guilty plea to distribution of a controlled substance resulting in serious bodily injury.
Evidence in the case established that on November 7, 2022, in Cedar Rapids, Blauer prepared a shot of heroin and fentanyl and gave it to another person. The victim used the drugs and immediately overdosed. Blauer left the scene. Emergency personnel arrived and revived the victim with Narcan. After this incident, Blauer continued to sell heroin and fentanyl.
Blauer was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Blauer was sentenced to 236 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Blauer 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 Northern Iowa Heroin Initiative and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Drug Enforcement Administrative and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-61. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Iowa Nurse Practitioner Agrees to Pay over $50,000 to Resolve Suit Alleging Fraudulent Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Prescriptions, KickbacksRead the Press Release
Ashley Brown, DNP, ARNP, from Des Moines, Iowa, has agreed to pay $52,560 to the United States to resolve allegations that she violated the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. § 3729, by signing hundreds of medically unnecessary prescriptions for expensive orthotic braces in exchange for kickback payments of $20 per patient. The full claims against Brown are contained in a Civil Complaint filed earlier this month in the United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.
“Our office will aggressively pursue any medical providers that seek to profit by outsourcing their medical decision-making,” said Timothy T. Duax, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa. “We will continue to work with our federal and state partners to identify and hold these providers accountable to the public.”
The complaint alleged that from approximately April 17, 2020, to May 19, 2021, Brown, an advanced registered nurse practitioner, knowingly caused the submission of over $1 million in false claims to Medicare. Specifically, the complaint alleged that Brown wrote hundreds of prescriptions for orthotic braces that were unreasonable, not medically necessary, and in contravention of both state and federal law. The complaint refers to several patients who stated that they did not know Brown and did not need or request the orthotic braces Brown prescribed to them, including an Elkhart resident to whom Brown prescribed a left knee brace even though the patient’s left leg had been amputated years prior.
The complaint alleged that Brown spent as little as nine seconds reviewing patient records before approving the braces. Brown is alleged to have falsely represented she established valid prescriber/patient relationships when, in fact, she had no contact with her ‘patients’ at all. The complaint also alleged Brown received $20 per patient reviewed, sometimes resulting in Brown receiving hundreds of dollars for mere minutes of review.
The claims asserted against Brown are allegations only; there was no determination of liability.
The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Brandon J. Gray and was investigated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 1:24-cv-00036.
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U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa Celebrates National Crime Victims’ Rights Week April 21-27, 2024Read the Press Release
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is April 21-27, 2024. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa is commemorating this important awareness week by announcing winners of Law Enforcement Victim Services Awards.
In 2022, there were nearly 20 million crime victimizations in the United States. More than 6.6 million were the result of violent crimes, including rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. Of that 6.6 million, only about 42% were reported to police.
This year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week theme is “How would you help? Options, services, and hope for crime survivors.” We must create an environment in which victims and survivors feel safe talking about what happened to them. The theme aims to ensure that everyone in a community knows where and how crime victims and survivors can find help — including friends, family members, colleagues, neighbors, service providers, or other trusted members of the community. We must all be prepared to offer support.
“We are fortunate in the Northern District of Iowa to have excellent resources for victims of domestic and sexual violence as well as resources for survivors of homicide and other violent crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy T. Duax. “Our personnel are our greatest asset. They are trained to provide compassionate, consistent, and comprehensive services to crime victims across the state of Iowa.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa is proud to join the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and communities throughout the United States during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in raising awareness of victims’ rights and honoring crime victims and their advocates.
This week, U.S. Attorney Duax announced winners for the Law Enforcement Victim Services Awards in the Northern District of Iowa. This award is presented to law enforcement officers in Iowa who go beyond the call of duty to help crime victims. It is the highest federal honor in Iowa for victim services by a law enforcement officer. The following individuals won the award based on their service to victims:
- Detective Ian Mallory of the University of Iowa Police Department, in recognition of his outstanding investigative and advocacy work that led to the successful discovery and prosecution of Matthew Keirans, perpetrator of a sophisticated, three-decades-old, aggravated identity theft. The vulnerable victim of Mr. Keirans' scam maintained his true identity even after he was jailed, found mentally incompetent, and ordered to receive psychotropic medication. But for Detective Mallory’s open mindedness, patience, and diligence, this victim would have remained the target of a scam that fooled other law enforcement officers, courts, banks, and government officials. Detective Mallory’s persistence and commitment to finding justice for this victim is a credit to himself, the University of Iowa Police Department, and the entire Iowa law enforcement community.
- Detective Michael Sitzman and Detective Nate West, Sioux City Police Department, Investigator Joaquin Orduno, South Sioux City Police Department, and Special Agent Bradley Colligan, Federal Bureau of Investigation, in recognition of their outstanding investigation and advocacy that led to the successful prosecution of Kevon Spratt, perpetrator of at least five armed robberies during one month in 2022 within the Siouxland area. The danger that Spratt posed to the community cannot be overstated. This team’s compassionate, reassuring, strong, and inspirational conduct during the investigation empowered more than thirty victims and witnesses to cooperate with the investigation.
To learn more about how to support all victims of crime, visit the Office for Victims of Crime’s website at ovc.ojp.gov.
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