Northern District of Iowa
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Cherokee Man Sentenced to 28 Months in Federal Prison for Meth ConvictionRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced on October 23, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City.
Jason Werner, 38, from Cherokee, Iowa, pled guilty on June 6, 2023, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed Werner’s involvement in a conspiracy that distributed at least 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine from December 2019 through May 2022. Werner assisted at least seven others in the conspiracy in obtaining about four pounds of methamphetamine and one pound of marijuana from sources in California and Nevada and transporting the drugs in a hidden vehicle compartment to Cherokee, Iowa, for further distribution.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Werner was sentenced to 28 months’ imprisonment and must serve a three-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Werner remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, United States Postal Inspectors, Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Colorado State Patrol, Iowa DCI Laboratory, and Cherokee Police Department.
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The case file number is 22-4066. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
California Woman to Federal Prison for Iowa Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced on October 25, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City.
Lauretta Payce, 62, from Fontana, California, pled guilty on June 16, 2023, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea and sentencing hearings, Payce admitted her involvement in a conspiracy that distributed at least three kilograms of methamphetamine from December 2019 through May 2022. Payce further admitted to assisting at least six others in distributing about four pounds of methamphetamine and one pound of marijuana from California and Nevada which was transported in a hidden compartment in a vehicle, to Cherokee, Iowa, for further distribution.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Payce was sentenced to 64 months’ imprisonment and a term of two years’ supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Payce remains in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, United States Postal Inspectors, Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Colorado State Patrol, Iowa DCI Laboratory, and Cherokee Police Department.
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The case file number is 22-4066. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
California Woman with Five Prior Felony Drug Convictions Sentenced to Twenty Years in Federal Prison for Iowa Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced on October 23, 2023, to 240 months’ imprisonment.
Andrea Romo, 41, from Gardena, California, pled guilty on June 16, 2023, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed Romo’s involvement in a conspiracy that distributed at least 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine from December 2019 through May 2022. Romo assisted at least seven others in the conspiracy in distributing about four pounds of methamphetamine and one pound of marijuana from California and Nevada and transporting the drugs, in a hidden compartment in a vehicle, back to Cherokee, Iowa, for further distribution.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Romo was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment and must serve a five-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Romo remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, United States Postal Inspectors, Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Iowa DCI Laboratory, and Cherokee Police Department.
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The case file number is 22-4066. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Minnesota Man Who Defrauded Elderly Victim Pleads Guilty in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
A man who defrauded an elderly victim by abusing his power of attorney entered a plea of guilty on October 18, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City.
Hamilton Girard, age 65, of Stillwater, Minnesota, was charged with 1 Count of Wire Fraud.
In the plea agreement, Girard admitted that in February, 2020, he was designated as an agent, and given power of attorney and for an elderly person diagnosed with early onset dementia. Girard, acting with power of attorney, misappropriated approximately $149,000 of the victim’s funds. Girard signed and issued unauthorized checks from the victim’s personal checking account to purchase items such as home improvement and home construction-related goods and services for his own benefit.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Girard remains free on bond previously set. Girard faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3-years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being investigated by FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons.
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The case file number is 23-3015.
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Chicago Man Caught with Stolen Firearm and Marijuana Pleads Guilty to Possessing Firearm as a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
A man who possessed a firearm as a prohibited person pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Johnny Martell Brown, age 31, from Chicago, Illinois, was convicted of possessing a firearm as a felon and drug user.
In a plea agreement, Brown admitted that on December 16, 2022, in Cedar Rapids, law enforcement stopped a car that he was driving. Officers searched the car and found a loaded stolen firearm and marijuana. In Brown’s underwear, officers discovered a Cheetos bag that contained marijuana. Brown admitted that he regularly smoked marijuana. He also has felony convictions for conspiracy to distribute heroin and possessing a controlled substance.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Brown remains in custody of the United States Marshal. Brown faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a special assessment of $100, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives 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-34.
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Sioux City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
A man with a history of felony convictions – including 2017 convictions for operating while intoxicated, eluding, and homicide by vehicle – was sentenced Friday, October 13, 2023, to eight years in federal prison.
Jerell Wilson, age 30, of Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 24, 2023, jury verdict finding him guilty of possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence at trial and sentencing showed that while Sioux City Police were investigating a June 9, 2022, homicide, it was learned through witness and video surveillance that Wilson had been at the crime scene prior to, and after, the homicide, with a Coach backpack containing multiple firearms. Armed with this information, on June 23, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Wilson’s home, where a loaded gun – with a round in the chamber – was found in his bed, along with the Coach bag and ammunition for multiple firearms that were not found in the search. Wilson refused to attend his own federal trial.
Wilson had previously been convicted of attempted possession of a defaced firearm, theft in the first degree, and, most recently, 2017 convictions for operating while intoxicated, eluding, and homicide by vehicle – reckless driving for causing the death of his uncle when he fled from police while under the influence. Wilson was paroled on his 2017 offenses in May of 2020. During his parole, he attended a meeting where he was warned of the consequences of possessing a firearm, and offered access to any services he might need to rebuild his life (employment, mental health counseling, transportation, etc.). Despite this opportunity, defendant committed the instant federal offense less than a year after being discharged from state supervision.
Wilson was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 96 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa, Timothy Duax, stated, “It is unfortunate when an individual rejects assistance, rejects services and chooses the path of criminality, but when that occurs, we must act to ensure the safety of law-abiding citizens.”
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.
Wilson 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. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
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The case file number is 22-04061.
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Iowa Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Thomas Alan Newman, age 59, from Swaledale, Iowa, pled guilty in federal court on October 18, 2023, to Possession of Child Pornography.
At the plea hearing, Newman admitted knowingly possessing child pornography, including depictions involving prepubescent minors or minors who had not attained 12 years of age. Newman further admitted he knowingly possessed material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct or the sexual abuse and exploitation of an infant or toddler. Newman admitted that he used Facebook to trade child pornography and shared approximately 50 videos of such content.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Newman was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the guilty plea and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Newman faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a fine of up to $250,000, a special assessment of $100, and a term of supervised release of 5 years to life following any imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office.
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The case file number is 23-CR-3016.
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Cedar Rapids Man Convicted of Methamphetamine Crimes Involving Pounds of the DrugRead the Press Release
A man who conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine was convicted by a jury on October 13, 2023, after a four-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Michael Lee Brunson, age 66, who lived in Cedar Rapids, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of distribution of methamphetamine. The jury also found that $30,540 in United Sates Currency was subject to forfeiture because the property was used or intended to be used in relationship to the drug trafficking conspiracy.
The evidence at trial showed that Brunson, who also went by the name “Jaxon,” was a methamphetamine dealer in the Cedar Rapids area. Between April 2022 and September 2022, Brunson conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in Cedar Rapids and surrounding areas. On June 5, 2022, Brunson was traffic stopped with over 2/3 lb. of methamphetamine in his car. On January 10, 2023, Brunson sold approximately two ounces of methamphetamine to a confidential source during a controlled buy. On January 21, 2023, he was stopped for a break lights violation. He had three bags of methamphetamine in his coat pocket, one bag weighing almost ½ lb., and had two additional bags of methamphetamine in his trunk, each bag weighing just under one pound.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Brunson remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Brunson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and a lifetime of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin and Assistant United States Attorney John H. Lammers and was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Marion Police Department, and the Belle Plaine Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-00005-CJW.
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Iowa Nurse Pleads Guilty to Stealing Pain Medication from at Least 50 New Mothers at Waterloo HospitalRead the Press Release
An Iowa nurse who stole pain medication from at least 50 new mothers at a Waterloo hospital pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Christina Eileen Olson, formerly known as Christina Eileen Hovey, age 43, of Waterloo, was convicted of one count of acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge, one count of adulteration and misbranding with intent to defraud and mislead, and one count of false statements relating to health care matters.
At the plea hearing, and in a plea agreement, Olson admitted that the State of Iowa granted her a nursing license in 2004. In 2017, a Waterloo hospital hired Olson to work as a nurse in its labor and delivery unit. As a nurse in the hospital’s labor and delivery unit, Olson was responsible for caring for late-term pregnant women, women in active labor, and post-partum women, including women recovering from recent Caesarean section (“c-section”) surgery. Obstetricians prescribed these women Schedule II narcotics, including hydromorphone, oxycodone, and fentanyl, to control physical pain associated with the birthing process.
From January 2022 to March 25, 2022, Olson used her nursing license to gain access to controlled substances in the hospital’s labor and delivery unit. Instead of administering the controlled substances to the women in pain, Olson diverted the controlled substances to herself for her own illicit drug use. Olson admitted she stole narcotics from no less than 50 victims. To cover up her crimes, Olson used a variety of fraudulent means, including falsely documenting that she had administered pain medication to new mothers when she had not done so. Olson also admitted to tampering with pain medication—replacing fentanyl inside a vial with saline and diverting the narcotic for her own use.
For example, on March 25, 2022, Olson was supposed to care for three new mothers and their babies during her shift from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. One of Olson’s victims, known in court documents as “Mother-1,” had given birth via c-section on March 23, 2022, in a high-risk pregnancy. In addition to caring for Mother-1, it was Olson’s responsibility to come into Mother-1’s room and document how much the baby was eating every hour, as this is important to ensure the health of a newborn. Instead of caring for Mother-1 and her baby, however, Olson never came into the room or checked on Mother-1 or her baby or administered pain medication to Mother-1 on March 25, 2023, even though Olson documented in the hospital’s records that she was administering pain medication to Mother-1. Rather, Olson diverted the pain medication to her own use.
As a result of Olson’s crimes, Mother-1 suffered “horrible and excruciating pain” on March 25, 2023. Further, because Olson had created false health care records documenting that she had administered the pain medication to Mother-1, the next nurse on shift declined to give pain medication to Mother-1 for at least 30 additional minutes to ensure Mother-1 was not feigning her need for narcotics. And despite repeated requests by Mother-1’s husband for formula, Mother-1’s newborn did not receive any formula until the end of Olson’s shift.
The next day, March 26, 2023, Olson was again working first shift at the hospital. During this shift, the hospital drug tested Olson. The drug test was positive for opiates (oxycodone and hydromorphone) and marijuana. Another nurse then found an open fentanyl vial, an open ephedrine vial, and an epidural bag in another new mother’s room. The hospital’s records revealed that Olson had removed these three items under the new mother’s name despite the fact there were no such orders for her. The fentanyl vial had puncture marks on the top and bottom stopper surfaces, and laboratory results later revealed that nearly all the fentanyl in the vial had been replaced with saline.
Olson admitted that she routinely drank alcohol and used marijuana while working at the Waterloo hospital. In September 2021, after receiving reports that Olson was disappearing from her shift for extended periods of time, the hospital’s director referred Olson to an employee assistance program. On September 9, 2021, however, Olson took a leave of absence from the hospital for about three months after she was arrested for drunk driving. Olson’s blood alcohol level at the time of her arrest was no less than .274.
In July 2022, Olson entered into a settlement agreement with the Iowa Board of Nursing under which she agreed to voluntarily surrender her nursing license for one year. As a part of her plea agreement, Olson has agreed to forfeit her nursing license to the United States.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Olson remains free on bond previously set. Olson faces a possible maximum sentence of 12 years’ imprisonment, a $750,000 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 Food and Drug Administration, Office of Inspector General, and the Iowa Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-2055.
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Dows Man Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Federal Prison for Meth and Heroin ConvictionsRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and heroin was sentenced on September 27, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City.
Nathan Miller, 49, from Dows, Iowa, pled guilty May 10, 2023, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin and one count of distribution and aiding and abetting another in the distribution of methamphetamine.
At the plea and sentencing hearings evidence showed that during the course of the conspiracy, October 2020 through December 2021, Miller and others participated in the distribution of nearly two kilograms of mixed methamphetamine and nearly one kilogram of heroin. Miller and another would receive packages of drugs through FedEx and DHL from a source in Mexico to addresses in Minnesota and Iowa for further distribution in Iowa. Miller also admitted that on April 28, 2021, he and another distributed methamphetamine to a confidential informant working with law enforcement.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Miller was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment and must serve a three-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Miller remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Wright County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa DCI Laboratory, and the Rochester Minnesota Police Department.
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The case file number is 22-3024. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Iowa Nurse Pleads Guilty to Diverting Fentanyl at Waterloo HospitalRead the Press Release
An Iowa nurse who diverted fentanyl at a Waterloo hospital pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Luis Ramirez-Cajas, age 42, from Cedar Rapids, was convicted of one count of acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge.
At the plea hearing and in a plea agreement, Ramirez-Cajas admitted that the State of Iowa granted him a nursing license in 2012. In August 2022, before Ramirez-Cajas began working at a Waterloo hospital, Ramirez-Cajas and the Iowa Board of Nursing’s Iowa Nurse Assistance Program (“INAP”) entered into an agreement under which Ramirez-Cajas promised to abstain from drugs and alcohol and to refrain from working with narcotics. Ramirez-Cajas previously had admitted to diverting and using narcotics in the emergency room of an Iowa City hospital in late 2021 and early 2022. The Iowa City hospital was an affiliate of the Waterloo hospital and in the same hospital network. Ramirez-Cajas knowingly violated his agreement with INAP by accepting employment at the Waterloo hospital.
In September and October 2022, while working at the Waterloo hospital, Ramirez-Cajas diverted fentanyl, hydromorphone, and morphine to his own use. All these drugs are controlled substances. Ramirez-Cajas diverted the drugs mostly through purported wasting—falsely documenting in the Waterloo hospital’s records, for example, that he had wasted a full vial because a patient purportedly had refused the drug after Ramirez-Cajas pulled it. Instead of wasting the controlled substances, Ramirez-Cajas diverted them for personal use.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Ramirez-Cajas remains free on bond pending sentencing. Ramirez-Cajas faces a possible maximum sentence of four years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and one year of supervised release following any imprisonment.
In December 2022, Ramirez-Cajas surrendered his nursing license to the Iowa Board of Nursing with leave to apply for reinstatement within one year. As part of his plea agreement, Ramirez-Cajas agreed to forfeit his nursing license to the United States.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and was investigated by the Iowa Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Drug Enforcement Administration, Diversion Control Division.
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The case file number is 23-CR-2049.
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Cedar Rapids Man Convicted of Ice Methamphetamine Conspiracy Sentenced to Nearly 20 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who was intercepted in a wiretap investigation conspiring to distribute large quantities of ice methamphetamine was sentenced September 29, 2023, to nearly 20 years in federal prison.
Elmer Mims, age 69, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 24, 2023 jury verdict finding him guilty of one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.
The evidence at trial showed that the Cedar Rapids Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted a wiretap investigation in late 2021 and early 2022 targeting a group of individuals who were shipping large quantities of ice methamphetamine from Los Angeles, California, to Cedar Rapids. The DEA intercepted calls over phones used by David Belton (a/k/a “Blood”) and Derek Mims (a/k/a “D Mo”) in which they orchestrated the shipment of loads of thirty to sixty pounds of ice methamphetamine. Elmer Mims was intercepted in a call in early December 2021 discussing a prior occasion during which Elmer Mims had obtained 14 pounds of ice methamphetamine for $26,000. During an intercepted call in early February, Belton and Derek Mims discussed how they were going to obtain 60 pounds of ice methamphetamine, 20 pounds for each of them and 20 pounds for “Unc,” a nickname for Elmer Mims.
Less than two weeks after that call, DEA contacted local authorities in York County, Nebraska, to assist in stopping a truck that was believed to be transporting the 60 pounds of ice methamphetamine. The Nebraska officers stopped the truck and seized a tote that contained sixty, one‑pound packages of 99% pure methamphetamine. During an intercepted call on February 28, 2022, Elmer Mims and Belton discussed the seizure of the 60 pounds in Nebraska, believing that Derek Mims may have been stealing from them.
In March 2022, investigators searched Elmer Mims’s Cedar Rapids residence, seizing nearly $19,000 in cash drug proceeds, a box for a Glock handgun, ammunition, a holster, a tactical vest, and over four pounds of marijuana. Elmer Mims had previously been convicted in federal court in 1985 for a heroin conspiracy that involved smuggling large quantities of heroin using drug couriers and sending drug money to Hong Kong and Nepal.
Eleven other individuals were charged in the same investigation, nine of whom have been sentenced:
- Kiyonte Levell Sowell was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment;
- Albert Henry Bailey was sentenced to 88 months’ imprisonment;
- Jesus Vera was sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment;
- Calub Joseph Storlie was sentenced to 200 months’ imprisonment;
- Christopher Eric Curley was sentenced to 175 months’ imprisonment;
- David Poitier Belton was sentenced to 396 months’ imprisonment;
- Derek Michael Mims was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment;
- Phillip Lanell Rogers was sentenced to 135 months’ imprisonment;
- Anton Tarrice Whitney, Jr. was sentenced to 216 months’ imprisonment
Two other individuals, Robert Lee Michael Bates and Timothy Michael Webber, are awaiting sentencing.
Mims was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Mims was sentenced to 235 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.
Mims is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case 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 DEA Task Force in Cedar Rapids and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The DEA Task Force in Cedar Rapids 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. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Chatham and Kraig Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22‑CR‑39‑CJW‑MAR.
Prohibited Person in Possession of Firearm Sent to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Jeffrey Krowiorz, II, 35, from Milford, Iowa, was sentenced on October 4, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City.
At the plea hearing on June 14, 2023, Krowiorz, II admitted he unlawfully possessed a firearm, after having at least one prior felony conviction, and being an unlawful user of methamphetamine. Krowiorz, II, was previously convicted of the following felony crimes: possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, in 2013; possession of lithium with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, in the Iowa District Court for Emmet County, in 2007; and possession of anhydrous ammonia with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, in the Iowa District Court for Clay County, in 2007. Further evidence showed that the firearm Krowiorz, II possessed had an altered or obliterated serial number.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Krowiorz, II was sentenced to a total of 85 months’ imprisonment which includes a consecutive 24-month sentence for revocation of his federal supervised release. Krowiorz, II must serve a three-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Krowiorz, II remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Spencer Iowa Police Department, and Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
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The case file number is 23-4006. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
North Carolina Man Who Caused Dubuque Man’s Death by Selling Him Heroin and Fentanyl Found Guilty After Jury TrialRead the Press Release
A jury found a North Carolina man who sold fentanyl and heroin to a Dubuque man, causing his death, guilty on October 5, 2023, following a four-day jury trial.
James Adam Earwood, age 38, of Lake Lure, North Carolina, was found guilty after a jury trial. The jury found Earwood guilty of distribution of a controlled substance, heroin and fentanyl, causing the death of another.
Evidence at trial showed that on November 18, 2021, Earwood mailed a package of heroin and fentanyl to another person. Earwood was living in North Carolina at the time and the victim was living in Dubuque, Iowa. The victim used the heroin and fentanyl and overdosed in the parking lot of a local business in Dubuque. The victim survived the overdose. One month later, on December 17, 2021, the victim received another package of heroin and fentanyl in the mail from Earwood. The victim used the heroin and fentanyl and died shortly thereafter. He was found deceased by hotel staff in a hotel in Dubuque, Iowa.
Evidence showed that Earwood was using social media platforms on the dark web to arrange transactions of heroin and fentanyl with other people. Investigators tracked down at least one other package that Earwood had sent through the US Mail which contained heroin and fentanyl.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley Corkery and Patrick Reinert, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra 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 United States Postal Inspection Service, the Dubuque Drug Task Force which includes the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office and the Dubuque Police Department, and the Rutherford County North Carolina Drug Task Force.
Earwood is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be sentenced. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-1024.
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Dubuque Man Involved in Conspiracy to Distribute Hundreds of Pounds of Methamphetamine Pleads Guilty in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Jason Laufenberg, age 38, from Dubuque, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute at least 500 grams of a mixture of substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and at least 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine.
At a prior hearing, evidence showed that Laufenberg bought and sold hundreds of pounds of ice methamphetamine from multiple drug sources in Dubuque between 2019 and 2022.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Laufenberg remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Laufenberg faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment without parole, a $10,000,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force, Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, Dubuque Police Department, Quad City Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Criminalistics Laboratory.
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The case file number is 23-CR-1008.
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Ida Grove Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Scott Allen Tomlinson, 49, from Ida Grove, Iowa, pled guilty in federal court in Sioux City, on October 2, 2023, to Possession of Child Pornography.
At the plea hearing, Tomlinson admitted that he knowingly possessed and attempted to possess child pornography, including depictions involving prepubescent minors or minors who had not attained 12 years of age. Law enforcement recovered dozens of images from Tomlinson’s cloud-based storage systems. Tomlinson admitted he used a cellular phone to access the images on the cloud. He further admitted that some of the images included material that portrayed sadistic and masochistic conduct.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Tomlinson was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the guilty plea and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Tomlinson faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a fine of up to $250,000, and 5 years to life of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Ida County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-04094.
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Man with Lengthy History of Violence Sentenced to More than 15 Years in Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
A man with a lengthy criminal history was sentenced September 27, 2023, to more than 15 years in federal prison.
Marlo Harper, aka Umar Amir Al-Sayyaad Allahdheen, age 46, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 13, 2023, guilty plea to two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon and drug user and twice violating the Armed Career Criminal Act, a federal law that increases the punishment for violent recidivists. After a jury was selected, but before testimony began, Harper pled guilty and admitted that on two separate occasions in August 2021, he unlawfully possessed firearms.
Evidence in the case revealed on August 10, 2021, Harper was stopped by Sioux City Police for traffic infractions. Upon contact with the occupants in the vehicle, the officer detected an odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. The occupants were removed, and a subsequent search of the vehicle was conducted. When Harper exited the vehicle, he admitted having a firearm and a knife on his person. A loaded handgun – with a round in the chamber – was removed from his waistband. Officers also located a fanny pack in the trunk that contained ammunition. Harper also had an open container of alcohol.
On August 24, 2021, Harper was stopped by Iowa State Patrol outside of Sheldon, Iowa. When the State Trooper contacted the occupants, he noted an odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. During the traffic stop investigation, approximately 2 grams of marijuana was found, along with a loaded handgun in the center console, which was positioned for easy access by Harper, who was driving the car. Harper also had a set of nunchucks between the driver seat and center console. Three additional firearms were found in the trunk, as well as ammunition and a samurai sword.
Harper’s criminal history includes Assault in the 1st Degree, in Hennepin County, Minnesota; Assault in the Second Degree, in Ramsey County, Minnesota; Two counts of Aggravated Assault (Family Violence), Terroristic Threats, Possession of a Firearm or Knife During the Commission of a Felony and Battery – Family Violence, all in Fulton County, Georgia; and Theft, in Tarrant County, Texas.
Harper was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 198 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.
This case was investigated by the Iowa State Patrol, the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sioux City Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ron Timmons and Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4085.
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Illinois Man Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
A felon who possessed firearms was sentenced on September 28, 2023, to three years in federal prison.
Jamie Swanson, age 32, of Colona, Illinois, received the sentence after an April 11, 2023, guilty plea to one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. At the plea hearing, Swanson admitted that, in March 2022, he possessed a pistol after having been convicted of a felony. The record at the sentencing hearing established that Swanson possessed eight firearms.
Swanson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by Chief United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Swanson was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Anamosa Police Department, the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, 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 22-100.
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Fort Dodge Man Sentenced to 17 years in Federal Prison for Meth and Firearm ConvictionsRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced on September 29, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City.
Jose Acosta Abadia, Jr., 41, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, pled guilty on April 28, 2023, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Abadia was previously convicted of Third Degree Burglary; Possession of a Controlled Substance; and three convictions for Assault While Using or Displaying a Dangerous Weapon. The assault convictions involved a machete and knife. These convictions prohibit a person in Iowa from possessing a firearm.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from February 2022 through June 2022, Abadia and others conspired to distribute more than seven pounds of methamphetamine. During that time, on three occasions, Abadia sold methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. The sales totaled over 400 grams of methamphetamine and occurred in Fort Dodge, Iowa. During a search of Abadia at arrest, law enforcement found a 1/2 pound of methamphetamine and a stolen semi-automatic handgun he had possessed.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Abadia was sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment and must serve a 5-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Abadia remains in custody of the United States Marshals Service 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 Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, and Iowa DCI Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-3030.
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Couple Sent to Prison for Conspiring to Distribute DrugsRead the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids, Iowa, man and a Palo, Iowa, woman who conspired with each other to distribute methamphetamine were sentenced this week to federal prison.
Zachary James Kruse, age 38, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 4, 2023 guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Cheyenne Nicole Mason, age 34, from Palo, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 15, 2023 guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
Evidence at the sentencing hearings showed that on April 29, 2022, law enforcement officers searched a motel room in Mount Vernon, Iowa, where Kruse and Mason had been staying. Officers recovered 120.84 grams of methamphetamine. Some of the methamphetamine was hidden in deodorant containers.
Kruse and Mason were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Kruse was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Mason was sentenced to 59 months and 393 days’ imprisonment and must serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Kruse and Mason are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and Assistant United States Attorney Jason Norwood and investigated by the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-99.
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Three-Time Federal Felon Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
A convicted felon who received his third federal conviction earlier this year was sentenced today to seven years in federal prison.
Robert Hopkins, age 39, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea to felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence in the case showed that on December 1, 2022, Hopkins was driving a car at 1:19 a.m. when he ran a stop sign in Cedar Rapids. Officers with the Cedar Rapids Police Department attempted to stop him. Hopkins pulled over briefly, but then sped away. Hopkins reached speeds of over 50 mph in 25 mph zones as he led officers on a chase through residential areas. Officers pursued him and saw Hopkins throw an object out his window. Hopkins eventually lost control of his car, spun out, and rolled into a squad car. He told officers that he was “severely intoxicated.”
After taking Hopkins into custody, officers looked for the object he had thrown out of the car. They eventually located a loaded .40 caliber handgun laying on the driveway of a residence. The gun had previously been reported stolen from a Cedar Rapids resident in 2022.
This conviction was Hopkins’ third federal conviction in the Northern District of Iowa. In 2007, he was convicted of distributing crack cocaine and being a felon in possession of ammunition. In 2015, he was convicted for distributing heroin. He also has state convictions for assault and drug related crimes.
Hopkins was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Hopkins was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Hopkins 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 Jason Norwood and Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Cedar Rapids 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-30.
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Sioux City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Braden Rogers, age 23, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after he plead guilty in federal court on March 22, 2023, to Possession of Child Pornography.
Evidence at Rogers’ sentencing hearing established that between May 1, 2020, and August 10, 2021, Rogers possessed over 100 videos of child sexual abuse material including material depicting prepubescent children or children who had not attained the age of 12. Evidence further established that Rogers used social media to distribute material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct or sexual abuse and exploitation of an infant or toddler to others.
Rogers was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 66 months’ imprisonment and fined $500. He was also ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution to the victims. Rogers must also serve a 5-year term of supervised released following the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Rogers 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 prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit and investigated by the Iowa Division of Inspections & Appeals, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Sioux City Police Department, The Drug Enforcement Administration, Iowa Medicaid Fraud Unit, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-04020.
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Woman who Tampered with a Witness Involved in a Federal Trial Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A woman who tampered with a witness involved in a federal trial was sentenced September 25, 2023, to 30 months in federal prison.
Jenise Colvin, age 38, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after a May 5, 2023 guilty plea to conspiracy to tamper with a witness and tampering with a witness.
Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that Colvin and her co-defendant, Michael Lynn Ashford, spoke about their plan to contact the witness who had called 911 after a firearm was pointed at the witness while at a gas station in Dubuque. Colvin then called the witness. When Colvin spoke to the witness, she told the witness that they knew personal information about the witness, including name and address. In imposing its sentence, the district court expressed that witness tampering goes to the core of the justice system.
Colvin was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Colvin was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Colvin is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
Co-defendant Michael Lynn Ashford has not yet been sentenced. He faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment for each count of witness tampering.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Dubuque Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 22-CR- 1037-02.
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Estherville Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
Jodeci Holmes, 21, from Estherville, Iowa, pled guilty September 21, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
At the plea hearing, Holmes admitted that on April 1, 2023, she possessed a 9mm Luger pistol in Estherville, Iowa. She further admitted that, at the time she possessed the gun she was a marijuana user and had previously been convicted of the felony offense of possession with intent to deliver marijuana in 2022. Being a user of controlled substances, and having a felony conviction, each prohibit an individual from possessing a firearm.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Holmes remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Holmes faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Emmet County Sheriff’s Office, Estherville Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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The case file number is 23-3008. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Cedar Rapids Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl and HeroinRead the Press Release
A woman who distributed fentanyl and heroin was sentenced today to two years in federal prison.
Susan Heins, age 47, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 6, 2023 guilty plea to one count of distribution of a controlled substance.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that, on October 21, 2020, law enforcement conducted a controlled buy of purported heroin from an individual in Cedar Rapids. Once the location of the controlled buy was arranged, Heins met with the confidential source at the meeting location and distributed fentanyl and heroin.
Heins was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Heins was sentenced to 24 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.
Heins is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting 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-92.
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Cedar Rapids Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
A man who distributed methamphetamine, possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it, and possessed a firearm as a prohibited person, pled guilty on September 21, 2023, in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Dennis Wayne Hager, age 64, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was convicted of two counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine, and one count of possession of a firearm as a felon and drug user.
At the plea hearing, Hager admitted that, on May 25, 2021, and June 1, 2021, he distributed 50 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine to another person. He also admitted that, on or about June 1, 2021, he possessed a firearm as a methamphetamine user and a felon. Hager had four felony convictions related to drugs. Finally, he admitted that, on September 1, 2021, he possessed 50 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Hager remains in custody of the United States Marshal. On each of the drug counts, Hager faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and the following maximum penalties: (1) not more than life imprisonment without the possibility of parole; (2) a fine of not more than $10,000,000; (3) a mandatory special assessment of $100; and (4) a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life.
On the gun count, Hager faces a possible maximum sentence of (1) not more than 10 years’ imprisonment without the possibility of parole; (2) a fine of not more than $250,000; (3) a mandatory special assessment of $100; and (4) a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years.
Because there are multiple counts, the sentences could be run consecutively for a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a $30,250,000 fine, $400 in special assessments, and a life term 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 Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department Narcotics Unit and the Iowa Department of Public Safety Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-40.
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Larchwood Seed Dealer Sent to Federal Prison for Wire Fraud and False StatementsRead the Press Release
A seed salesman who cut out the seed distributor, and sold corn and soybean seeds directly to farmers for his own benefit, was sentenced September 20, 2023, to more than 2 years in federal prison.
Nathan Christie, age 44, from Larchwood, received the prison term after a March 24, 2023, guilty plea to one count of Wire Fraud and one count of False Statements to a Financial Institution.
Evidence in the case revealed that Christie, an employee of the seed company, took money directly from farmers for seed, but did not forward that money to the owner of the seed. Instead, he used the money to cover his gambling losses and to pay for other personal expenses leaving the seed bill unpaid. To cover his fraud, Christie manipulated records to make it appear unsuspecting seed distributors had delivered the seed. Christie was nearly caught when one of those distributors asked about a bill he had received from the seed company. Christie however, acquired money to pay the bill. Christie acquired $62,076.23 by forging his spouse’s signature on an Agriculture Security Agreement and another $350,000 by forging his spouse’s signature on a second real estate mortgage on their shared residence. After this near-discovery of his fraud, Christie stopped using the first distributor’s account and found two new victim distributors.
On March 24, 2023, Christie appeared before United States Chief Magistrate Judge Kelly K.E. Mahoney and pled guilty to two counts of a two-count Information filed March 17, 2023. The Court ordered Christie released on a personal recognizance bond without pretrial supervision. On July 11, 2023, the United States filed a Motion for Revocation of Pretrial Supervision alleging Christie had violated the conditions of his unsupervised pretrial release by committing a new law violation in light of his arrest for Burglary, Third Degree - Non-Vehicle, as charged in Lyon County, Iowa, Docket No. FECR007731. On July 18, 2023, the Court found there was probable cause to believe Christie had committed the above alleged new law violation, and the Court revoked Christie’s pretrial release and ordered him detained. The state charge is still pending.
Christie was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 30 months’ imprisonment on each count, to be served concurrently. He was ordered to make $202,440.80 in restitution to AgReliant and $258,825.25 to American State Bank, for a total of $461,266.05 in restitution. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Christie 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 Lyon County, Iowa Sheriff’s Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ron Timmons and Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-04005.
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Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A man who possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
John Trinidad Qualls, age 42, from Tucson, Arizona, was convicted of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
In a plea agreement, Qualls admitted that, on December 31, 2022, law enforcement traffic-stopped him for speeding. Qualls handed an officer a black pouch, which contained his license, insurance, and registration. There was marijuana residue inside the pouch, and both the pouch and documents smelled of marijuana. Qualls admitted that he had used marijuana earlier that day. Law enforcement searched the car and found 1,200.10 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Qualls remains in custody of the United States Marshal. Qualls faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment and the following maximum penalties: (1) not more than life imprisonment without the possibility of parole; (2) a fine of not more than $10,000,000; (3) a mandatory special assessment of $100; and (4) a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to a term of life.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office.
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The case file number is 23-CR-2021. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Chicago Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Armed Robbery of Sheldon BankRead the Press Release
A man who robbed the Iowa State Bank in Sheldon, Iowa, was sentenced today, to 8 years in federal prison.
Leon Sutton, age 38, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after a May 17, 2023, guilty plea to bank robbery.
Evidence in the case showed that on June 3, 2021, Sutton entered the bank at approximately 12:00 p.m., armed with a handgun, and demanded money. Sutton was seen on video surveillance in a recently purchased car with no plates, canvasing the area. Sutton even entered the bank twice in the morning before the robbery. Sheldon officers were able to locate the previous owner of the car and traced it to Sutton, who after the robbery, fled to the Chicago area where he was apprehended.
Sutton was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 96 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 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.
Sutton is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by Sheldon, Iowa Police Department, and the FBI and was 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 22-4033.
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Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing Homemade FirearmRead the Press Release
A man who was found in possession of a homemade firearm pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Som Boun Cam, age 56, from Council Bluffs, Iowa, was convicted of possessing a smooth bore, .410 gauge pistol, which was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
In a plea agreement, Cam admitted that on April 14, 2022, he was in the Meskwaki Casino hotel when he was involved in a scuffle with another guest and misplaced his backpack. Hotel staff subsequently found the backpack, and when they looked in it, they found methamphetamine and a homemade smooth bore .410 gauge pistol. On April 19, 2022, Cam returned to the hotel to claim his property. Cam admitted he had manufactured the firearm. This was a firearm that was required to be registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, but it was not registered to him. Cam has a 1995 felony conviction for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and methamphetamine, a 2017 felony conviction for possessing a firearm as a felon, and multiple assault convictions.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Cam will remain in custody pending sentencing. Cam faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 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 Patrick J. Reinert and was investigated by the Meskwaki Nation Police 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-00050.
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Illinois Man Convicted of Methamphetamine and Heroin CrimesRead the Press Release
A man who conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine and heroin was convicted by a jury on September 14, 2023, after a four-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Michael Garrick Denson, age 33, from Illinois, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin and one count of possession with the intent to distribute heroin. The verdict was returned following about an hour of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that Denson was a methamphetamine and heroin dealer in the Dubuque, Iowa, area who was nicknamed “Ice Mike.” Between February 2018 and February 2020, Denson conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine and heroin in Dubuque and Cedar Rapids. On July 23, 2019, investigators observed Denson outside of a hotel in Dubuque. Denson had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, and investigators stopped a car he was a passenger in. During the stop, Denson got out of the passenger side of the car and ran from investigators. Investigators located six small baggies containing heroin near where Denson had been seated in the car.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Denson remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Denson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and a lifetime of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham and was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force (consisting of the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office and the Dubuque 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 23-CR-01003-CJW.
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Strawberry Point Man Charged with Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
Scott Wesley Timmerman, age 56, from Strawberry Point, Iowa, has been charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a short-barreled shotgun in violation of federal law. The charges are contained in an Indictment unsealed on September 12, 2023, in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.
The Indictment alleges that, on or about May 31, 2023, Timmerman was found in possession of a short-barreled Winchester shotgun and the firearm was not registered to him in the federal registry. The indictment also alleges Timmerman had two prior felony convictions from Arizona.
If convicted on all charges, Timmerman faces a possible maximum sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
Timmerman appeared on September 12, 2023, in federal court in Cedar Rapids and was held pending a detention hearing scheduled for September 15, 2023. Timmerman’s trial is set for November 13, 2023.
As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney 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-02054. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to 77 Months in Prison Related to Threats Against a Public OfficialRead the Press Release
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – A Cedar Rapids man was sentenced on Friday, September 8, 2023 to over six years in federal prison for threatening a federal official and committing interstate communications with intent to injure.
According to public court documents, and evidence presented at sentencing, John Edward Miller, 42, was identified through a law enforcement investigation surrounding a threat received by a federal official through their personal Facebook account on November 19, 2020. The message was threatening and harassing in nature and also included threatening and/or harassing information regarding other federal officials. The same day, Miller shot a flare gun at the Northern District of Iowa United States Courthouse in Cedar Rapids, causing a fire on the barriers in front of the building. Following Miller’s arrest, Miller admitted to sending the threatening messages through Facebook and to firing the flare gun at the federal courthouse.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Miller will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Miller was also ordered to pay restitution pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3663A.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Cherokee, Iowa Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing More than 30 FirearmsRead the Press Release
A Cherokee, Iowa man who was found to be in possession of 23 firearms, 3 short-barreled rifles and 6 silencers, was sentenced September 11, 2023, to 4 years in federal prison.
Jason Ballou, age 52, from Cherokee, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 27, 2023, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Ballou was found to be in possession of the firearms while law enforcement was executing a state search warrant, investigating another crime. Ballou was previously convicted of possession of prohibited firearms (a machine gun), and unlawful receipt of unregistered firearms, both in the Northern District of Iowa.
Ballou was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 48 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.
Ballou is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by Cherokee, Iowa Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, (ATF) 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 22-4098.
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South Dakota Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Acquire Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
Kenneth Hurd, 32, from Harrisburg, South Dakota, pled guilty in federal court on September 5, 2023, to Conspiracy to Acquire Controlled Substances by Fraud.
At the plea hearing, Hurd admitted that he knowingly conspired with co-defendant, Douglas Kelley, to obtain and acquire fentanyl by means of misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge. They used Douglas Kelley’s position as a nurse at MercyOne Hospital in Sioux City to obtain fentanyl and other controlled substances for personal use.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Hurd remains free on bond pending sentencing. Hurd faces, not more than 4 years’ imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a $250,000 fine, and up to 1 year of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig Hamit and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Inspections & Appeals, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Sioux City Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-4022.
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Iowa Air National Guardsman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A Guardsman for the Iowa Air Guard’s 185th Refueling Wing who possessed over 1,400 images of child sexual abuse material was sentenced today, September 11, 2023, to three years in federal prison.
Kevin Swanson, age 35, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after he plead guilty in federal court on May 4, 2023, to Possession of Child Pornography.
Evidence at today’s hearing established that between August 2020, and August 2021, he used an Internet-based, peer-to-peer (P2P) network to knowingly share and receive visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including depictions involving prepubescent minors who had not reached the age of 12.
Swanson was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Swanson was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment and a total of $10,000 in fines. Swanson must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term and register as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal system.
Swanson 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 prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit and investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Sioux City Police Department, and the Nebraska State Patrol.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-4080.
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Waterloo Drug User Who Possessed a Firearm SentencedRead the Press Release
A Waterloo woman was sentenced today to three months in federal prison for possessing a firearm while using marijuana.
Lakeena Marie Pendleton, age 36, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 6, 2023 guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a drug user.
In July 2021, and then again in March 2022, Pendleton purchased a firearm, and indicated on an ATF Form 4473 that she was not an unlawful user of marijuana. At the time she purchased both firearms, she knew she was an unlawful user of marijuana and knowingly made a false statement and representation to a federal licensed firearm dealer. In May 2022, Pendleton was stopped while driving. Police located one of the firearms she previously purchased in the vehicle, along with alcohol, and a small amount of marijuana on her person.
Pendleton was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Pendleton was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Pendleton is currently out on bond and will self-surrender on October 17, 2023.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Waterloo Police Department.
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.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 22-CR-2050.
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Tennessee Man Found with Gun and Marijuana Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who was stopped for a traffic violation, found to be in possession of marijuana and a gun was sentenced August 14, 2023, to more than 5 years in federal prison.
Sidney Turner, age 58, from Memphis, Tennessee, received the prison term after a March 29, 2023, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon and an unlawful drug user.
Evidence in the case revealed during a traffic stop for a moving violation, Turner was found to be driving without a valid license, and was found to be in possession of marijuana and a gun.
Turner has a lengthy criminal history. He was previously convicted of possession of cocaine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; possession of marijuana with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; and felon in possession of a handgun.
Turner was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 70 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 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.
Turner is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security, Woodbury County, Iowa Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) 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 22-4096.
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Sioux City Nurse Pleads Guilty to Stealing Controlled Substances from Hospital EmployerRead the Press Release
A Sioux City, Iowa nurse who stole fentanyl, morphine, hydromorphone, and hydrocodone from her employer, pled guilty on August 30, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City.
Morgan Miralles, age 32, from Sioux City, Iowa, entered a guilty plea 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.
In a plea agreement, Miralles admitted that she diverted the controlled substances that were supposed to be dispensed to patients, for her own personal use by falsifying documents, including the omission of information on required log entries tracking the disbursement of controlled substances.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence investigation report is prepared. Miralles remains free on bond pending sentencing. Miralles faces a possible maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a year of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and was investigated by the Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-4049.
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Man Who Threatened Another Driver with a Gun Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who pulled a firearm during a road rage incident in February 2022, was sentenced August 17, 2023, to more than 5 years in federal prison.
Chad Hendrickson, age 46, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 7, 2023, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon and drug user.
Evidence in the case revealed that when a vehicle attempted to pass Hendrickson near 6th and Pierce Street, in downtown Sioux City, Iowa, Hendrickson refused to let the vehicle pass. When the vehicle pulled up next to Hendrickson, Hendrickson produced a handgun, pointed it at the other driver and made threats towards him. The victim then called law enforcement and followed the individual from a safe distance to the area of 26th and Pierce where Hendrickson parked his vehicle and took off on foot. Hendrickson was apprehended by law enforcement nearby. When Hendrickson was taken into custody, he was also found to be in possession of marijuana, a switch blade knife, brass knuckles, and the handgun.
Hendrickson has a lengthy criminal history, and is a danger behind the wheel, having been convicted of reckless driving and driving under the influence or while intoxicated. He has also been convicted of burglary and domestic assault.
Hendrickson was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 64 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.
Hendrickson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department 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 22-4024.
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Man Who Purchased More Than 7 Guns Under False Pretenses Sent to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who was a drug user and made false statements while purchasing firearms was sentenced August 14, 2023, to more than a year in federal prison.
Justin Evans, age 24, from Kansas City, Missouri, received the prison term after a January 25, 2023, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a drug user.
Evidence in the case showed between September 2020 and February 2022, Evans, while an unlawful user of marijuana, lied to Federal Firearms Licensee gun stores to purchase more than 7 guns that he subsequently resold on the illicit market.
Evans was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 18 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 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.
Evans 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and was 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 22-3013.
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Leaders of “Massive” Ice Methamphetamine Conspiracy Sentenced to 63 Total Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Two men who orchestrated the transportation and distribution of over 500 pounds of ice methamphetamine to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, were sentenced on August 16 and 30, 2023, to a total of 63 years in federal prison.
Derek Michael Mims, age 32, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 7, 2023 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
David Poitier Belton, age 37, from Compton, California, received the prison term after a February 1, 2023 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of being a felon and drug user in possession of a firearm.
In plea agreements, Belton, who was also known as “Blood,” and Mims admitted that they orchestrated the transportation of 30 to 60-pound shipments of ice methamphetamine from Los Angeles to Cedar Rapids between 2017 and March 2022. Belton and Mims paid other individuals to transport the ice methamphetamine, typically in a vehicle that contained a specially made hidden compartment. Once the ice methamphetamine arrived in Cedar Rapids, Belton or Mims would retrieve the methamphetamine and distribute it to other members of the organization for sale to customers. In October 2020, the vehicle with the hidden compartment was searched by law enforcement officers while it was on a car hauler destined for Iowa. Officers found approximately 30 pounds of ice methamphetamine inside the hidden compartment.
In late 2021, the Cedar Rapids DEA conducted a wiretap investigation into Belton’s drug organization. In February 2022, agents intercepted communications indicating that a shipment of 60 pounds of ice methamphetamine was going to be coming from California to Iowa. Investigators tracked a courier driving a rental truck from Los Angeles to Nebraska, where the truck was stopped. During a search of the cargo area of the truck, officers found a plastic tote containing 60 pounds of ice methamphetamine.
Following the seizure of the 60 pounds of ice methamphetamine, Belton continued to purchase additional methamphetamine from his source in California. On February 27, 2022, Belton was intercepted speaking with Kiyonte Sowell, a relative of Belton in California. Belton told Sowell that he was booking Sowell a flight, instructed Sowell to “pack you a big ass suitcase, you already know you ain’t going to stay for that many days” and then said, “You already know what the rest is so we gonna, I’m gonna book you out a ticket in the morning.” The next day, Sowell went to Los Angeles International Airport, taking a large roller bag with him through airport security as carry‑on luggage. Airport security conducted an X‑ray of the roller bag and observed multiple bags of an unknown substance underneath the clothes inside the bag. During a secondary search of the bag, security found five vacuum‑sealed bags containing ice methamphetamine. Sowell admitted that the bag was his but said his brother had packed it. When asked if he was aware of the contents of the bag he shrugged and said, “It looks like cocaine or meth, I don’t know.” He then said he was going to Iowa, “but all I know is that I’m missing my flight and I’m going to jail.”
On March 8, 2022, investigators searched Belton’s home in Cedar Rapids. During the search investigators located a small amount of cocaine and 15 firearms. Belton was a felon, having twice been convicted of felony burglary and once of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Belton was also prohibited from possessing firearms because he was an unlawful user of marijuana.
Belton and Mims were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. The judge described Belton and Mims as leading a “huge organization bringing back astronomical quantities of ice methamphetamine” that caused “untold damage to the community.”
Belton was sentenced to 396 months’ imprisonment and Mims was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment. Each man must also serve a five‑year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Belton and Mims are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.
The case 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 DEA Task Force in Cedar Rapids and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The DEA Task Force in Cedar Rapids 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. The case was 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 22‑CR‑39‑CJW‑MAR.
Drug Dealer Who Received Methamphetamine by Mail Sentenced to Two Decades in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man on supervised release from a prior drug conspiracy conviction involving methamphetamine was sentenced on August 29, 2023, to 20 years in federal prison for participating in another drug conspiracy.
Justin Lee Hanawalt, age 34, from Mason City, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 9, 2023 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance after having previously been convicted of a serious drug felony.
Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that Hanawalt had packages sent to his residence in Waterloo, Iowa, containing “ice” methamphetamine from his source of supply in California. After he was caught, Hanawalt continued to find alternative suppliers to provide him with controlled substances. Hanawalt was on federal supervised release for a previous methamphetamine related conviction during this time. While in custody for this offense, Hanawalt smuggled controlled substances into the jail and distributed those substances to other inmates.
Hanawalt was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Hanawalt was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a ten-year term of supervised release after the prison term. He was also sentenced to a consecutive term of 33 months’ imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release for his prior federal conviction. There is no parole in the federal system.
Hanawalt is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Special 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 22-CR- 2065.
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Chicago Man Sentenced for Cocaine and Heroin DistributionRead the Press Release
A man who distributed cocaine and heroin near Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, in 2017 and 2018 was sentenced August 29, 2023, to seven years in federal prison.
Malcolm Thornton, age 33, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after a January 23, 2023 guilty plea to one count of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.
In a plea agreement, Thornton admitted he was involved in selling cocaine and heroin out of a house near Loras College during 2017 and 2018. Ultimately, Thornton and others were traveling back to Dubuque from Chicago on January 23, 2018, with over 300 grams of cocaine when they were stopped by members of the Dubuque Drug Task Force.
Thornton was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Thornton was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a six-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Thornton 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 as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Dubuque Drug Task Force comprised of the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office and the Dubuque Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-01021.
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Chicago Felon Sentenced to over Two Years in Prison for Possessing a GunRead the Press Release
A Chicago man who fired a gun into the air was sentenced August 29, 2023, to more than two years in federal prison.
Ivan Jerome Berry, age 39, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after an April 14, 2023 guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence at the plea hearing and sentencing hearing showed that in October 2022, Berry fired a gun into the air approximately four times. This occurred at night near an apartment complex. There were people in the area at the time who heard the shots. There were no injuries or damage reports. Berry is a felon and is prohibited from possessing firearms. He has nine prior adult criminal convictions.
Berry was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Berry was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Liz Dupuich and Ashley Corkery and investigated by the Dubuque Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Explosives and Firearms.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-1004-LTS.
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- Serial Armed Robber Convicted at Trial
19-Year-Old Sioux City Man Sentenced to More Than 3 Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Jordan Hills, age 19, from Sioux City, Iowa, was sentenced August 11, 2023, after pleading guilty March 15, 2023, to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence in the case reveled in the summer of 2021, Hills and two others, harassed a woman in front of a bar, and when the woman’s friend came out of the bar to help her, he was shot to death by one of the three men (not Hills). Hills was convicted for harassment resulting from the incident on December 7, 2021, and sentenced to one day in jail. Despite a significant criminal history, Hills was shown leniency, and sentenced to a deferred judgment, Hills continued to illegally possess firearms. His unlawful possession of a firearm as a felon was discovered on April 15, 2022, when he began drinking heavily while armed with the firearm and passed out with the firearm on his person. When a woman attempted to make the weapon safe, Hills’ twin-brother, Jalond Hills, wrestled with the woman, resulting in the woman being shot with the firearm. When law enforcement responded, Jordan Hills lied to police and said an unknown black man had entered the apartment and shot the woman. On April 26, 2022, Hills still had the weapon, and on another occasion, actually fired the weapon at the woman who was shot in an apparent attempt to scare her into silence.
Despite being just 19 years old Hills has a lengthy criminal history, including failure to obey law-enforcement, interference with official acts, failure to appear, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and the 2021 harassment charge for his role in the July 4, 2021 killing.
Hills was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 37 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 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.
Hills is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by 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 22-4062.
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Cedar Rapids Man Sent to Prison After a Woman Was Shot with a Gun He PossessedRead the Press Release
A convicted felon who unlawfully possessed a gun was sentenced today to more than six years in federal prison.
Gregory Scott, age 39, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 8, 2023 guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon.
In a plea agreement, Scott admitted he possessed a firearm in June 2021. On June 8, 2021, a woman was shot by that gun while at Scott’s residence. Scott agreed that his sentence should be enhanced because he possessed the firearm in connection with the crime of reckless discharge of a firearm. Scott has multiple felony convictions, including convictions for manufacturing or delivery of cannabis and a prior conviction for felon in possession of a firearm.
Scott was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Scott was sentenced to 78 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 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.
Scott 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 investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department with assistance from 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 22-cr-00075.
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Spencer Iowa Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Leighton Marshal Jones, 41, from Spencer, Iowa, plead guilty in federal court on August 18, 2023, to Possession of Child Pornography.
At the plea hearing, Jones, admitted that he knowingly possessed and attempted to possess child pornography, including a depiction involving a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Jones was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the guilty plea and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Jones faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years to life of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig Hamit and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-04015.
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Former Nurse Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography and Conspiracy to Acquire Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
Douglas Kelley, 67, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty in federal court on August 17, 2023, to Possession of Child Pornography and Conspiracy to Acquire Controlled Substances by Fraud.
At the plea hearing, Kelley admitted that he knowingly possessed child pornography, including a depiction involving a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age. Kelley further admitted he was previously convicted of offenses relating to the possession of child pornography in Buena Vista County, Iowa, in 1993. In a plea agreement, Kelley admitted that he knowingly distributed fentanyl, and conspired to distribute amphetamine as well as conspired to obtain and acquire fentanyl by means of misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge. Kelley was a nurse at MercyOne Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa, and used his position to obtain fentanyl and other controlled substances to illegally distribute to others.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Kelley was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the guilty plea and will remain in custody pending sentencing. On the Possession of Child Pornography count, Kelley faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of no more than 20 years’ imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years to life of supervised release following any imprisonment. For the Conspiracy to Acquire Controlled Substances by Fraud count, Kelley faces not more than 4 years’ imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a $250,000 fine and up to 1 year of supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig Hamit and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Inspections & Appeals, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Sioux City Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-4022.
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