Northern District of Iowa
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Sioux City Woman to Federal Prison for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A Sioux City woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine with others was sentenced on April 14, 2023, to 37 months in federal prison.
Kimberly Hansen, 58, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty on October 21, 2022, in federal court to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that Hansen was involved in a conspiracy with 7-8 other persons that distributed at least 15 kilograms of methamphetamine from June 2017 through August 2019. On 12 occasions, Hansen received multiple pounds of meth through the mail from California for local drug dealer Melroy Johnson Sr. Hansen also traveled to California and acquired multiple pounds of methamphetamine from the same California source, then transported the meth back to Sioux City, Iowa, for distribution.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Hansen was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment and must serve a 2-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Hansen remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the United States Postal Service, 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 22-4086. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Media Advisory: United Against Hate Event to be Held in Cedar RapidsRead the Press Release
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa is joining with the FBI, the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission, the Linn County Attorney’s Office and others to host a forum designed to identify and address key issues related to hate crime reporting, investigation, prosecution and prevention. The forum is designed to educate the public on how to respond to hate crimes or hate incidents, including who to contact should a member of the public be the victim of a hate crime or incident.
The forum is part of the Department of Justice’s United Against Hate initiative. United Against Hate is a nationwide Department of Justice initiative to combat unlawful acts of hate. This initiative will connect federal, state and local law enforcement with communities in order to build trust and encourage people to report hate crimes and incidents.
Event Details
When: April 25, 2023
Where: Cedar Rapids Downtown Public Library – Beems Auditorium B
Time: 6:00 P.M.
A press release will be provided and interview opportunities will be available.
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Illinois Man Sentenced to over Seven Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced to over seven years in prison on April 17, 2023, in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Kayne Russell Donath, age 23, from East Dubuque, Illinois, was convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon.
At sentencing, the Court found that Donath received a ride from an individual in the community who was providing him a personal ride-sharing service. During this service, Donath revealed his possession of a firearm. After the individual was pulled over by law enforcement, officers discovered Donath had a warrant for his arrest. The Court found that Donath pulled down the gear shifter and forced the individual to elude law enforcement. Donath assaulted the individual with the firearm during the high-speed chase. Officers recovered the firearm after it was discarded in a nearby alley. The Court also found that Donath had previously committed assaults against law enforcement and another individual.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Donath was sentenced to serve 90 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. Donath remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason Dorval Norwood and was investigated by the City of Dubuque Police Department’s Drug Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
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-1028.
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Sergeant Bluff Business Owner Sentenced in Federal Court for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
The owner of a Sergeant Bluff, Iowa construction firm was sentenced on Friday, April 14, 2023, to two years in federal prison for his role in tax evasion offenses, including for evading payment of his company’s employment taxes, his personal income taxes, and evading payment of a company’s employment taxes which he kept in the name of another.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Kevin Alexander, 62, of Sioux City, owned K&L Construction, Inc., a landscaping and construction company. As the sole shareholder and president of K&L Construction, Alexander was responsible for filing quarterly employment tax returns and collecting and paying over to the IRS payroll taxes withheld from employees’ wages. From the second quarter of 2014 through the first quarter of 2017, K&L Construction paid approximately $3.8 million in wages to its employees and withheld approximately $1 million in payroll taxes, but the company did not pay over any of these withholdings to the IRS.
During IRS collection proceedings, Alexander accepted responsibility for paying K&L Construction’s outstanding tax balance. Alexander, however, submitted a false form to the IRS that concealed some of his assets. Alexander admitted that he submitted the false form for the purpose of concealing assets and evading payment of K&L Construction’s outstanding payroll tax liability. He evaded payment of K&L Construction’s tax debt by operating it through another company, Circle A Construction, Inc. and keeping ownership of Circle A Construction in another’s name. Alexander was found liable, for sentencing purposes, of at least $757,314.74 in tax liability for Circle A Construction. Alexander also willfully evaded paying his personal income taxes for 2014, 2015, and 2016, totaling $667,544 in personal income tax loss.
Alexander was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 24 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $1,678,722.39 in restitution. He must also serve a 2-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Mr. Alexander admitted that he purposely hid his assets to avoid paying his company’s outstanding payroll tax liability,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Thomas F. Murdock, IRS Criminal Investigation’s St. Louis Field Office. “Employers cheat their employees when they fail to meet that obligation. That’s a serious offense that harms the employee and all the honest taxpayers who’ve paid their fair share of taxes in a timely manner.”
U.S. Attorney Timothy T. Duax of the Northern District of Iowa and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Timmons of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa and Trial Attorney Meredith Havekost of the Justice Department’s Tax Division prosecuted the case.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4092.
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Sioux City Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for RobberyRead the Press Release
A Sioux City, Iowa man who brutally robbed a marijuana dealer was sentenced April 5, 2023, to 7 years in federal prison for robbery.
Alejandro Bautista, age 21, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 24, 2022, guilty plea.
Evidence in the case showed that on October 28, 2020, Bautista tricked a marijuana dealer into allowing him into his home to buy marijuana. Once inside, Bautista shouted a signal and armed gunman entered the home. The marijuana dealer, a 20-year old man, his brother and girlfriend were home at the time, where they were restrained, beaten, brutalized and robbed of marijuana, cash, a firearm and other valuables.
Bautista 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. Bautista is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-04029.
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Sioux City Man Back to Prison for Violating Federal Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
A man who violated the terms of his federal supervised release was sentenced April 7, 2023, to more than one year in federal prison.
Rahmaan El Herman, 41, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a Judge found him guilty of violating the terms and conditions of his supervised release. El Herman was sentenced in October 2008 to 180 months imprisonment with 5 years of supervised release following for his conviction of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute crack cocaine.
Evidence at the hearings showed El Herman violated multiple conditions of his supervised release which included multiple failures to report for drug testing and possessing a firearm during an assault of another person.
El Herman was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. El Herman was sentenced to 12 months’ plus one day imprisonment. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
El Herman 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 Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the U.S. Probation Office and the Sioux City Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 04-4042. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Illinois Man Sentenced to over 13 years in Prison for Distributing Heroin and Fentanyl Near a College and ParkRead the Press Release
A man who distributed heroin and fentanyl in Dubuque, Iowa, was sentenced April 13, 2023, to more than 13 years in prison in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Menelaeus C. Watson, age 35, from Chicago, Illinois, was convicted of distribution of heroin and fentanyl within 1,000 feet of a protected location.
In a plea agreement, Watson admitted to engaging in two transactions to distribute heroin and fentanyl in Dubuque. The transactions took place within 1,000 feet of a local college and two parks. Watson was previously convicted for unlawfully delivering illegal controlled substances on two separate occasions in Illinois.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.
Watson was sentenced to serve 164 months’ imprisonment and must serve a 6-year term of supervised release following his term of incarceration. There is no parole in the federal system. Watson 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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Fort Dodge Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Nearly 10 Years for Meth Conspiracy ConvictionRead the Press Release
A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced on April 5, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City, to 117 months’ imprisonment.
Amber Miller, 35, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, pled guilty on November 2, 2022, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed Miller’s involvement in a conspiracy scheme that distributed more than 15 kilograms of methamphetamine from January 2020 through April 2022. On two separate occasions in January and March 2021, Miller distributed a total of 140 grams of methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement, during controlled purchase operations. Miller also admitted conduct obstructing justice.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Miller was sentenced to 117 months’ imprisonment and must serve a four-year term of supervised release following the imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Miller remains in custody of the United States Marshal until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, DCI Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-3015. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Fort Dodge Man Headed Back to Federal Prison for Violating Federal Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
A man who violated the terms of his federal supervised release was sentenced April 10, 2023, to three years in federal prison.
Jeremiah Preston, 40, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after a Judge found him guilty of violating the terms and conditions of his supervised release. Preston was previously convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and distribution of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment. Preston began his term of supervised release in October 2022.
Evidence at the hearings showed Preston began violating multiple conditions of his supervised release shortly after his release from prison. In January 2023, during a traffic stop, Preston was found with two ounces of methamphetamine which he intended to distribute to others.
Preston was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Preston was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Preston 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 Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the U.S. Probation Office, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fort Dodge Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file numbers are 15-3048 and 16-3028. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Construction Firm Owner Sentenced for Employment Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
An Iowa man was sentenced today to two years in prison for evading payment of employment taxes owed by his company.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Kevin Alexander of Sioux City owned K&L Construction, Inc. (K&L), a landscaping and construction company. Alexander was responsible for filing quarterly employment tax returns and collecting and paying to the IRS taxes withheld from employees’ wages. Between 2014 and 2017, K&L paid approximately $3.8 million in wages to its employees, of which approximately $1 million in income and Social Security and Medicare taxes was withheld. Alexander did not pay those withholdings over to the IRS. When the IRS attempted to collect K&L’s unpaid employment taxes, Alexander sought to conceal his income by submitting a form to the IRS concealing the full amount of K&L’s available assets.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand ordered Alexander to serve two years of supervised release and to pay approximately $1.7 million in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Timothy T. Duax for the Northern District of Iowa made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Meredith Havekost of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Timmons for the Northern District of Iowa prosecuted the case.
Waterloo Opioid Dealer Sent Back to Federal Prison for Twenty YearsRead the Press Release
A Waterloo man that distributed fentanyl and heroin was sentenced April 12, 2023, to twenty years in federal prison.
Damien L. Cobbins, age 43, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 30, 2022 guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance after a prior conviction for a serious drug felony.
In a plea agreement, Cobbins admitted that on May 10, 2022, and May 17, 2022, he distributed fentanyl to another person in Waterloo. On May 19, 2022, law enforcement stopped Cobbins’s vehicle, and they recovered over $2,200 from Cobbins, which Cobbins admitted were proceeds from the sale of fentanyl and heroin. Cobbins continued to distribute fentanyl and heroin. On August 18, 2022, law enforcement again stopped Cobbins’s vehicle, and they recovered over $2,700, which Cobbins admitted were proceeds from the sale of fentanyl and heroin. Cobbins was arrested and, during a search at the Waterloo Police Department, officers seized over 60 grams of a fentanyl, heroin, and metonitazene mixture from Cobbins’s person.
Information disclosed at sentencing showed that Cobbins had four previous convictions for distributing controlled substances, including a prior federal conviction in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.
Cobbins was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Cobbins was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment, and he must also serve an eight‑year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Cobbins 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 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.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-02048-LTS.
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Iowa Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assaulting an Intimate PartnerRead the Press Release
A man who punched the mother of his children in the face twice was sentenced today to over a year in federal prison.
Dawson Davenport, age 42, from Tama, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 21, 2022 guilty plea to assault of an intimate partner resulting in substantial bodily injury.
Information from the case showed that on January 24, 2022, Davenport was intoxicated and involved in a fight with another man. The victim, who was the mother of three of Davenport’s children, tried to separate the two men. She then retreated into a nearby house and sat on the couch. Davenport entered the home and punched the victim in the face twice, striking near her left eye each time. He attempted to punch her a third time but missed and fell onto the victim. Davenport has previously been convicted of domestic assault five times in state court.
Davenport was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Davenport was sentenced to 15 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.
Davenport 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 Meskwaki Nation Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-cr-66.
Dubuque Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
A man who possessed a firearm as a felon was sentenced today to ten years in federal prison.
Daniel Arsenio Rodgers, age 34, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 31, 2022, jury verdict finding him guilty on one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
The evidence at trial showed that Rodgers knowingly possessed a Beretta 9mm handgun on June 25, 2021. On that date, Rodgers shot at a residence on West Locust in Dubuque before ditching the car he was driving. Later that day, Rodgers shot at a residence on W. 11th Street as a passenger in a different vehicle. Dubuque police officers were able to track that vehicle using traffic cameras from W. 11th Street to a local restaurant where Rodgers was arrested on an outstanding warrant a short time later. The Beretta used in both shootings was found in the vehicle in which Rodgers traveled to the restaurant.
Rodgers was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Rodgers was sentenced to 120 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.
Rodgers 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 was investigated by the Dubuque Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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-1013.
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Two Chicago Men Sentenced to Prison After Coming to Iowa Numerous Times to Acquire GunsRead the Press Release
Two men from Chicago were sentenced to prison terms after coming to Iowa to purchase firearms illegally.
Artin Thomas, age 29, from Chicago, Illinois, received a prison term after a November 7, 2022 guilty plea to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. In a plea agreement, he admitted buying firearms in May, June, and July 2022 in Iowa and lying about his address at each purchase. He also admitted that he was a marijuana user at the time he purchased the firearms, which he did not disclose at the time of the purchases. He also admitted that he purchased the guns to resell them.
Thomas was sentenced on April 3, 2023, to 41 months’ imprisonment.
Javon Jones, age 27, from Chicago Illinois, received a prison term after a November 7, 2022 guilty plea to two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon. In his plea agreement, Jones admitted possessing firearms following felony convictions on two separate dates in July 2022. Thomas was previously convicted of mob action - fail to withdraw, simple assault, aggravated battery/peace officer, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use or possession of a weapon by a felon, resisting a peace officer/correctional officer/firefighter, and felon in possession or use of a firearm.
Jones was sentenced on April 11, 2023, to 46 months’ imprisonment.
Both Thomas and Jones were sentenced by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They were each ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Thomas and Joes are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle and investigated by the Dubuque 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-1025.
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Iowa Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A Carrol, Iowa man that utilized Kik, an online messaging app, to receive and distribute visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct was sentenced April 7, 2023, to 9 years in federal prison.
Wyant Unruh, 37, received the prison term after a November 7, 2022, guilty plea to Possession of Child Pornography.
In the plea agreement, Unruh admitted that between November 2019, and July 2021, that he knowingly possessed child pornography, and that he used the messaging app Kik to knowingly receive and attempt to receive visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He further admitted to using the app to distribute child pornography to others.
Unruh was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 108 months’ imprisonment and fined $500. He was also ordered to pay $8,500 in restitution to the victims. Unruh must also serve a 5-year term of supervised released following the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the Iowa Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Unruh is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-3016.
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Felon Who Took Cedar Rapids Police Department on Vehicle and Foot Chase Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A convicted felon who possessed a firearm and attempted to elude police in his vehicle, and on foot, was sentenced today to more than four years in federal prison.
Daniel Straw, age 33, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 3, 2022 guilty plea to bring a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
At the guilty plea, Straw admitted he possessed a Glock 9mm pistol when he was prohibited because he was previously convicted of a felony, previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, was a drug user, and was subject to a no-contact order. In July of 2022, Straw took the Cedar Rapids Police Department on a chase while driving his vehicle. After going over a curb, Straw abandoned his car and took off on foot. He scaled a fence and ran through residential backyards while being chased by police. He was ultimately apprehended in the backyard of a residential neighborhood and a loaded Glock 9mm pistol was located in his bag, as well as an extended magazine and marijuana.
Straw was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Straw was sentenced to 57 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.
Straw 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 is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Liz Dupuich and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force. The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-cr-77-LTS.
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Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to over Five Years in Federal Prison for Being a Prohibited Person in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
A prohibited person who possessed a firearm was sentenced today to 64 months in federal prison.
Tylon Randolph, age 22, of Cedar Rapids, received the sentence after a November 7, 2022 guilty plea to one count of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. At the plea hearing, Randolph admitted that, on June 1, 2022, he possessed a Hi-Point 9 mm pistol after having been convicted of a felony and while he was an unlawful user of marijuana and alprazolam.
Randolph was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by Chief United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Randolph was sentenced to 64 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Federal Bureau of 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 22-71.
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Mason City Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A Mason City woman was sentenced April 10, 2023, to more than 7 years in federal prison.
Kari Ann Peters, age 36, from Mason City, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 31, 2023, guilty plea to distribution of methamphetamine.
In a plea agreement, Peters admitted to distributing methamphetamine around the Mason City, Iowa area.
Peters was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Peters was sentenced to 84 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.
Peters 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, 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 21-3033.
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Manchester Man Sentenced for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
A man who possessed a firearm as a felon was sentenced today to almost five years in federal prison.
Timothy Tirrell Brown, age 34, from Manchester, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 14, 2022, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
At the guilty plea, Brown admitted that, on July 24, 2021, he knowingly possessed a firearm, a Smith & Wesson M&P-15, 5.56 NATO AR pistol with an attached 30-round magazine, as a prohibited person. A Hardin County deputy sheriff found the loaded firearm behind the front passenger seat of the car Brown was driving following a traffic stop. Brown was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he was previously convicted in Jackson County, Mississippi, of one count of Felony Sale or Transfer of Cocaine and two counts of Felony Possession of Cocaine in July 2007, and one count of Felony Hindering Prosecution in the First Degree in May 2014.
Brown was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Brown was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Brown 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 was investigated by the Hardin County Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa Department of Public Safety.
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-40.
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Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
A felon who possessed a firearm pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Jamie Swanson, age 32, of Colona, Illinois, was convicted of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. At the plea hearing, Swanson admitted that, in March 2022, he possessed a pistol after having been convicted of a felony.
Sentencing before Chief United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Swanson remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Swanson faces a possible maximum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Anamosa Police Department, the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR 22-100.
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Dubuque Man Responsible for over a Pound of Ice Methamphetamine Sentenced to 95 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who possessed or distributed over a pound of ice methamphetamine and was found with more than $45,000 of drug proceeds was sentenced today to more than seven years in federal prison.
Matthew Daniel Birch, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 6, 2022 guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Information disclosed at the sentencing hearing demonstrated that between 2019 and 2021, Birch sold approximately 194 grams of ice methamphetamine in Dubuque. Law enforcement officers seized another 315 grams of ice methamphetamine before Birch had the opportunity to sell it. One on occasion, officers found Birch with over $6,000 of drug proceeds. Later, after Birch attempted to flee from a traffic stop, officers found over $39,000 of drug proceeds. Birch has a history of fleeing from the police. Birch’s criminal history includes several violent convictions, including going armed with intent, false imprisonment in which he hit someone in the face and nose several times, assault with injury, domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury, and harassment in the first degree.
Birch was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Birch was sentenced to 95 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a 4-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Birch 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 Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force, Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, and the Dubuque Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-1002.
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Former Reserve Deputy Sheriff Sentenced a Dozen Years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A man who spent over 20 years as a reserve deputy sheriff who amassed a large collection of child pornography over seven years was sentenced today to 12 years in federal prison.
Gordon Grabau, age 51, from Marion, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 17, 2022 guilty plea to receiving child pornography.
Information from a plea agreement and information disclosed at sentencing showed Grabau collected child pornography using peer-to-peer software from 2014 to 2021. In July 2021, law enforcement agencies searched Grabau’s home, seizing numerous electronic devices such as computers and hard drives. While examining those devices, law enforcement found 168,780 files containing child pornography. The files included both still images and videos. The files depicted children as young as infants and included prepubescent children involved in sadistic and masochistic conduct, some involving an adult.
Grabau had no prior criminal history. He had previously served as a volunteer reserve deputy sheriff for Linn County beginning in 2000. The Linn County Sheriff terminated his ability to serve as a reserve deputy on the same day law enforcement searched Grabau’s home.
Grabau was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Grabau was sentenced to 144 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.
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.”
Grabau 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Marion Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-53.
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Dealing Drugs and Buying Stolen Firearms While on Supervised Release Sends Man Back to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who was selling drugs and bought stolen firearms while he was on supervised release from a 2020 firearm conviction was sentenced on April 6, 2023, to more than seven years in federal prison.
Timothy Rabineau, age 48, from Oxford Junction, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 1, 2022 guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Information from the sentencing hearing showed that on July 1, 2022, law enforcement officers searched Rabineau’s residence and found a drug ledger that showed Rabineau was distributing marijuana, THC vape cartridges, Xanax, Valium, and acid. Officers also found two mason jars that held approximately thirty-five baggies containing 78.8 grams of marijuana. Six days later, officers searched Rabineau’s residence again after receiving information that he had bought two handguns that were stolen from Theisen’s in Maquoketa by another individual on July 3, 2022. Officers recovered a case containing the two stolen firearms and an additional firearm. Rabineau admitted he bought the two stolen firearms. At the time, Rabineau was still on supervised release from his 2020 conviction for possession of a firearm by a felon.
Rabineau was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Rabineau was sentenced to a total of 88 months’ imprisonment comprised of 64 months’ imprisonment for the new crimes and a consecutive sentence of 24 months’ imprisonment for the supervised release violations. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Rabineau is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
These cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kyndra Lundquist and Lisa Williams and investigated by the Jones County Sheriff’s Office and the Maquoketa Police Department.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file numbers are 22-CR-0069 and 19-CR-0102.
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Convicted Felon Who Unlawfully Possessed Five Firearms Sentenced to Six Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A convicted felon who possessed five firearms, including two that were stolen, was sentenced today to six years in federal prison.
Jordan Johnson, age 24, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 20, 2022 guilty plea to felon in possession of firearms.
Information from the case showed that on September 22, 2020, Johnson was on probation following a conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm in state court. Officers of the High Risk Unit from the Sixth Judicial District’s Department of Correctional Service visited Johnson at his apartment. The officers believed Johnson was hiding something and Johnson eventually left the apartment while the officers were looking around.
After Johnson left, the Cedar Rapids Police Department responded and conducted a search of the apartment. They found four handguns hidden in a clothes’ hamper in a child’s bedroom. They also found a rifle in another part of the apartment. One of the handguns and the rifle had previously been reported stolen. One of the handguns also had a serial number that someone had attempted to scratch off.
Johnson has multiple prior criminal convictions, including convictions involving violence and firearms. He had also previously been convicted in state court of carrying weapons and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Johnson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Johnson was sentenced to 72 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.
Johnson 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and Sixth Judicial District’s Department of Correctional Service’s High Risk Unit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-97.
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Honduran 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.
Jesus Mira-Pineda, age 31, a citizen of Honduras illegally present in the United States and residing in Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 9, 2023, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported.
At the guilty plea, Mira-Pineda admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Mira-Pineda was previously deported in March 2014 and illegally reentered the United States in 2015. On December 19, 2022, immigration officials learned Mira-Pineda had illegally returned to the United States and found Mira-Pineda at the Black Hawk County Jail following his arrest for assault causing bodily injury.
Mira-Pineda was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Mira-Pineda 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.
Mira-Pineda 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-2001.
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Man Who Possessed Child Pornography Sentenced to over Five Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who possessed over 3,500 photographs and 25 videos of child pornography was sentenced today to more than 5 years in federal prison.
Jeff Gruber, age 60, from Sumner, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 13, 2022 guilty plea to possession of child pornography.
At the guilty plea, Gruber admitted he possessed child pornography on his computer between November 2016 and March 2017.
Gruber was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Gruber was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment. He was also ordered to make restitution. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was 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.”
Gruber 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 Liz Dupuich and investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Sumner Police Department..
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-cr-2054.
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Minnesota Man Sentenced to More Than 24 Years in Federal Prison for Gun and Drug ConvictionsRead the Press Release
A man who conspired across multiple states to distribute methamphetamine while possessing a firearm was sentenced March 31, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa.
Shawn Gaston, 32, from Fairmont, Minnesota, pled guilty on July 8, 2022, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from February 2020 through October 2021, Gaston and others distributed approximately 27 pounds of methamphetamine across Northern Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. In October 2021, law enforcement in Clay County, Iowa, attempted to effectuate a traffic stop on a vehicle Gaston was operating. Gaston led law enforcement on a lengthy high-speed pursuit with Gaston’s vehicle ultimately crashing into a creek in Dickinson County, Iowa. Gaston exited the vehicle after the crash and attempted to dispose of a gun and methamphetamine before being apprehended. The gun and methamphetamine were found approximately 20 yards from the crashed vehicle. Gaston was in Iowa to collect on a drug debt owed to him. Defendant has multiple prior felony convictions, including possession of stolen property and possession of drugs. These convictions prohibit Gaston from legally possessing guns.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Gaston was sentenced to 295 months’ imprisonment, and must serve a term of five years’ supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Gaston 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 investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Spencer Police Department, H.E.A.T., Minnesota River Valley Drug Task Force, Minnesota BCA, Worthington Police Department, Wisconsin DCI, Sauk County Wisconsin Sheriff’s Office, Iowa-Grant Wisconsin Drug Task Force, Crawford County Wisconsin Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Iowa DCI Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4094. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Man Sentenced to 14 Years for Distributing Methamphetamine that Caused Death of Iowa WomanRead the Press Release
A man who distributed methamphetamine to a woman, which resulted in her death, was sentenced today to serve 14 years in federal prison.
Eric A. Young, age 43, from St. Ansgar, Iowa, was convicted of distribution of methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, Young admitted that he provided methamphetamine to a woman from Nashua, Iowa, on the night of her death. Young admitted to selling the methamphetamine to the woman in exchange for $90. He further admitted that he was present when the woman became unresponsive after taking the methamphetamine. The woman was later pronounced dead at the scene. During the sentencing hearing, the judge indicated that the woman died as a result of a methamphetamine overdose.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Young was sentenced to serve 168 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. Young remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until he is transported to federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason Dorval Norwood.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-2024-CJW.
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Sioux City Man Sent to Federal Prison for Being a Marijuana User in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
A man who possessed a firearm on multiple occasions and intentionally fired upon a car full of people including two young children and who negligently shot a woman in the leg was sentenced, to 3-years in federal prison.
Jalond Hills, 19, from Sioux City, received the prison term after a guilty plea to one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence in the case showed that on or about September 16, 2021, Jalond Hills, fired at an individual who was in a car with a woman and her two minor children. Jalond Hills was caught with the gun and confessed he was in possession of the gun and had fired it while being a user of illegal drugs.
Further, on or about April 15, 2022, Jalond Hills, was at an apartment in the 2200 block of Gibson Street where he and another person began wrestling over a firearm. The other person was trying to make the weapon safe, and Hills wanted the weapon. In the end, the other person was shot in the leg while attempting to take control of the gun. After Hills contributed to this horrible accident, he cut off his location monitoring bracelet, and absconded without even stopping to check on the other person as she began to bleed out.
Jalond Hills was previously convicted of possession of a controlled substance as a juvenile, in the Woodbury County, Iowa District Court at Case Number SRCR112683.
Jalond Hills was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand, to 36 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 2-year term of supervised release after the prison term and pay a $100 special assessment fee. There is no parole in the federal system.
Jalond Hills is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was 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 22-04057.
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Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a Firearm After a High-Speed Pursuit with an Iowa State TrooperRead the Press Release
Ahmed Abdullahai Khalif, 23, from Owosso, Michigan, pled guilty on March 30, 2023, to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Khalif was a user of marijuana and was previously convicted of felony Illegal Sale/Use of a Financial Transaction Device in Michigan. Both prohibit a person from possessing a firearm.
At the plea hearing, defendant admitted that on October 19, 2022, during a traffic stop, he possessed a 9mm Taurus pistol and marijuana while being a felon. Prior to the traffic stop, an Iowa State Patrol trooper clocked the vehicle defendant was driving traveling in excess of 100 mph. After the trooper activated his emergency lights, Khalif led the trooper on a high-speed pursuit into Wright County, at times traveling toward oncoming traffic. Ultimately, the defendant hit the trooper’s vehicle, and defendant fled on foot a short distance before being apprehended. The vehicle defendant was driving was stolen in Massachusetts. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement found the 9mm Taurus pistol and marijuana. In addition to the federal conviction for the firearm possession, defendant was convicted in Iowa District Court for Wright County with felony Eluding, Theft 2nd Degree, Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations, Possession Marijuana, and Operating While Under the Influence.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Khalif remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Khalif 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 Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa DCI, 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 22-3035. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Man to Federal Prison for over 11 Years for Illegal Possession of Stolen FirearmsRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed firearms that were stolen was sentenced on March 30, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City to over 11 years in federal prison.
Logan Rhinehart, 27, from Fairfield, Iowa, pled guilty on November 16, 2022, to one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a stolen firearm.
At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that Rhinehart was previously convicted of felony burglary, escape and theft. These convictions prohibit a person from possessing any firearm. Evidence showed that on January 13, 2022, law enforcement located a stolen .22 caliber firearm under circumstances which indicated it had been stolen by Rhinehart. On January 28, 2022, law enforcement attempted to pull Rhinehart over when they observed him driving a stolen vehicle. As law enforcement attempted to stop the vehicle, Rhinehart attempted to flee driving at a high rate of speed (113+ mph) and the vehicle ended up crashing into a snow drift. Rhinehart then attempted to flee on foot before apprehended by law enforcement. During the attempted flight Rhinehart threw a 40 caliber pistol, which was also stolen, out of the vehicle which was later recovered from the scene. Further evidence showed that from between January 13, 2022 and January 28, 2022, Rhinehart burglarized two separate homes and stole numerous items, including two firearms.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Rhinehart was sentenced to 136 months’ imprisonment and must serve a three-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Rhinehart remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Wright County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-3008. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing HeroinRead the Press Release
A man who distributed heroin in Dubuque, Iowa, plead guilty on March 30, 2023.
John A. Pruitt, age 39, formerly of Dubuque, was convicted of distribution of heroin.
In a plea agreement, Pruitt admitted to distributing heroin in the Dubuque area. In the fall of 2021, Pruitt was stopped by Dubuque police officers because he had three active arrest warrants. During the stop, officers recovered a distribution quantity of heroin from Pruitt’s person and from the floorboard area, where he was reaching during the stop.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Pruitt remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Pruitt faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of not more than $1 million, and of at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force and is being 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 22-CR-1030-CJW.
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False Statements During an Attempted Gun Purchase and History of Threatening Conduct Send Man to Federal Prison on Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
A man that made false statements during an attempted purchase of a firearm was sentenced March 29, 2023, to more than 2 years in federal prison.
Dean Kohler, age 56, from Remsen, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 3, 2022, guilty plea to making false statements during the purchase of a firearm.
Evidence in the case showed Kohler knowingly made false statements and representations to a Federal Firearms Licensee in Sioux City, Iowa, in the attempted acquisition of a rifle. Kohler represented that, 1) he had never been adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution when, in fact, he had been subject to two court orders adjudicating him as mental defective; and 2) that he was not subject to a court order restraining him from harassing, stalking, or threatening a child or an intimate partner or the child of such partner when, in fact, at the time of the attempted acquisition, he was then the subject of a protective order with an intimate partner. When the federal background check prevented the sale, Kohler found a private party willing to sell him a firearm.
Kohler’s criminal history includes Operating While Intoxicated, Carrying Weapons, Violation of Protective Order, Disorderly Conduct, Assault With a Dangerous Weapon – where he threatened people in a Walmart parking lot with a chainsaw, and Harassment – where Kohler told a person "…time was running out for [him] and [his] stupid mother” and Kohler repeatedly drove by the victims’ home honking his horn.
Kohler was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 33 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.
Kohler is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by USDOJ-ATF and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-4038.
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Committing a Drug Crime While on Supervised Release Results in Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
A man who was found in possession of cocaine in 2022 while he was federal supervised release from a 2002 drug offense was sentenced today to more than six years in federal prison.
Vachon Robertson, age 48, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 3, 2022 guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance after having been previously convicted of a felony drug offense.
At the guilty plea and during the sentencing hearing, Robertson admitted he was in possession of 364 grams of cocaine and 28 grams of cocaine base, commonly called crack cocaine, on April 25, 2022, when he was stopped by Cedar Rapids police officers. At that time, Robertson was still on supervised release from his 2002 federal drug conviction for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine within 1000 feet of a public playground in Cedar Rapids.
Robertson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Robertson was sentenced to a total sentence of 74 months’ imprisonment comprised of 46 months’ imprisonment for the new crime and a consecutive sentence of 28 months imprisonment for the supervised release violation. He must also serve a 6-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Robertson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until {he; she} can be transported to a federal prison.
These cases were prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Adam Vander Stoep and Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Reinert and was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of 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 are 02-CR-00029 and 22-CR-00057.
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Charles City Man Sentenced to More than 11 Years Prison for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A man who distributed methamphetamine in the Charles City and Mason City areas was sentenced on March 31, 2022, to more than 11 years in federal prison.
Brandon Glaser, age 43, from Charles City, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 7, 2022, guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Glaser was getting pound quantities of methamphetamine in Missouri and redistributing it in and around North Central Iowa. On November 21, 2021, Glaser’s car was stopped in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, and he was found in possession of approximately 2 pounds of pure methamphetamine and over $3500 in cash.
Glaser was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Glaser was sentenced to 134 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.
Glaser 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 Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Cerro Gordo Sheriff’s Department, Mason City Police, Charles City Police, Clear Lake Police, and the Iowa State Patrol.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 22-CR-3009.
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Iowa Man to Federal Prison for Methamphetamine and ImmigrationRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine, who also distributed methamphetamine, and was illegally in the United States was sentenced in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa on March 23, 2023, to 11 ½ years in prison.
Jose Duenas-Topete, 29, from Hawarden, Iowa, pled guilty on October 12, 2022, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of distributing methamphetamine, and one count of illegal reentry.
At the plea and sentencing hearings, the evidence showed that from January 2020 to April 2, 2022, as part of the conspiracy, Topete distributed at least 45 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Sioux City, Iowa area. On April 2, 2022, law enforcement conducted a controlled drug buy/bust operation from Topete and his co-conspirators. Agents observed Topete receive 10 pounds of methamphetamine, in exchange for an initial payment of $5000, from a transporter from Arkansas, sent by Mexico-based sources, at Topete’s request. Topete then transferred the majority of the methamphetamine to an informant working with agents. Thereafter, agents conducted traffic stops of the vehicles involved and seized from the various participants the 10 pounds of meth and the $5000 in buy money supplied by the agents. Topete later admitted he had previously received four shipments containing 5-6 pounds each of methamphetamine from sources in Mexico to distribute to persons in Sioux City and the surrounding area. Evidence further showed that Topete is a native and citizen of Mexico, illegally in the United States and was subject to six previous removals from the United States.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Duenas-Topete was sentenced to 138 months’ imprisonment and a 5-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Duenas-Topete remains in U.S. Marshal custody pending transport to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-4026.
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Honduran Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being Deported Nine TimesRead the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported nine times was sentenced today to ten months in federal prison.
Jose Lopez-Martinez, age 42, a citizen of Honduras illegally present in the United States and residing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 19, 2023, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported.
At the guilty plea, Lopez-Martinez admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Lopez-Martinez was previously deported to Honduras in April 2000, March 2001, March 2011, July 2011, October 2011, November 2011, February 2012, August 2012, and July 2014. On November 21, 2022, immigration officials learned Lopez-Martinez had illegally returned to the United States and found Lopez-Martinez at the Linn County Jail following his arrest for operating while intoxicated.
Lopez-Martinez was previously convicted in the Northern District of Iowa in January 2014 of illegally reentering the United States, a felony, and received an eight-month prison term. Lopez-Martinez also has prior convictions in Texas for misdemeanor illegal entry into the United States in April 2011 and December 2011.
Lopez-Martinez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Lopez-Martinez was sentenced to ten months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Lopez-Martinez 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-96.
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Hong Kong Company, CEO, Agree to Permanent Injunction, Abandon Funds Fraudulently Obtained from Iowa CompanyRead the Press Release
Gold Wings (HK) Limited (“Gold Wings”), a Hong Kong company, and its CEO, Min Zheng, have agreed to enter a consent decree to resolve allegations made by the United States that they participated in and furthered a fraud scheme against an Iowa company. In the consent decree, United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand prohibited Gold Wings and Zheng from continued fraudulent activity, exercising control over fraudulently obtained funds, and contesting ownership over certain fraud proceeds.
The United States alleged in a court filing that Gold Wings and Zheng participated in a scheme that defrauded an Iowa company of over $8 million by knowingly receiving and laundering $2.3 million sent to them for purposes of purchasing a chemical used to manufacture fertilizer. The United States alleged the victim company never received the promised chemicals, yet Gold Wings and Zheng almost immediately dissipated the victim’s funds, leaving only slightly more than $575,000 in the recipient bank account.
Under the parties’ consent decree, Gold Wings and Zheng disclaimed all property interests in the $2.3 million received from the victim company and agreed not to contest ownership of those funds in any future proceeding, which will allow for the return of fraudulently obtained funds to victims. They further are permanently enjoined from engaging in certain related financial transactions and engaging in future fraudulent or unlawful activity.
“Every day, individuals and entities around the country fall victim to bad actors committing scams both at home and abroad,” said United States Attorney Timothy T. Duax. “We take these schemes seriously and will use all tools at our disposal to prevent and remedy the damages stemming from such fraudulent schemes. In this case, we are pleased fraud victims will have the opportunity to recoup their funds.”
The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Gillespie and Ron Timmons and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CV-3015-LTS-KEM.
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Felon who Fired Rounds in Residential Neighborhood Sentenced to over Nine Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who fired a .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun in a residential neighborhood in the middle of the day was sentenced today to more than 9 years in federal prison.
Deshaun Jackson, age 24, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 13, 2022 guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
At the guilty plea, Jackson admitted he possessed an Intratech Tech .22 semi-automatic handgun and a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun while he was prohibited due to being previously convicted of burglary and robbery in Black Hawk County. Jackson also possessed a 110 round drum-style magazine. At sentencing, the Judge stated Jackson created a “firefight in a residential neighborhood,” and that his conduct was “extremely dangerous and unjustified in any sense.” The Judge further stated that Jackson did not have any business possessing a 110 round drum magazine.
Jackson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Jackson was sentenced to 114 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Jackson 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 Liz Dupuich and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-2045.
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Cedar Rapids Woman Sentenced for Harboring EscapeeRead the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids woman who harbored and concealed a felon who had escaped from a local halfway house was sentenced on March 28, 2023, to approximately 5 months in custody. Rachel Louise Monthie, formerly known as Rachel Louise Chronister, age 45, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the term of incarceration after a February 3, 2023 guilty plea to one count of harboring and concealing an escapee, Ricky Joe Vaughn.
In Monthie’s plea agreement, as well as at prior hearings in the Monthie and Vaughn cases, the evidence showed that Vaughn was sentenced in June 2015 to serve 96 months in federal prison for possessing firearms and ammunition illegally. Vaughn has an extensive criminal history extending back to 2001. In addition to his prior federal firearms conviction, Vaughn’s criminal history in state court includes felony convictions for theft and conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.
Vaughn was scheduled to be released from a federal prison in Michigan in February 2022. In December 2021, however, the United States Bureau of Prisons permitted Vaughn to reside in a Cedar Rapids halfway house with work release privileges. On January 10, 2022, Monthie drove to Vaughn’s workplace. In Monthie’s presence, Vaughn cut off his ankle monitor and threw it into a nearby ditch. Monthie drove Vaughn to a Cedar Falls hotel, where she provided food and lodging for three nights.
On January 13, 2022, Monthie drove Vaughn to her apartment in Marion, Iowa. Monthie allowed Vaughn to use her shower and placed a loaded, chambered firearm on an ottoman next to the front door. Monthie conducted countersurveillance against law enforcement, going in and out of the apartment on the false pretense that she was taking things from her vehicle. Deputies of the United States Marshals Service (USMS) approached the apartment and knocked twice but received no response. Eventually, Monthie allowed the deputies inside the apartment and told them about the firearm. Vaughn was arrested without incident.
Monthie has a misdemeanor criminal history, including three drunk driving offenses, that extends over two decades. Before the sentencing hearing, Monthie’s pretrial release was revoked after she used methamphetamine and possessed a compressed air BB pistol. Monthie was later released to a halfway house but failed to comply with its rules concerning alcohol use and re-ordered by a federal judge into USMS custody.
Monthie was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Vaughn was sentenced to a time-served sentence of 154 days of jail. She must also serve a one-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. In August 2022, Vaughn was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment for his escape from custody.
Monthie is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until April 20, 2023, when she is ordered to report to a local halfway house for up to 180 days.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Vavricek and investigated by the USMS.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file numbers are 22-CR-80 (Monthie) and 22-CR-12 (Vaughn).
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Sioux City Woman Who Walked Away from Halfway House Sentenced to 15 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A woman who escaped from custody was sentenced March 16, 2023, to more than one year in federal prison.
Sarah Renee Pray, age 32, from Sioux City, received the prison term after a December 15, 2022, guilty plea to one count of escape from custody.
At the guilty plea, Pray admitted that on August 31, 2022, she escaped from custody from the Dismas Charities Residential Reentry Center (RRC) in Sioux City. Pray was confined to Dismas pursuant to a conviction for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance out of the United States District Court for South Dakota.
On August 31, 2022, at approximately 9:00 p.m., Dismas staff conducted a routine head count and were not able to locate Pray. Staff determined Pray did not have permission to be out of the facility and checked with her emergency contacts, local jails, and hospitals with negative results. Pray’s whereabouts were unknown until she turned herself in to authorities on October 4, 2022, at the Union County Jail in Elk Point, South Dakota.
Pray was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Pray was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a 2-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Pray 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 Kevin C. Fletcher and investigated by United States Marshal’s Service.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-4082.
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University of Iowa Agrees to Training, Payment of $16,444 to Resolve United States’ Allegations Regarding Resident X-Ray InterpretationsRead the Press Release
The University of Iowa (“UI”) has agreed to training and payment of $16,444 to the United States to resolve allegations that UI, through its academic medical center in Iowa City, Iowa, submitted claims for payment to the Medicare program for x-ray interpretations by resident physicians where an attending physician’s review of the residents’ interpretations did not satisfy government payment requirements.
Specifically, the government alleged that it had certain civil claims against UI arising from its submission of claims for payment for resident x-ray interpretations, where review by an attending physician did not satisfy the requirements of 42 C.F.R. § 415.180, between the period July 2018 to May 2020. Under 42 C.F.R. § 415.180, a Medicare payment regulation identifying requirements for the interpretation of diagnostic radiology in a teaching setting, physician fee schedule payment may be made for x-ray interpretations if the interpretation is reviewed or performed by a physician other than a resident.
Under the settlement agreement, UI will implement mandatory physician training regarding Medicare requirements for physician fee payment for interpretations of diagnostic radiology in teaching settings.
UI cooperated fully during the investigation and did not admit to any liability as part of the settlement agreement.
This civil matter arose from an action brought under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. The whistleblower will share in the United States’ financial recovery.
The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Melissa A. Carrington and Jacob A. Schunk and investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-cv-00007-CJW-KEM.
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Three-Year Crime Spree Ends with Firearm Conviction and Federal ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed a firearm as a felon on multiple occasions was sentenced March 15, to 8 years in federal prison.
Carter Brinkerhoff, 28, from Sioux City, received the prison term after a guilty plea to one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence in the case showed that on May 4, 2019, August 20, 2020, and June 27, 2021, Brinkerhoff knowingly possessed three separate firearms. Each of the occasions were discovered when law enforcement responded to allegations of other crimes of violence involving Brinkerhoff.
Brinkerhoff was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand, to 96 months imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term and pay a $100 special assessment fee. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Brinkerhoff is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Rock Valley, Iowa Police Department, Dennison, Iowa Police Department, Sioux City, Iowa Police Department, Tri-State Drug Task Force, the DEA and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. This case 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 22-04040.
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South Dakota Man to Federal Prison After Escape from Iowa Residential FacilityRead the Press Release
A man who escaped from federal custody was sentenced March 17, 2023, to 27 months in federal prison.
Anwar Amaya, 32, from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, received the prison term after he pled guilty on October 20, 2022, to escape from federal custody.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that Amaya was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment on June 1, 2020, after a federal conviction for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota. On February 7, 2022, Amaya departed a Federal Correctional Complex in Florida on furlough. According to the conditions of furlough, Amaya was required to arrive at Dismas Charities, a residential reentry center, halfway house in Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa, on February 9, 2022. Amaya did not arrive at Dismas Charities residential reentry center in Sioux City, Iowa as ordered. On February 17, 2022, Amaya was arrested by Sioux Falls Police Department after responding to a call for service of a burglary in progress.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Amaya was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment and must serve a 3-year of supervised release following the imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Amaya remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the United States Marshal Service.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-4016. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Felon with Firearm and Extended Magazine Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
An Onawa, Iowa man, was sentenced March 14, to more than 4 years in federal prison.
Antonio Palmer, age 44, from Onawa, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 20, 2022, guilty plea to one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence in the case showed Palmer was stopped by Sioux City Police for traffic infractions. When the officer approached Palmer’s vehicle, there was a strong odor of marijuana, and the officer observed a handgun in the driver’s side door. When the officer requested assistance, Palmer opened his door and told the officer to take the firearm. Palmer also had 19-round magazine for the firearm. During the encounter, Palmer admitted to smoking marijuana in the vehicle and that he had just purchased the firearm via a private sale.
Palmer was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 57 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.
The case was investigated by the Sioux City 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 22-04037.
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Nebraska Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of Firearm in IowaRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed a firearm pled guilty March 16, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City.
Damian Ortega Rojas, 19, from South Sioux City, Nebraska, was convicted of possession of a firearm by a drug user.
Evidence at the plea hearing showed that on July 22, 2022, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle Ortega Rojas was driving. Also present in the vehicle were Rojas’s three minor siblings. Ortega Rojas showed signs of driving impaired and as the officer approached the vehicle, he detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Ortega Rojas provided law enforcement with a bag containing approximately ¼ to ½ pound of marijuana. The officer also located a backpack in the vehicle which contained a Glock .40 caliber handgun. Also located and seized in the vehicle were numerous spent .22 casings, multiple .40 rounds, baggies, grinder, tobacco pre-rolls, marijuana pipe, and storage container with marijuana residue. Ortega Rojas admitted to being a user of marijuana and a daily smoker of marijuana. Ortega Rojas further admitted that he stole the backpack containing the handgun from a vehicle in Sioux City.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Ortega Rojas remains free on bond previously set pending sentencing. Ortega Rojas faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, 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 22-4064. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing over 900 Grams of Heroin and FentanylRead the Press Release
A man who possessed over 900 grams of heroin and fentanyl and led law enforcement on a high-speed chase pled guilty in federal court on March 15, 2023.
Donald Ray Owens, age 43, from Markham, Illinois, was convicted of possession with intent to distribute and aiding and abetting with the intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl in the Northern District of Iowa.
In a plea agreement, Owens admitted to taking the Iowa State Patrol on a high-speed chase and, during the chase, someone threw a vacuum-sealed package out of the vehicle, which contained 975.7 grams of heroin and fentanyl. Officers also found over $17,000 in cash. Officers also recovered text messages related to possible drug transactions, photographs of controlled substances, and photographs of drug paraphernalia from Owens’s phone.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Owens remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Owens faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment and the following maximum penalties: (1) not more than life imprisonment, without the possibility of parole; (2) a fine of not more than $8 million; (3) a mandatory special assessment of $100; and (4) a term of supervised release of at least eight years and up to life.
This case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason Dorval Norwood.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 22-CR-00032-CJW.
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Cherokee Woman Pleads Guilty to Meth ChargesRead the Press Release
A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty on March 15, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City.
Christina Gianopoulos-Rohrer, 50, from Cherokee, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, Gianopoulos-Rohrer admitted that on December 6, 2021, in Woodbury County, Iowa, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle in which she was a passenger. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement seized approximately one pound of methamphetamine which Gianopoulos-Rohrer intended, with others, to distribute. Gianopoulos-Rohrer also admitted her involvement in a conspiracy that distributed at least 3 kilograms of methamphetamine from December 2019 through May 2022. Gianopoulos-Rohrer further admitted her involvement with others in obtaining methamphetamine from sources in California and Nevada and transporting it back to the Cherokee, Iowa area for further distribution.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Gianopoulos-Rohrer remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Gianopoulos-Rohrer 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 22-4002 and 22-4066. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Sioux City Woman Sentenced to 15 Months in Federal Prison for Escaping from Halfway HouseRead the Press Release
A woman who escaped from custody was sentenced March 8, 2023, to more than one year in federal prison.
Karen Rose Merrick, age 39, from Sioux City, received the prison term after a December 13, 2022, guilty plea to one count of escape from custody, and revocation of her supervised release.
At the guilty plea, Merrick admitted that on August 2, 2022, she signed out of Dismas Charities Residential Reentry Center (RRC) to report for work at a company in Sioux City. RRC staff called the company to verify Merrick had arrived at work on August 1 and 2, 2022. The company advised she had not arrived at work. She did not return to the RRC on August 2, 2022, or after. Defendant’s whereabouts were unknown until her arrest on September 9, 2022, by the Minneapolis, Minnesota, Police Department.
In January 2020, Merrick was convicted of Accessory After the Fact to Bank Robbery in the United States District Court of the Northern District of Iowa, where she was sentenced to 30 months in prison and a term of supervised release of 2 years after her term of imprisonment. On January 27, 2021, defendant started her original supervised release term. In July 2022, she was placed at the RRC located in Sioux City for a period of 90 days.
Merrick was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Merrick was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a 1-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Merrick 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 Kevin C. Fletcher and investigated by United States Marshal’s Service.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-4088.
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Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Possessing Firearms Twice in One MonthRead the Press Release
A man with a lengthy criminal history entered a plea of guilty March 13, 2023, after seating a jury in federal court in Sioux City.
Marlo Harper, aka Umar Amir Al-Sayyaad Allahdheen, age 46, from Sioux City, Iowa, plead guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon and drug user.
After proceeding to a trial and seating a jury, Harper admitted that on two separate occasions, within the month of August 2021 he unlawfully possessed firearms.
On August 10, 2021, Harper was stopped by Sioux City Police for traffic infractions. Upon contact with the occupants in the vehicle, the officer detected an odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. The occupants were removed, and a subsequent search of the vehicle was conducted. When Harper exited the vehicle, he admitted having a firearm and a knife on his person. A loaded handgun – with a round in the chamber – was removed from his waistband. Officers also located a fanny pack in the trunk that contained ammunition. Harper also had an open container of alcohol.
On August 24, 2021, Harper was stopped for illegal window tint. When the Iowa State Trooper made contact with the occupants, he noted an odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. During the traffic stop investigation, approximately 2 grams of marijuana was found, along with a loaded handgun in the center counsel, which was positioned for easy access by Harper, who was driving the car. Harper also had a set of nunchucks between the driver seat and center counsel. Three additional firearms were found in the trunk as well as ammunition and a samurai sword.
Harper has a lengthy criminal history including: Assault in the 1st Degree, in Hennepin County, Minnesota; Assault in the Second Degree, in Ramsey County, Minnesota; Aggravated Assault (Family Violence), and one count of Terroristic Threats in Fulton County, Georgia; and Theft, in Tarrant County, Texas.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set for a later date, after a presentence report is prepared. Harper remains in the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Harper faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 5-years of supervised release following any imprisonment on each of the two counts of conviction.
This case was investigated by the Iowa State Patrol, the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office and the Sioux City Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ron Timmons and Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4085.
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