Northern District of Iowa
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Meth ChargeRead the Press Release
A man who possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty June 13, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City.
Kelly Malloy, 55, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of possessing with intent to distribute and aiding and abetting another in the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, Malloy admitted that on October 26, 2022, he was stopped by Le Mars Police Department. During the traffic stop law enforcement located over 76 grams of pure methamphetamine. Further evidence showed that Malloy intended to distribute some or all of the methamphetamine to another person.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Malloy remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Malloy faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Le Mars Police Department and the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-4007. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Prohibited Person in Possession of Firearm Pleads Guilty in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
Jeffrey Krowiorz, II, 34, from Milford, Iowa, pled guilty June 14, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City.
At the plea hearing, Krowiorz, II admitted he unlawfully possessed a gun after at least one prior felony conviction and while 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 gun Krowiorz, II possessed had an altered or obliterated serial number.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Krowiorz, II remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Krowiorz faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Spencer Iowa Police Department, and Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-4006. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Sioux City Man to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of Guns and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Chance Rebel Nielsen, 23, from Sioux City, Iowa, was sentenced on June 12, 2023, to 54 months in federal prison for being a prohibited person in possession of firearms and ammunition. Nielsen was previously convicted of a felony in October 2021. This conviction prohibited him from possessing a gun or ammunition.
Nielsen pled guilty on January 31, 2023. Evidence at the hearings showed that on August 29, 2022, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which defendant was a passenger. During the stop, a Glock 9mm Luger, .45 ACP, and ammunition were found. Further investigation showed that, on August 23, 2022, Nielsen was at Scheels in Sioux City where he was observed possessing a Glock 9mm in his waistband. Nielsen purchased ammunition from Scheels which matched the ammunition found in the vehicle. Scheel’s Loss Prevention Unit provided evidence which was used by law enforcement to obtain a search warrant. Pursuant to a search warrant on recovered cell phones in this investigation, Nielsen was seen in a video shooting a firearm at a gun range, and text messages in which Nielsen discussed buying and selling firearms and made threats to others were found.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Nielsen was sentenced to 54 months’ imprisonment and must serve a three-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Nielsen remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, Le Mars 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 22-4077. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to Prison for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Document FraudRead the Press Release
A Mexican man who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced today to more than one year in federal prison.
Juan Gonzalez-Matias, age 46, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 5, 2023, guilty plea to two counts of unlawful use of identification documents, two counts of misuse of a social security number, and one count of possession of a firearm by an alien.
At the guilty plea, Gonzalez-Matias admitted he used a fraudulent Social Security card and a fraudulent Permanent Resident Card, also known as a “green card,” both bearing his name, to prove his authorization to work in the United States when he completed employment and tax forms in May 2021 and March 2022 at businesses in Cedar Falls and Waterloo, Iowa. The number on the Social Security card was assigned to another person and the number on the Permanent Resident Card was assigned to a Pakistani female.
Gonzalez-Matias also admitted that he unlawfully possessed a firearm in September 2022 while being illegally present in the United States. Gonzalez-Matias was previously removed from the United States in January 1998, April 2004, and March 2012. On September 23, 2022, Waterloo police officers were called to Gonzalez-Matias’s residence after a report of shots fired. It was learned from a witness that Gonzalez-Matias, while under the influence of alcohol and methamphetamine, fired shots into the air outside the house. During the execution of a search warrant, officers found a loaded Taurus, PT709, 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a small bag of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in the residence.
Gonzalez-Matias was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Gonzalez-Matias was sentenced to 21 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.
Gonzalez-Matias is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
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-2066.
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Central City Woman Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Elder Financial Abuse and Identity Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
A Central City, Iowa, woman who stole over $400,000 from two elderly relatives was sentenced today to five years in federal prison. Carrie April Martin, age 44, received the prison term after a September 26, 2022 guilty plea to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Evidence at Martin’s plea and sentencing hearings established that Martin had two elderly relatives, Victim-1 and Victim-2, in the Cedar Rapids area. Victim-1 was an elderly widow who was indigent, lived in a nursing home, and suffered from dementia and various physical ailments. Victim-2 was also an elderly widow in poor physical and mental health but had significant assets and lived in an assisted living facility. Victim-1 died at the age of 89 in December 2014, and Victim-2 died at the age of 96 in October 2017.
Between April 2014 and July 2017, Martin stole checks drawn on accounts at a credit union from Victim-1 and Victim-2. Another one of Martin’s relatives was the power of attorney for the two elderly widows and had full legal authority to act for them. From time to time, Martin stole the power of attorney’s identity and wrote checks to herself from her victims’ accounts at the credit union. Martin also leveraged her friendship with the office administrator at the local branch of a national investment firm to access an account that Victim-2 held at the firm. Martin also sold over $100,000 worth of stock that Victim-2 held in an energy company, which Victim-2 intended to bequeath to a church in Elkader. In total, Martin stole over $416,000 from Victim-1 and Victim-2.
Victim-2 went into hospice care less than a week after learning of defendant’s theft, which left Victim-2 with minimal assets. When informed that Martin lacked funds to repay Victim-2, Victim-2 asked that Martin be charged and held accountable for her scheme. Victim-2 died within a month’s time.
Evidence at Martin’s sentencing also established that Martin made false statements to a fraud specialist at her credit union and law enforcement to cover up her crimes. In May 2022, Martin told two witnesses to “just watch what you say” and, “If they don’t specifically ask, don’t give information.”
Martin was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Martin was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. She was ordered to make $416,910.82 in restitution to her victim’s heirs, including the power of attorney and the church. She must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
In 2016, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa was selected as one of 10 districts in the nation to form an Elder Justice Task Force (http://go.usa.gov/cSngj). The task force was assembled to foster a collaborative working relationship among all levels of government officials, advocacy groups for the elderly and the disabled, and others charged with the care and protection for these vulnerable groups. The goals include ensuring the integrity of all government expenditures by eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse in health programs, and protecting some of the state’s most vulnerable citizens from harm, whether it occurs in nursing homes or other institutions or involves financial fraud schemes. To learn more about the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, visit: https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/
This week, the Department of Justice joins millions around the world in commemorating World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), a day intended to raise public awareness of the fight against elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. Research sponsored by the Department’s National Institute of Justice finds that millions of older Americans experience some form of elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation every year, often by someone they love. The harms resulting from mistreatment of older Americans drives our work every day. Today, the Department of Justice is proud to announce 10 new resources to train, inform, and support elder justice professionals across the country.
Martin was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 22-CR-51.
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Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to More than 15 Years’ Imprisonment for Possessing Methamphetamine, a Loaded Firearm, and over $135,000 in Drug MoneyRead the Press Release
A man who possessed methamphetamine with intent to distribute it and who possessed a firearm as an unlawful drug user, was sentenced today to more than 15 years in federal prison.
Joshua Ryan Gorrell, age 37, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 23, 2022 guilty plea to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute it within 1,000 feet of a protected location, and one count of possession of a firearm as an unlawful drug user.
In a plea agreement, Gorrell admitted that, on July 22, 2022, he made a 911 call regarding an overdose that occurred at his home in Cedar Rapids. When first responders arrived, they found a deceased overdose victim. Officers searched Gorrell’s home and found $123,038 in U.S. Currency and over two pounds of actual (pure) methamphetamine, 43 grams of fentanyl, 56 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and heroin, 68 grams of marijuana, and 238 grams of THC wax. Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that Gorrell stored these items throughout his house, in air ducts, laundry dryer vents, ceiling insulation, pipes, a fake plant, the freezer, and elsewhere.
Gorrell also admitted that on August 22, 2022, officers searched his home again and found a firearm, $15,253 in U.S. Currency, approximately 28 grams of ice methamphetamine, and approximately 252 grams of marijuana. Later that day, Gorrell’s urine tested positive for methamphetamine and fentanyl. Evidence at the sentencing hearing demonstrated that the firearm was loaded.
Gorrell was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Gorrell was sentenced to 188 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham. It 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 Cedar Rapids Police Department, United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Marion Police Department, and Linn County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is also 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-59.
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Cedar Rapids Man Convicted of November 2020 Armed Robbery SpreeRead the Press Release
A seven-time convicted felon who robbed or attempted to rob employees of Cedar Rapids businesses at gunpoint seven times in a twelve-day period in November 2020 was convicted by a jury on June 6, 2023, after a four-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Cardel Demetrius Redmond, age 28, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was convicted of six counts of interference with commerce by robbery, six counts of using and possessing a firearm during and in furtherance of those robberies, one count of attempt to interfere with commerce by robbery, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. The verdict was returned yesterday afternoon following about six hours of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that on November 17, 2020, Redmond robbed the Subway restaurant on Gateway Place SW in Cedar Rapids by displaying a firearm to the employees and demanding the cash from the register. On November 19, 2020, Redmond robbed a cashier at gunpoint in the Wine and Spirits area of the Hy-Vee grocery store on Oakland Road NE in Cedar Rapids. On November 25, 2020, Redmond robbed the Perkins Restaurant & Bakery on Southgate Court SW in Cedar Rapids by pointing a firearm at one of the employees of the business. On the night of November 27, 2020, Redmond used a firearm to rob an employee at the Hy-Vee grocery store on Mount Vernon Road SE in Cedar Rapids. Minutes later, Redmond robbed two employees at gunpoint at the Little Caesar’s Pizza on Mount Vernon Road SE. Less than twenty-four hours later, on November 28, 2020, Redmond attempted to rob two employees at the Hy-Vee Drugstore on 6th Street SW by brandishing a firearm. One of the employees told him there was a police officer in an unmarked car in the parking lot, and Redmond fled. The following night, November 29, 2020, Redmond robbed the same Subway restaurant on Gateway Place SW by pointing a firearm at an employee. Redmond was arrested on burglary charges later that night.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Redmond will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Redmond faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 42 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $ 3,500,000 fine, and not more than 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kyndra Lundquist and Tony Morfitt and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-0085.
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Fort Dodge Man Pleads Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to, and distributed, methamphetamine pled guilty June 6, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City.
Phillip Pringle, 53, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and aiding and abetting another in the distribution of methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, Pringle admitted that between January 2015 and December 2019, he and others distributed several pounds of methamphetamine in the Fort Dodge area. In October 2019 and two occasions in 2020, Pringle was the source of methamphetamine for an individual selling methamphetamine to an undercover officer. On October 19, 2021, Pringle failed to appear for a pre-trial release revocation hearing and an arrest warrant for him was issued. On February 14, 2023, Pringle was arrested by the United States Marshals Service. From about October 19, 2021, to about February 14, 2023, Pringle was a federal fugitive.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Pringle remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Pringle faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least four years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, and Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-3022. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Cherokee Man Pleads Guilty to Meth ChargesRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty on June 6, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City.
Jason Werner, 37, from Cherokee, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, Werner admitted his involvement in a conspiracy that distributed at least 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine from December 2019 through May 2022. Werner further admitted to assisting at least six others in the conspiracy in obtaining roughly four pounds of methamphetamine and one pound of marijuana from sources in California and Nevada and transporting it via a hidden vehicle compartment to Cherokee, Iowa, for further distribution.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Werner is in the custody of the United States Marshal and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Werner faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the 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, Iowa DCI Laboratory, and Cherokee Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-4066. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Las Vegas Man to Federal Prison for Iowa Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
James Conlan, 58, from Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced May 31, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa, to over eight years in federal prison.
On January 25, 2023, Conlan plead guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hears showed that between January 2021 and December 2021, he and others were involved in a conspiracy that distributed more than a kilogram of methamphetamine across Northwest Iowa. Conlan further admitted that he utilized the United States Postal Service to send methamphetamine from Las Vegas, Nevada, to an undercover post office box in Spencer, Iowa on two occasions.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Conlan was sentenced to 100 months’ imprisonment and must serve a term of four years of supervised release following the imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Conlan 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 Attorneys Patrick T. Greenwood and Shawn Wehde, and was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, U.S. Postal Service, Department of Homeland Security, Iowa DCI Laboratory, Iowa State Patrol, Colorado State Patrol, and the Cherokee Iowa Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-4049.
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Garner Woman Pleads Guilty to Meth and Heroin ChargesRead the Press Release
A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and heroin pled guilty June 1, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City.
Brook Paulsen, 40, from Garner, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin.
At the plea hearing, Paulsen admitted that during the course of the conspiracy, October 2020 through December 2021, she and others participated in the distribution of more than 2.4 kilograms of methamphetamine and over one pound of heroin. Paulsen and a co-defendant admitted they 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. Other evidence presented showed that on April 28, 2021, she and a co-defendant distributed methamphetamine to a confidential informant working with law enforcement.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Paulsen was taken into custody of the United States Marshal and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Paulsen faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Wright County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa DCI Laboratory, and the Rochester Minnesota Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-3024. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Farnhamville, Iowa, Man Sentenced to over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Marcus Urelius, 36, from Farnhamville, Iowa, was sentenced May 15, 2023, to 63 months in federal prison for Possession of Child Pornography.
At the hearing, evidence established that between April 2021, and January 2022, Urelius used an Internet-based, peer-to-peer (P2P) network known as “Freenet” to knowingly receive visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Urelius was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 63 months’ imprisonment. He was also fined a total of $20,000 and, given his substantial net worth, ordered to pay $9,500 for the costs of his court-appointed counsel. Urelius was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to the victims. Urelius must also serve a 5-year term of supervised released following the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
The case was investigated by the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-3017. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Thompson Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced May 30, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City.
Joey Post, 35, from Thompson, Iowa, pled guilty on February 1, 2023, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from July 2020 through May 2022, Post and others distributed over 10 pounds of methamphetamine. This included distribution to an individual working with law enforcement on several occasions in Swea City, Iowa. While on pretrial release for the instant federal charges, Post fled the area without notifying the United States Probation Office and was later arrested in Minnesota.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Post was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment and must serve a three-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, Kossuth 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 22-3029. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Central American Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being DeportedRead the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced today to more than two months in federal prison.
Pedro Saban-Lares, age 48, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Toledo, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 12, 2023, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported.
At the guilty plea, Saban-Lares admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Saban-Lares was previously deported in February 2017. After he illegally returned to the United States, Saban-Lares illegally worked using someone else’s name and social security number. On March 10, 2023, immigration officials learned Saban-Lares had illegally returned to the United States and found Saban-Lares at the Tama County Jail following his arrest on state charges.
Saban-Lares was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Saban-Lares was sentenced to 73 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Saban-Lares is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-19.
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Former Teacher and Coach Sentenced to 10 Years’ Imprisonment for Child Sex CrimeRead the Press Release
A former Wynot, Nebraska middle school teacher and Sergeant Bluff High School baseball coach was sentenced in federal court in Sioux City. Andrew Heller, age 39, was convicted of sexual exploitation of a minor after pleading guilty in federal court on January 13, 2023.
The FBI and Sioux City Police Department were conducting an undercover investigation to identify subjects engaged in human trafficking in Sioux City, Iowa. As part of the operation, law enforcement posted an advertisement for sex services on a frequently used dating website.
Andrew Heller, a middle school teacher and high school baseball coach responded to an ad purporting to be from a 19-year-old female offering sexual services in exchange for money. After calling the phone number in the ad, Heller began communicating with a person he believed was a 14-year-old girl, but who was actually an undercover FBI agent. Heller agreed to pay $200 cash and bring some Trulys in exchange for sex with the 14-year-old. The meeting date was scheduled, and Heller showed up, as previously arranged, in his vehicle. He was searched by police, who found the cash and Trulys, along with condoms.
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.”
Heller was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 120 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve 5 years of supervised release after the term of imprisonment and pay a $5,100 in special assessments. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sioux City Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-4059.
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Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A man who possessed methamphetamine he was intending to distribute was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison.
Jose Guadalupe Angulo, age 43, from Minneapolis, Minnesota, received the prison term after a February 2, 2023 guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
In a plea agreement, Angulo admitted that on December 8, 2016, he was a passenger in a vehicle traveling through Woodbury County, Iowa. After law enforcement stopped the vehicle, he was found in possession of 7983 grams of methamphetamine he had obtained in California and was intending to redistribute in Minnesota.
After he was released following federal arrest, Angulo absconded from pretrial supervision and did not appear for his subsequent court hearings. He fled to Mexico until he was arrested in spring of 2022 as he crossed the border back into the United States.
Angulo was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Angulo was sentenced to 120 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.
Angulo 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 Jack Lammers and investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 16-CR-4102.
Sioux City, Iowa Man Found Guilty of Being a Prohibited Person in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
A man with a history of felony convictions was convicted by a jury on May 24, 2023, after a two-day trial in federal court in Sioux City.
Jerell Wilson, age 30, of Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of felon in possession of a firearm. The verdict was returned Wednesday afternoon following about two hours of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial revealed that while Sioux City Police were investigating an unrelated crime, it was learned through witness and video surveillance that Wilson had been at the crime scene prior to, and after, the crime 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 guns that were not found in the search. Wilson refused to attend his own trial.
Wilson has previously been convicted of possession of a defaced firearm, 1st degree theft and eluding resulting in death and homicide by vehicle.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Wilson remains in custody of the United States Marshal. Wilson faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department. The case is being 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-CR-04061.
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Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Meth Possession with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
A man who possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty May 15, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City.
Thomas Powell, 36, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine after having been previously convicted of a federal felony drug offense in 2010.
At the plea hearing, Powell admitted that on November 13, 2022, while in Sac County, Iowa, he was found with over 90 grams of pure methamphetamine and that he planned to distribute some or all of it to other persons.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Powell remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Powell faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, and at least 10 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Sac County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa DCI Laboratory, and Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-4002. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Omaha Man to Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearm in IowaRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced May 16, 2023, to 33 months in federal prison.
Mark Hadland, 49, from Omaha, Nebraska, received the prison term after a February 7, 2023, guilty plea to prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Hadland was previously convicted of felony Theft by Unlawful Taking Over $1500, in the Douglas County District Court for Nebraska, on or about April 7, 2010.
Evidence at the hearings showed that on August 8, 2022, Buena Vista County, Iowa, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle Hadland was driving. It was determined Hadland’s driver’s license was revoked, and he admitted a marijuana roach was in the vehicle. Pursuant to a search of Hadland’s vehicle, law enforcement seized marijuana, drug paraphernalia, a cane with a detachable top concealing a 14-inch knife, loose ammunition, and a stolen firearm with one round in the chamber. Hadland further admitted that he was a user of marijuana and methamphetamine.
Hadland was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Hadland was sentenced to 30 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. Hadland is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and investigated by Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office, Storm Lake 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 22-4093. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
United States Files Complaint Alleging Iowa Surgeon Caused Submission of False Claims to MedicareRead the Press Release
Adam B. Smith, M.D., also known as “Adam Bryant,” has been sued by the United States for two counts of violating the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §3729 et seq. The claims are contained in a Civil Complaint filed by both the United States and the State of Iowa on May 9, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.
The complaint alleges that from approximately August 2014 to August 2019, Smith, a plastic surgeon practicing in Sioux City during that time, submitted or caused to be submitted false claims for healthcare services to government payors, including Medicare. The complaint alleges Smith did so by: (1) billing government payors for services he claimed were medically necessary surgical procedures, but that were in actuality medically unnecessary cosmetic surgeries, which are not payable by government payors; (2) billing for services in excess of those actually rendered (“upcoding”) to increase reimbursement, or even billing for surgical procedures he didn’t perform at all; and (3) overstating the complexity of office visits with patients in order to obtain greater reimbursement from government payors.
Under the federal False Claims Act, the United States is entitled to a judgment equal to three times the cost to the United States for any false claims. In addition, the United States is entitled to per-claim penalties, currently set by law at between $13,508 and $27,018. The United States alleged Smith caused the submission of over one thousand false claims.
The United States previously entered into a settlement agreement for $612,501.44 with Smith’s employer during his time practicing in Sioux City, Tri-State Specialists, LLP, in December 2021.
As with any civil case, a complaint is merely an allegation and a defendant is presumed not liable until shown otherwise by a preponderance of the evidence.
This civil matter arose from an action brought under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Pursuant to that Act, the whistleblower will share in any recovery obtained by the United States.
The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Melissa A. Carrington and Matthew K. Gillespie and was investigated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 5:19-cv-04011-CJW-KEM.
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Sioux City Man to Federal Prison for Meth ConvictionsRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced May 10, 2023.
Kenneth John David Schneiders, 34, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted by a jury on December 13, 2022, after a two-day jury trial of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine all within 1,000 feet of a protected location, namely the Sioux City Alternative School and Opportunities School, each located in the Boys and Girls Home in Sioux City, Iowa.
The evidence at trial showed that Schneiders was communicating with others for the sale of methamphetamine on December 2, 2019. Law enforcement was made aware of the discussions through a confidential source, and ultimately located Schneiders at the Boys and Girls Home parking lot with approximately two ounces of methamphetamine.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Schneiders was sentenced to 80 months’ imprisonment and must serve an eight-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Schneiders remains in custody of United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-4032. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Three Waterloo Fentanyl Dealers Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Three Waterloo fentanyl dealers were sentenced to federal prison this week.
Sheryl Wellner, age 44, received the prison term after an October 11, 2022 guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Melvin Williams, age 55, received the prison term after a January 8, 2023 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
Justin Jensen, age 41, received the prison term after a January 9, 2023 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
Information at a prior hearing showed that, on August 7, 2021, and August 13, 2021, Wellner distributed heroin to another person in Waterloo, Iowa. Then, on August 18, 2021, law enforcement officers searched Wellner’s residence and recovered almost 10 grams of a heroin/fentanyl mixture and a digital scale.
Information disclosed at their respective sentencing hearings showed that, between March 2022, and May 26, 2022, Williams and Jensen worked together to distribute fentanyl. In late March 2022, Williams distributed an amount of fentanyl to another person, which caused the person to suffer an overdose and die. Then, in early April 2022, Williams distributed fentanyl to Jensen, who in turn distributed it to another person, which caused the person to suffer an overdose and crash their car on a highway in Waterloo. In May 2022, law enforcement officers conducted several controlled purchases from Williams and Jensen before arresting them on May 26, 2022.
All three individuals were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Wellner was sentenced to 41 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a six‑year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Williams was sentenced to 79 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.
Jensen was sentenced to 33 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.
Wellner, Williams, and Jensen are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.
These case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and were 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force consisting of the Waterloo Police Department, Cedar Falls Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department, Evansdale Police Department, Waverly Police Department, Hudson Police Department, La Porte City Police Department, and the Bremer County Sheriff’s Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file numbers are 22‑CR‑02028 and 22-CR-02034.
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Cedar Rapids Man Charged with Being a Prohibited Person in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Ethan Porter, age 33, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been charged with being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. The charge is contained in an Indictment unsealed on March 13, 2023, in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.
The Indictment alleges that, in June 2022, Porter possessed a Taurus pistol while being an unlawful drug user and after having been convicted of three felonies and a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
If convicted, Porter faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years on supervised release following any imprisonment.
Porter appeared for a detention hearing today in federal court in Cedar Rapids and was held without bond. Porter’s next appearance for trial is set for July 10, 2023.
As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and is being investigated by the High Risk Unit of the Sixth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is CR 23-6.
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Texas Man Who Sexually Abused a Minor and Attempted to Influence the Victim’s Testimony at Trial Pleads Guilty in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
A Brownsville, Texas man who coerced a minor to engage in live stream sessions featuring sexually explicit conduct, and retained digital images from the sessions, pled guilty on May 10, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City. Isaac Herrera, age 22, from Brownsville, Texas was convicted of sexual exploitation of a minor.
In a plea agreement, and at the plea hearing, Herrera admitted that he sexually abused a minor child who was between the ages of 12 and 16 at the time, and possessed child pornography depictions of the victim and other minors on his phone. Herrera further admitted to contacting the victim in order to influence his testimony at trial, while Herrera was in jail pending trial in this case.
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.”
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Herrera remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Herrera faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years up to life of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Sioux City Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-4060.
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Mason City Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A woman who sold methamphetamine in the Mason City area was sentenced today to more than 5 years in federal prison.
Tara Graham, age 42, from Mason City, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 12, 2023, guilty plea to three counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
At the plea hearing, Graham admitted that in November of 2022, she sold methamphetamine in up to ounce quantities to a confidential source on three separate occasions in Mason City.
Graham was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Graham was sentenced to 64 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a 4-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Graham is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jack Lammers and investigated by the Cerro Gordo Sheriff’s Office, Clear Lake Police Department, Mason City Police Department, Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, and the North Central Iowa Drug Task Force.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 21-CR-3043.
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Larrabee Man Pleads Guilty to Meth ChargesRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty on May 9, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City.
Carl Thompson, 52, from Larrabee, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, Thompson admitted his involvement in a conspiracy that distributed more than three pounds of methamphetamine from December 2019 through May 2022. Thompson admitted assisting at least six others in obtaining the methamphetamine from sources in California and Nevada and transporting it back to Cherokee, Iowa, for further distribution.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Thompson was taken into custody of the United States Marshal and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Thompson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the 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, Iowa DCI Laboratory, and Cherokee Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-4066. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Sioux City Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced on May 9, 2023, to 5 years in federal prison.
Linda Fernandez, 69, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty January 26, 2023, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that between May and July 2022, Fernandez and others conspired to distribute over 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Sioux City area. On July 15, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Fernandez’s apartment, and discovered approximately one pound of methamphetamine, drug distribution materials, and over $3,300.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Fernandez was sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment and must serve a 3-year term of supervised release following the imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Fernandez remains in custody of the United States Marshal until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 22-4055. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Mason City Man Returned to Federal Prison for Violating His Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
A man who violated his supervised release by selling methamphetamine has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison.
Adam James Rollins, age 43, from Mason City, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 8, 2023, revocation hearing where he was found to have violated his third term of supervised release which began May 6, 2022. Rollins violated the conditions of release by using, and eventually selling methamphetamine again.
Rollins’ supervised release had previously been revoked in April of 2019 and September of 2021. He was originally sentenced in January of 2010, to 10 years in prison and 8 years of supervised release for conspiring to manufacture methamphetamine in the Mason City area. He also had a previous conviction for a felony drug offense in April of 2005.
Rollins was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade. Rollins was sentenced to 40 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
Rollins 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 Jack Lammers and investigated by the Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office and the Algona Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 09-CR-3019.
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Iowa Felon Sentenced to Almost Four Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced on May 8, 2023, in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Lavell Andre Barnes, Jr., age 27, from Iowa City, Iowa, was convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon.
At the sentencing, information showed that Barnes traveled from Chicago with a firearm, illegal controlled substances, and a large amount of United States Currency with children in the vehicle. Barnes admitted that he illegally possessed a firearm after being previously convicted of two felony convictions in Cook County, Illinois. Barnes was also previously convicted of a controlled substance offense involving heroin.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Barnes was sentenced to serve 46 months’ imprisonment and must serve a three‑year term of supervised release following his term of incarceration. There is no parole in the federal system. Barnes remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until he is transported to federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason Dorval Norwood and was investigated by the Iowa City Police Department’s Street Crimes Action Team.
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-84.
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Violent Felon Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted RobberyRead the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids man who attempted to rob a marijuana dealer and later shot at least twenty‑four times at an apartment building was sentenced on May 1, 2023, to 15 years in federal prison.
Lucas Frank Floyd, age 28, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 29, 2022 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery.
In a plea agreement, Floyd admitted that, on March 1, 2021, he agreed with others to rob a Cedar Rapids marijuana dealer. Floyd and two others, all carrying firearms, broke into the marijuana dealer’s home and demanded marijuana and money from the dealer. When the dealer told Floyd that he did not have any marijuana or money, Floyd pistol‑whipped the dealer, causing bodily injury to the dealer. Floyd and the two other individuals then left the dealer’s home without taking anything. On March 8, 2021, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop on a car in which Floyd was seated in the front‑passenger seat. During the traffic stop, Floyd provided false names and dates of births to officers. During a search of the car, officers recovered three firearms, extended magazines, marijuana, and a black ski mask. The next day, on March 9, 2021, law enforcement officers searched Floyd’s residence and recovered another firearm.
Floyd had previously been convicted of felony offenses in September 2011, May 2012, and December 2012, and he was forbidden from possessing firearms.
Floyd also admitted that, on June 5, 2022, he fired at least twenty‑four shots at an occupied apartment building, striking the apartments in the apartment building at least twenty‑three times, with seventeen bullet holes found inside one of the apartments. The next day, law enforcement officers attempted to arrest Floyd when he jumped out of an apartment window and attempted to flee. Officers eventually arrested Floyd and they recovered the firearm Floyd used to shoot at the apartment building the night before.
Floyd was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Floyd was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment, and he was ordered to make $2,500 in restitution to the owner of the apartment building he shot. 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.
Floyd is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and 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 22-CR-00050.
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Hospers, Iowa Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Meth and Gun ConvictionsRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessed firearms was sentenced on May 1, 2023, to 25 years’ imprisonment.
Robert Nicholas Hansen, 43, from Hospers, Iowa, was convicted by a jury of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; two counts of distribution of methamphetamine; and one count of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm (1 gun) on November 3, 2022. On May 18, 2022, Hansen was convicted by a jury of two counts of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm (17 guns).
The jury found that, from January 2017 through January 2021, Hansen was involved in a conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine. Evidence at trial showed that Hansen was involved with several other co-conspirators in the acquisition and distribution of more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine. Evidence further showed that on two separate occasions, Hansen distributed one-half pound of methamphetamine to individuals cooperating with law enforcement and during one of the transactions was found to possess three separate bundles of cash, totaling $14,000. The jury verdict included findings that Hansen’s methamphetamine distributions occurred within 1000 feet of Hospers Elementary School and South Side Park in Hospers, Iowa. The jury also found that Hansen illegally possessed a .223 caliber AR-15 style rifle. At trial, evidence was presented that Hansen had others store methamphetamine and guns for him when the “heat was on” him from law enforcement. At sentencing, Hansen’s illegal involvement with three other guns was also presented.
During Hansen’s other trial, the jury found that, from 2017 through November 2017, Hansen illegally possessed seventeen firearms. At sentencing, Hansen’s illegal involvement with four other guns was also presented. Hansen was previously convicted of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver in 2003 in the Iowa District Court for Sioux County.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Hansen was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment and must serve a 10-year term of supervised release following the imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Hansen 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 Attorneys Shawn Wehde and Patrick Greenwood and was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, the Orange City Police Department, the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file numbers are 21-4014 and 21-4054. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Mason City Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A Mason City, Iowa man who possessed over 150,000 depictions of child pornography was sentenced on Friday, April 28, 2023, to 240 months imprisonment after a jury returned a guilty verdict against him on November 17, 2022.
Brandon Manning, age 41, from Mason City, Iowa, was convicted of two counts of possession of child pornography at trial. The verdict was returned following more than four hours of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial and his sentencing showed that Manning possessed thousands of images and videos of child pornography, including pornography of children under the age of 12 years old—including infants, on an SD card in a cellphone he attempted to destroy, as well as an internal hard drive that was found in his home, hidden in his bedroom.
Manning was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 240 months’ imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay $118,000 in restitution to the victims. Manning must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Manning is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and was investigated by the Mason City Police Department and the State of Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-3002.
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Ellsworth Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
Bryan Ross, 26, from Ellsworth, Iowa, was sentenced April 28, 2023, to 25 years in federal prison for Producing and Distributing Child Pornography.
At the hearing, evidence established that between July 2019, and February 2022, Ross knowingly harassed and coerced minors online via Facebook and Snapchat to take sexually explicit photos and videos of themselves to send to him. Evidence further established that Ross received and attempted to receive visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and distributed them to others online.
Ross was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 300 months’ imprisonment and fined $1,000. Ross was also ordered to pay $18,649 in restitution to the victims. Ross must also serve an 8-year term of supervised released following the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
The case was investigated by HSI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-3016. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Chicago Heroin Dealer Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A Chicago man who distributed heroin in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on four different occasions was sentenced today to more than 3 years in federal prison.
Jerry Lamont Granville, age 52, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after an October 31, 2022 guilty plea to four counts of distribution of a controlled substance and one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that law enforcement utilized a confidential informant to conduct four controlled purchases of heroin from Granville between October 2020 and January 2021. On January 5, 2021, following one of the controlled purchases of heroin, law enforcement officers stopped Granville’s vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, officers found heroin and cocaine base.
Granville was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Granville was sentenced to 37 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. Granville 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 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-36.
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Two Waterloo Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Firearm as FelonsRead the Press Release
Two men from Waterloo, Iowa, were sentenced to prison terms after possessing a firearm as felons.
Bruce Terrell Sanford, 32, from Waterloo received the prison term after a November 28, 2022 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Houston Simmons III, 26, from Waterloo received the prison term after a December 15, 2022 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence at the guilty plea and sentencing hearings showed that Simmons III and Sanford were sitting in a car outside of a club in Waterloo on September 5, 2021, when officers were called to the club. Sanford was in the driver’s seat of the car, and Simmons III was in the front passenger’s seat. Officers could smell an odor of marijuana coming from the car and then searched the car. Inside the car, officers located a loaded Taurus PT111 G2 A, 9-millimeter pistol in the passenger door compartment next to where Simmons III was seated. Officers were able to determine that the pistol was stolen. Officers also found a burnt marijuana roach in the center console area of the car, a baggie of marijuana in the driver’s side door, an opened bag containing marijuana in the trunk of the vehicle, and a bag of marijuana in Sanford’s pocket. Sanford and Simmons III both admitted to possessing the pistol. Sanford was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he was previously convicted in Black Hawk County, Iowa, of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver in 2010, burglary in the third degree in 2010, and criminal mischief in the second degree in 2011. Simmons III was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he was previously convicted in Black Hawk County, Iowa, of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver in 2019.
Sanford was sentenced on April 27, 2023, to 70 months’ imprisonment. Simmons III was sentenced today to 44 months’ imprisonment.
Both Sanford and Simmons III were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. They were each ordered to 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.
Sanford and Simmons III 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 Adam J. Vander Stoep and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-2019.
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Sioux City Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Lying on Firearm Purchase FormRead the Press Release
Christen Williams, 35, from Sioux City, Iowa, was sentenced today to 10 months in federal prison for making false statements during the purchase of a firearm. Williams received the prison term after a December 5, 2022, guilty plea.
Evidence at the hearing established that between August 23 and 24, 2021, Williams purchased three firearms from Fleet Farm in Sioux City. Williams falsely indicated on the purchase forms that she was the intended recipient when she was purchasing the firearms on the behalf of another. These firearms were later recovered at three separate crime scenes over the next 46 days, one of which was a drive-by shooting.
Williams was sentenced in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa, by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 10 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a 1-year term of supervised released following the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit and was investigated by 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 22-4079. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
Felipe Martin, 26, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty on April 27, 2023, to being a prohibited person in possession of firearms.
Evidence at the plea hearing showed that on August 29, 2022, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop in Lemars, Iowa, of a vehicle that defendant was driving and noted the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, a Glock 9mm Luger, a .45 ACP pistol, ammunition, and a marijuana roach were found. Law enforcement later executed a search warrant at defendant’s residence and recovered drug paraphernalia, baggies, cocaine, and marijuana. Defendant further admitted he was an unlawful user of marijuana and cocaine, which by federal law prohibits a person from possessing any firearm or ammunition.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Martin was allowed to remain on release pending sentencing. He 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 was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, Le Mars 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 22-4078. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Mexican Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being Deported Four TimesRead the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported four times was sentenced today to more than five years in federal prison.
Aron Vargas-Acosta, age 40, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Marshalltown, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 28, 2022, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported.
At the guilty plea, Vargas-Acosta admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Vargas-Acosta was previously deported in April 2003, January 2008, July 2010, and April 2016.
Vargas-Acosta was convicted of operating while intoxicated in Marshall County in April 2000, in Tama County in January 2001, and in Polk County in October 2001. In June 2002, he was convicted of operating while intoxicated in Marshall County and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. In April 2003, Vargas-Acosta was deported to Mexico for the first time.
In September 2004, Vargas-Acosta was convicted of domestic assault. In December 2005, he was convicted of driving while barred, identity theft and possession of marijuana. In July 2006, he received his fifth conviction for operating while intoxicated and was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. In January 2008, Vargas-Acosta was deported to Mexico for the second time.
In May 2008, Vargas-Acosta was arrested by immigration authorities in Texas. In October 2008, he was convicted in the Southern District of Texas of illegally reentering the United States and sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. In July 2010, Vargas-Acosta was deported to Mexico for the third time.
In November 2014, Vargas-Acosta was convicted in the Southern District of Iowa of illegally reentering the United States and sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment. In April 2016, Vargas-Acosta was deported to Mexico for the fourth time.
On September 13, 2022, immigration officials learned Vargas-Acosta had illegally returned to the United States and found Vargas-Acosta at the Tama County Jail following his arrest and conviction for possession of a controlled substance and operating while intoxicated.
Vargas-Acosta was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Vargas-Acosta was sentenced to 63 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.
Vargas-Acosta is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-90.
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Mason City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
A Mason City, Iowa man who possessed a firearm as a felon was sentenced yesterday to the statutory maximum term of 10 years in federal prison.
Harley Davidson Llewellyn, age 44, from Mason City, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 26, 2022, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon.
In a plea agreement, Llewellyn admitted to being convicted of domestic abuse assault impeding air/blood flow causing bodily injury. Llewellyn admitted to knowing he was prohibited from being in possession of a firearm.
The case began after Llewellyn threatened a co-worker with a firearm, which led to termination of his employment. Over the course of the next two months, Llewellyn went on a shooting spree in Mason City and fired shots from a 9 millimeter pistol into 4 houses in Mason City. First, on April 7, 2022, Llewellyn shot multiple times into a house that he incorrectly believed to be the home of a co-worker whom he had threatened. On April 25, 2022, he fired a shot into another home where he believed the co-worker lived and then on May 3, 2022, he fired a round into the home of his co-worker’s parents, where the co-worker previously resided. Also on May 3, 2022, Llewellyn shot into a sober living facility in Mason City.
Following this shooting spree, Mason City police served a search warrant at defendant’s residence in Mason City where they located two Hi-Point 9 millimeter handguns, one of which had been used in all four of the shootings.
Llewellyn was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Llewellyn was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment, the statutory maximum sentence for the crime. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Llewellyn 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 Jack Lammers and was investigated by the Mason City Police Department and the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-3026.
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Cedar Rapids Felon Who Possessed a Sawed-off Shotgun Sentenced to over Four Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A convicted felon who possessed a sawed-off shotgun in his truck was sentenced April 26, 2023, to more than four years in federal prison.
Joseph John Senger, age 34, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 9, 2022 guilty plea to unlawfully possessing a destructive device.
In a plea agreement and at the guilty plea hearing, Senger admitted he was driving his truck in Cedar Rapids on April 29, 2022. Cedar Rapids Police officers stopped the truck after it drove over a curb and onto a sidewalk. As they approached the truck, officers saw a methamphetamine pipe. Officers then searched the truck and found four grams of methamphetamine, more methamphetamine pipes, seventeen shotgun shells, and a set of brass knuckles. Finally, officers found a weapon made from a Revelation shotgun. Both the barrel and the stock of the shotgun had been shortened. Senger had four shotgun shells on his person.
Senger was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Senger was sentenced to 51 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.
Senger 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 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 22-cr-78.
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United States Attorney’s Office Hosts United Against Hate Meeting in Cedar RapidsRead the Press Release
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – As part of the Department of Justice’s United Against Hate (UAH) initiative, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa invited the citizens of Cedar Rapids to participate last night in a forum to discuss hate crimes and bias incidents.
UAH is an initiative launched by the Department of Justice focused on improving the prevention of hate crimes and hate incidents by building relationships at the local level. Through this initiative, the Justice Department seeks to create and strengthen partnerships among law enforcement, community leaders and residents.
Joining in the forum were representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Linn County Attorney’s Office, the Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service, and the Cedar Rapids’ Civil Rights Commission.
United States Attorney Timothy T. Duax emphasized the importance of citizens reporting hate crimes to law enforcement. “In civil rights cases, enforcement begins with regular reporting of potential civil rights violations. The reporting of hate crimes is vital because these crimes have a devastating impact not just on the victims, but their families and communities as well. That’s why the Department of Justice has engaged communities through the United Against Hate initiative, bringing together citizens, law enforcement, and prosecutors. However, we cannot investigate and prosecute unless such crimes are reported. Therefore, we encourage citizens to report to the Federal Bureau of Investigation or local law enforcement whenever they witness conduct they believe to be a hate crime.”
To report a hate crime to the FBI, please call 1-800-CALL-FBI, submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov, or contact your local field office.
Courier who Transported Hundreds of Pounds of Ice Methamphetamine from California to Cedar Rapids Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who drove loads of ice methamphetamine from California to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for a drug trafficking organization was sentenced today to more than seven years in federal prison.
Albert Henry Bailey, age 53, from Cedar Rapids, received the prison term after a November 8, 2022 guilty plea to one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence at prior hearings showed that during a wiretap investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration in Cedar Rapids in late 2021 and early 2022, Bailey was discovered to be a driver for a group of individuals who were purchasing ice methamphetamine in California and selling it in eastern Iowa. Bailey traveled to California and then drove between 30 and 60 pounds of methamphetamine back to Iowa, where other individuals would sell it. In February 2022, intercepted communications over the wiretap indicated that Bailey would be transporting methamphetamine from California to Iowa. Investigators tracked Bailey’s vehicle and stopped it in York County, Nebraska. During a search of the vehicle, investigators located and seized approximately 60 pounds of ice methamphetamine.
Bailey was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Bailey was sentenced to 88 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.
Bailey 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 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‑87‑CJW‑MAR.
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Department of Justice and United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa Commemorate National Crime Victims’ Rights WeekRead the Press Release
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (“OVC”) and the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa will join communities nationwide in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and celebrating victims’ rights, protections, and services. This year’s observance takes place April 23-29 and features the theme, “Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change.”
In the Northern District of Iowa, United States Attorney Timothy T. Duax announced winners for the following awards based on their service to victims in Iowa:
- The Law Enforcement Victim Services Award is presented to Sargent Investigator Brent Ostrander from the Clayton County Sheriff’s Department. This award is presented to law enforcement officers in Iowa who go beyond the call of duty to help crime victims. It is the highest federal honor in Iowa for victim services by a law enforcement officer. Sgt. Ostrander is recognized for his leadership skills when working with other law enforcement agencies and his compassion and survivor-centered approach when working with crime victims.
Sgt. Ostrander took the initiative to attend college courses on trauma-informed services for victims of sexual assault and was then assigned to investigate all sexual assault allegations in Clayton County. During these investigations, Sgt. Ostrander consistently showed victims great respect and empathy. Sgt. Ostrander took his experience, knowledge and skills and began to train law enforcement in rural areas on how to interview, investigate, and present cases for prosecution. He collaborated with the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy to implement a Sexual Assault training course. He assisted in creating the Clayton County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), a team comprised of numerous law enforcement agencies, the Clayton County Attorney and Clayton County Victim Witness Coordinator. Sgt. Ostrander is a leader, educator and outstanding advocate for men, women, and children devastated by sexual violence.
- The Award for Excellence in Victim Services is presented to Victim Specialist Sherrie Schweder from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Law Enforcement Victim Services Award is presented to Detective Nathan West from the Sioux City Police Department, Special Agent Bradley Colligan from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Deputy Jared Junge from the Dakota County Nebraska Sheriff’s Department. These four individuals were nominated for their outstanding investigative and advocacy work that led to the successful prosecution of Arjune Ahmed.
Arjune Ahmed was convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting two women in Sioux City Iowa. While investigating these crimes, SA Colligan, Investigator West and Dep. Junge discovered five additional victims of attempted kidnapping and sexual assault by this defendant stemming back to 2014. Each of these victims were afraid of the defendant, distrustful of law enforcement, and keen to forget the worst day of their lives. But for the caring, comforting strong and inspirational conduct of Victim Specialist Schweder, the victims would not have cooperated with the government. Ms. Schweder provided varying levels of assistance to each victim, including crisis counseling, court accompaniment, and transportation. This incredible team effort made it possible to remove a serial kidnapper and rapist from the Siouxland area.
Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first Victims’ Rights Week in 1981, putting crime victims' rights, needs, and concerns in a prominent spot on the American agenda. He also established the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime, which laid the groundwork for a national network of services and legal safeguards for crime victims.
For more information on how to create your own public campaigns to raise awareness about crime victims’ rights online and at events throughout the year, please visit: https://ovc.ojp.gov/ncvrw2023/overview.
West Chester Woman Sentenced to 92 Months in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
A woman who was trafficking ice methamphetamine was sentenced today to more than seven years in federal prison.
Mary Lavone Linnell, age 62, from West Chester, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 18, 2022 guilty plea to possession of ice methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it.
Evidence disclosed at the sentencing hearing showed that law enforcement stopped Linnell in a vehicle with approximately a quarter pound of ice methamphetamine in November 2021. Other evidence showed that, in total, she bought over two pounds of ice methamphetamine for redistribution throughout 2021. Linnell has multiple prior convictions for operating vehicles while under the influence and for possessing controlled substances. She also has convictions for distributing methamphetamine and possessing cocaine with intent to deliver it.
Linnell was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. She was sentenced to 92 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Linnell 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 Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Johnson County Drug Task Force, Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 22-CR-61.
Leader of Organization that Distributed over 6 Kilograms of Heroin and Fentanyl Sentenced to over 33 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who led a years‑long conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl was sentenced on April 21, 2023, to over 33 years in federal prison.
Brian Jarrell Dennis, age 33, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after his June 27, 2022 guilty pleas to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin, two counts of distribution of heroin and fentanyl, two counts of distribution and aiding and abetting the distribution of heroin and fentanyl, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence and information presented at the sentencing hearing and prior hearings showed that Dennis orchestrated the transport of over six kilograms of purported heroin from Chicago for distribution in Cedar Rapids. During the early part of 2021, the Drug Enforcement Administration in Cedar Rapids initiated a wiretap investigation into Dennis’s drug distribution ring. That evidence showed that during the months of the wiretap, Dennis employed intermediaries whom he supplied with purported heroin (which almost always also contained fentanyl or another synthetic opioid) to distribute to customers. Several of those customers regularly distributed that purported heroin to other individuals.
Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that, in November 2018, Dennis was in a dispute with his cousin, who was one of his former heroin distributors. Dennis believed his cousin had stolen customers from him, so Dennis threatened that individual over the phone, telling him that he would “come at him with everything [he] had.” The sentencing court found that, during the evening of November 29, 2018, Dennis shot his cousin twice in the chest with a .22 caliber pistol during a drive‑by shooting in Cedar Rapids. The cousin survived the attack, but the sentencing judge observed that for Dennis, “money comes before family.” The judge described Dennis as the “poster child” for a major drug dealer who uses violence to control his business.
Information presented at sentencing and other hearings also showed that when officers attempted to arrest Dennis on the federal arrest warrant in June 2021, he led them on a high‑speed car chase during which Dennis threw a loaded handgun out of his vehicle, drove through traffic signals, and eventually drove onto a golf course where he ran his vehicle into a stone bridge. After Dennis exited his vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, he was arrested by officers.
“Heroin and fentanyl are lethal drugs, and have killed adults and children in our community,” said United States Attorney Timothy Duax. “Dennis brought these deadly drugs here intending to sell them for profit, regardless of the consequences. Dennis used violence to control his market and enhance his ability to make money from the vulnerable and addicted. Prosecuting dangerous individuals like Dennis remains a top priority for our office.”
drug“A known drug trafficker with a proven history of violence has been removed from our community making the streets of Cedar Rapids that much safer for our families,” Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Justin C. King said. “Today’s sentencing, along with the sentencing of nine of Brian Dennis’ associates, should send a strong message about the penalty that comes from pushing potentially lethal substances like heroin and heroin laced with fentanyl into our neighborhoods. Drug trafficking is not an innocent crime and arrests are often made of traffickers who own multiple weapons and have inflicted harm on others. Brian Dennis is a dangerous criminal and now faces more than 33 years in federal prison for his violent acts.”
Nine other individuals, Cody Scott Deklotz, Andrew James Lehman, Ryan Rick Schlitter, Melinda Salvatora Werning, Jerry Dwayne Banghart, Thomas Nathaniel May, Demeco Demon Irvin, Taylor James Leyden, and David Michael Nelson, previously pled guilty to the heroin conspiracy and have been sentenced. Ryan Rick Schlitter was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment. Andrew James Lehman was sentenced to 10 months and 16 days’ imprisonment. Cody Scott Deklotz was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment. Melinda Salvatora Werning was sentenced to 12 months and one day of imprisonment. Jerry Dwayne Banghart was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment. Thomas Nathaniel May was sentenced to 31 months’ imprisonment. Demeco Demon Irvin was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment. Taylor James Leyden was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment. David Michael Nelson was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment. Ladonna Cynthia Givens, who also sold heroin and fentanyl for Dennis but who was charged in a separate indictment, was sentenced to 7 months and 14 days’ imprisonment.
Dennis was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Dennis was sentenced to a total of 400 months’ imprisonment on the conspiracy count, 240 months’ concurrent imprisonment on the remaining drug counts, and 120 months’ concurrent imprisonment on the gun count. He must also serve a total of a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Dennis 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 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 and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 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 21‑CR‑32‑CJW.
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Dubuque Fentanyl Dealer Who Referenced Overdoses During Drug Sales Sentenced to 18 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A two-time drug felon who possessed a firearm and sold fentanyl to drug users in Dubuque, Iowa, was sentenced today to 216 months in federal prison.
Jose Miguel Soto-Guzman, age 47, received the prison sentence after a December 6, 2022 guilty plea to distribution of a controlled substance near a protected location after having been previously convicted of a felony drug offense and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence at hearings in Soto-Guzman and his co-defendant’s cases established that, between March and June 2022, Soto-Guzman supplied heroin users in the Dubuque area with fentanyl. Soto-Guzman and his co-defendant, Fallon Christina Murphy, regularly traveled to La Crosse, Wisconsin, to purchase fentanyl from Soto-Guzman’s source, which Soto-Guzman and Murphy then sold in Dubuque. During one of these trips, Soto-Guzman’s three-year-old child was present. Between March and June 2022, investigators conducted five controlled purchases from Soto‑Guzman and Murphy. The drugs purchased contained fentanyl, but some of the fentanyl was mixed with heroin and some with methamphetamine. During a drug sale, Soto-Guzman told an undercover agent that two people had overdosed the previous day. When investigators searched a residence where Soto-Guzman stayed, they located a firearm that he possessed. Soto-Guzman, a convicted felon, was also known to possess a firearm while selling controlled substances.
Soto-Guzman was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. He was sentenced to 216 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 6-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Murphy was previously sentenced to 28 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release.
Soto-Guzman 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 Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham and was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force as part of the Northern Iowa Heroin Initiative.
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-1022.
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Sioux City Felon with Violent History Sent to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a GunRead the Press Release
A man illegally armed with a loaded gun, was sentenced on April 13, 2023, to more than 5 years in federal prison.
Devine Shawn Felder, aka “Ketchup”, 41, originally from Louisiana, received the prison term after a December 19, 2022, guilty plea to 1 Count of Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.
Evidence in the case showed on or about July 22, 2022, as Sioux City Police Officers attempted to contact Felder regarding an active felony warrant, he fled on foot. Felder was stopped a short distance away in possession of a loaded handgun with a round in the chamber.
Felder has previously been convicted of burglary on an inhabited dwelling, battery, felon in possession of a firearm, domestic abuse battery, assault causing bodily injury, criminal mischief, and aggravated assault. As a result, Felder is incapable of legally possessing a gun.
Felder was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 70 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. Felder is being held in the custody of the United States Marshal’s until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-04070.
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Man Who Tossed Gun and Drugs While Fleeing from Police to Serve Time in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who possessed a firearm as a felon was sentenced yesterday to 78 months in federal prison.
Gabriel DeTrace Taylor, age 30, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 10, 2022, guilty plea to one count of possessing a firearm as a felon. Taylor had previously been convicted of Robbery in the First Degree.
Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that Taylor fled from police and threw a loaded firearm from the window of the vehicle, as well as a backpack with cocaine and marijuana. Evidence also showed that on a prior occasion in March 2021, Taylor had done the same thing, fleeing from police and throwing a firearm from the vehicle.
Taylor was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Taylor 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.
Taylor 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders 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.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 22-CR-62.
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Denison Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man found unconscious, behind the wheel another person’s vehicle on a private landowner’s property while in possession of a shotgun and a handgun, was sentenced April 13, 2023, to 7 years in federal prison.
Nickolas Schwenn, age 42, from Denison, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 10, 2023, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and drug user.
Evidence in the case showed Schwenn was found on December 12, 2021, by a landowner on private farm ground, unconscious behind the wheel of a vehicle. When law enforcement arrived, they found Schwenn asleep in the driver’s seat of a Pontiac Bonneville which had license plates registered to a different vehicle. Law enforcement also observed a shotgun on the rear floorboard of the vehicle and a handgun in the door pocket of the driver’s side door. The deputy, who recognized Schwenn and knew him to be a felon, woke Schwenn and directed him to exit the vehicle, at which time Schwenn began to argue with the officer. Schwenn then put his vehicle in drive and rammed a cow gate in front of his vehicle. He then put his vehicle in reverse and rammed his vehicle into the front of the landowner’s vehicle. Officers, threatening Schwenn with a taser, got him out of his vehicle and placed him under arrest. Schwenn also advised that he had drugs in his pocket; however, no drugs were found on his person.
Schwenn was not capable of legally possessing a gun as a result of a conviction for burglary. Schwenn has additional convictions for eluding law enforcement.
Schwenn was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 84 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.
Schwenn is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by Crawford County, Iowa Sheriff’s department and Monona County, Iowa Sheriff’s department 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 22-04023.
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Dubuque Man Sentenced to over 15 years for Distributing Heroin and Fentanyl Near a Local ParkRead the Press Release
A man who distributed heroin and fentanyl in Dubuque, Iowa, was sentenced on April 18, 2023, to more than 15 years in prison in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Deandre P. Davis, age 33, formerly of Dubuque, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl and distribution of heroin and fentanyl within 1,000 feet of Hilltop Park in Dubuque, Iowa.
At his plea hearing, Davis admitted to engaging in a drug-related conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl. In the fall of 2020, Davis coordinated with Nicole Jarvis and personally distributed heroin and fentanyl throughout the city of Dubuque.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Davis was sentenced to serve 188 months’ imprisonment and must serve a 12-year term of supervised release following his term of incarceration. There is no parole in the federal system. Davis remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason D. Norwood.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 21-CR-1033-CJW.
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