Northern District of Iowa
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Cedar Rapids Man Convicted of Attempted Carjacking and Trying to Have Witness KilledRead the Press Release
A man who attempted to carjack a car and subsequently tried to have a witness killed pled guilty on March 7, 2022, in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Christopher Daniel Taylor, age 39, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was convicted of attempted carjacking, using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and attempted witness tampering.
At the plea hearing, Taylor admitted that on December 3, 2020, he attempted to take a car from another person in Cedar Rapids. During the attempted carjacking, he displayed a firearm. He subsequently attempted to have a witness killed to prevent the witness from testifying or otherwise communicating information about his federal offenses to law enforcement.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Taylor remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Taylor faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $750,000 fine, and 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and was investigated by the Marion Police Department, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and 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 21-CR-0016.
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Mason City Man to Federal Prison for Meth and Firearms ConvictionsRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine while he illegally possessed firearms was sentenced March 3, 2022, to more than 11 years in federal prison.
Lucas Lowman, 39, from Mason City, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 7, 2021, guilty plea of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and prohibited person in possession of firearms. Lowman was previously convicted of Possession of a Controlled Substance-3rd or Subsequent Offense, in the Iowa District Court for Cerro Gordo County, in 2004. This conviction prohibits a person in Iowa from possessing firearms.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that between October 2019 and March 2021, Lowman possessed a number of guns, including a 12-gauge shotgun. Lowman utilized a gun to assault another, and between April 2019 and November 2019, Lowman and others conspired to distribute methamphetamine.
Lowman was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Lowman was sentenced to 135 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. Lowman is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Mason City Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office, North Central Iowa Drug Task Force, and Iowa DCI Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-3020.
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Jury Convicts Man of Possession with Intent to Distribute MethRead the Press Release
A man who possessed, with the intent to distribute, methamphetamine was convicted by a jury on February 25, 2022, after a 4-day trial in federal court in Sioux City.
Carmelo Valdez Romero, 35, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The verdict was returned following about three hours of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that on March 17, 2020, Valdez Romero and others possessed with intent to distribute about 20 pounds of methamphetamine. Valdez Romero aided others in the removal of 20 one-pound packages of methamphetamine hidden in the gas tank of a rental vehicle which had traveled from California to rural Dickinson County, Iowa, with the methamphetamine for further re-distribution. Specifically, in a machine shed on the property, Valdez Romero removed the rear seats of the vehicle, removed the fuel pump, as well as other equipment attached to the gas tank and physically helped another retrieve the methamphetamine from the two-part gas tank. During the execution of a search warrant at the property, law enforcement agents seized 15 pounds of methamphetamine from a safe inside the machine shed, and five more pounds of methamphetamine being driven away from the property, including one pound of methamphetamine from the vehicle operated by Valdez Romero. Agents also seized $700 from Valdez Romero and $900 from the other two vehicle occupants, all pre-serialized money used by agents earlier that day to purchase one pound of methamphetamine from Valdez Romero’s drug associate by confidential informants.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Valdez Romero remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Valdez Romero 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 Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-4051.
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Spencer Man Pleads Guilty to Meth ChargesRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty February 18, 2022, in federal court in Sioux City.
Armando Silva Reyes, 55, from Spencer, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, Silva Reyes admitted that between January 2020 and February 2021, he and others were involved in a conspiracy to distribute pound-levels of methamphetamine in Northern Iowa. On at least two separate occasions, Silva Reyes distributed more than a quarter pound of pure methamphetamine to individuals cooperating with law enforcement. On February 3, 2021, defendant and others received approximately 3 pounds of methamphetamine utilizing the United States Postal Service at the Spencer Post Office.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Silva Reyes remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. On each count, Silva Reyes 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 Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Iowa DCI Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4040. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Iowa Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Child Pornography ConvictionsRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed child pornography was sentenced February 24, 2022, to 4 years in federal prison.
Johnny E. Gutierrez, 21, from Melvin, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 21, 2021, guilty plea to two counts of possession of child pornography.
Gutierrez admitted that between February 2016 and November 2019, he possessed visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including depictions involving a minor who had not attained 12 years of age. Gutierrez further admitted to distributing child pornography to other individuals. As a result of the investigation, officers recovered approximately 51 images and 26 videos of child pornography from Gutierrez’s computer hard drive and approximately 38 images of child pornography from his cell phone.
Gutierrez was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Gutierrez was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment and must pay a total of $3,000 in restitution. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Gutierrez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mikala Steenholdt and Patrick T. Greenwood and investigated by Homeland Security Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-4073. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Fort Dodge Man to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced February 25, 2022, to more than 3 years in federal prison.
Stephen Bryant, 52, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 8, 2021, guilty plea to prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Bryant was previously convicted of manufacture of methamphetamine in Marshall County, Mississippi in 2003, and manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance in Sioux County, Iowa, on April 18, 2016.
At the plea hearing, Bryant admitted he was previously convicted of a felony and was a drug user which prohibit him from possessing firearms. Evidence showed that on May 8, 2021, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle Bryant was driving. Due to suspicious behavior, law enforcement deployed a K-9 on the exterior of the vehicle which indicated to the presence of controlled substances. Officers seized a handgun, which was determined to be stolen, and a magazine located underneath the driver seat.
Bryant was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Bryant was sentenced to 41 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. Bryant is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and investigated by Spencer Police Department, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4045. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Clay County Man to Federal Prison for Meth and Firearm ConvictionsRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced on February 28, 2022, to 15 years in federal prison.
Joshua Currier, 31 from Spencer, Iowa, pled guilty October 5, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and illegal possession of a firearm. Currier was previously convicted of Forgery, in the Iowa District Court for Dickinson County, on or about June 13, 2011, and Domestic Abuse Assault Impeding Flow of Air/Blood in the Iowa District Court for Clay County, on or about August 9, 2017. Both convictions prohibit Currier from possessing a firearm.
Evidence at the hearings showed that between January 2020 and continuing to on or about February 2021, Currier and others conspired to distribute at least 5 kilograms of methamphetamine. Further evidence showed that in December 2020, Currier traded a Canik 9mm pistol and methamphetamine and then gave to another to settle a drug debt.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Currier was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment and must serve a 5-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Currier remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Spencer Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force, and Iowa DCI Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4037. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Fort Dodge Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Misappropriating Social Security Benefits of Severely Disabled Nursing Home ResidentRead the Press Release
A Fort Dodge man who stole over $15,000 in Social Security benefits from a severely disabled woman was sentenced February 23, 2022, to ten months in federal prison. Donald Glenn Conner, also known as Donald Luevanos, age 38, received the prison term after a September 16, 2021 guilty plea to one count of representative payee fraud.
In a plea agreement, and at his guilty plea and sentencing hearings, Conner admitted that, in March 2018, the Social Security Administration (SSA) approved his application to become the representative payee for a severely disabled relative. A representative payee is a person whom the SSA entrusts to manage Social Security funds for those who cannot do so due to mental, physical, or other limitations. A doctor had diagnosed Conner’s relative with a severe mental impairment, and she also had a number of other physical health issues. In May 2019, Conner admitted his victim to a local nursing home on the false pretense that she was on Medicaid when she was not. Conner then used his victim’s social security funds for his own purposes, including at a casino, a grocery store, and for videogames, subscription services, and other bills. In March 2020, after the nursing home began asking questions about Conner’s use of his victim’s Social Security funds, Conner abruptly removed his victim from the nursing home against a doctor’s medical advice and left the nursing home with an unpaid bill in excess of $50,000. The investigation also revealed that Conner falsely underreported his household income and received an overpayment of Section 8 federal housing benefits.
Conner was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Conner was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $15,499 in restitution. He must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Conner was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, and Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-3027.
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Pharmacist Admits Prescription Drug Theft and TamperingRead the Press Release
A pharmacist who stole controlled substances from two Dubuque area pharmacies and tampered with medications pled guilty yesterday in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Anthony Pape, age 33, from Dubuque, Iowa, was convicted of two counts of theft of controlled substances from two different pharmacies and two counts of tampering with a consumer product, specifically controlled substances.
In a plea agreement, Pape admitted that he worked as a pharmacist in two different pharmacies in Dubuque when he stole controlled substances from the pharmacies. An inventory of the pharmacies found hundreds of doses of controlled substances were stolen over the course of his employment. Subsequent investigation also found that, during March of 2020, Pape tampered with capsules of controlled substances by removing all or most of the controlled substance from the capsule and then returning the empty capsules to the pharmacy bulk medication bottle, resulting in these pills being provided to patients.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Pape remains free on bond previously set pending sentencing. Pape faces a possible maximum sentence of 28 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, and 8 years of supervised release following any imprisonment. At the plea Pape acknowledged that he will also be required to pay restitution to the victims of his crimes and will forfeit his Iowa pharmacist’s license.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Reinert and was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-01032. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Montana Man Pleads Guilty in Derecho Repair SchemeRead the Press Release
A Montana man who cheated a Cedar Rapids derecho victim out of more than $10,000 in insurance proceeds pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids. William Allen Hurlbut, Jr., age 57, from Belgrade, Montana, was convicted of one count of mail fraud.
The derecho was a severe windstorm that swept through Cedar Rapids on August 10, 2020. The derecho caused widespread damage and long-term power outages. In Cedar Rapids alone, over 1,000 housing units were rendered unlivable, while hundreds of additional homes and businesses suffered damage.
At the plea hearing, and in a plea agreement, Hurlbut admitted that he came to Iowa after the derecho, professing to be a handyman and doing business as “Trinity 321.” Hurlbut lacked a required contractor license but obtained a cell phone number with a local area code 319 to conduct business. Hurlbut has a prior federal felony conviction in Idaho for destruction of government property.
In September 2020, Hurlbut promised his victim, a Cedar Rapids resident, that Hurlbut would fix damage to the victim’s residence as soon as possible if the victim advanced funds to Hurlbut for that purpose. The derecho had caused more than $10,000 worth of damage to the victim’s residence, including damage to the roof and the siding, fences, and the interior of the home. Hurlbut’s victim was using a wheelchair on account of physical disabilities.
Instead of repairing the derecho damage to the victim’s residence, Hurlbut spent insurance funds advanced to Hurlbut for the repair costs on gambling and personal items and expenses. Hurlbut made false statements to his victim about the status of the project and also made purchases at a home improvement store on the false pretense that he was buying materials to complete the project. Hurlbut would then return the items for a cash refund, which Hurlbut then used for his own purposes. The investigation revealed that, over a two-week period in October 2020, Hurlbut spent at least $22,532.50 gambling at an Iowa casino.
On January 25, 2021, Hurlburt had a tow truck tow the victim’s vehicle from the victim’s backyard to a junkyard without purchasing it from the victim or getting his permission. In February, Hurlbut convinced his victim to loan him $1,000 for lodging and food, which Hurlbut never repaid. Through March 2021, Hurlbut performed little to no work on the project despite the fact that the victim had advanced more than $10,000 to Hurlbut for the repairs.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Hurlbut remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Hurlbut faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment. Hurlbut must also make full restitution to his victim.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department. The Linn County Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-16.
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Man that Possessed Unregistered Firearm Sent to PrisonRead the Press Release
A Kentucky man who possessed an unregistered firearm was sentenced February 17, 2022, to more than three years in federal prison.
James Manuel Lowe, age 51, from Ashland, Kentucky, received the prison term after an August 25, 2021 guilty plea to possession of an unregistered firearm.
At the guilty plea, Lowe admitted possessing a weapon that was made from a shotgun that had an overall length of less than 26 inches and a barrel or barrels of less than 18 inches in length while in Iowa. Lowe had not registered this firearm. Lowe also has convictions for larceny, forgery, wrongful destruction, unlawful possession of prescription drugs, eluding, possession of methamphetamine, burglary, theft, and possession of drug paraphernalia. The court found Lowe was a drug user at the time he possessed the firearm.
Lowe was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Lowe was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case 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.
Lowe is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations; the Iowa County Sheriff’s Office; the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office; and the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-cr-00044.
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Man Who Conspired to Distribute Drugs Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who was found in possession of 370 methamphetamine tablets, almost 200 grams of cocaine, and marijuana, was sentenced on February 17, 2022, to five years in federal prison.
Daniel Barlow, age 34, from Madison, Wisconsin, received the prison term after pleading guilty in July 2021 to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
In a plea agreement, Barlow admitted that he possessed 151 grams of marijuana, 370 tablets containing 134 grams of methamphetamine, 195 grams of cocaine, and $5,262 in cash. The drugs and cash were found during a traffic stop in Dubuque County, in a car in which Barlow was the passenger. During the traffic stop, a drug dog alerted to the odor of drugs coming from the car. Barlow had attempted to disguise the smell of drugs by sprinkling chili powder over the packages containing the drugs. Law enforcement then searched the car and found the drugs and money. Barlow further admitted that he had agreed to distribute at least some of the methamphetamine to other people and that the cash was either proceeds from drug sales or was intended to be used to further drug trafficking. Barlow had previously been convicted of possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute it in Wisconsin.
Barlow was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. He was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 4-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Barlow 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 Attorneys Devra Hake and Alex Geocaris and was investigated by the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office and the Dubuque Drug Task Force.
Court file information is at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-01036.
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Felon Subject to a No-Contact Order Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
A man who unlawfully possessed a firearm was sentenced today to six years in federal prison.
Donald Hunt, Jr., age 32, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a July 27, 2021, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
At the guilty plea, Hunt admitted that on April 2, 2021, he knowingly possessed a firearm, a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun, as a prohibited person. Hunt was prohibited from possessing a firearm because (1) he had previously been convicted of a felony: Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon; (2) he was an unlawful user of cocaine and marijuana; (3) he was subject to a state court order restraining him from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner; and (4) he had previously been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence: Assault (Domestic Abuse). On April 2, 2021, police officers observed Hunt park his car on a Cedar Rapids street. After Hunt saw the police drive by, he got out of the car and walked up to a house where he placed plastic bags on the porch. Police Officers then arrived and placed Hunt under arrest on outstanding state charges. When officers retrieved the bags from the porch, they discovered a loaded handgun along with clothing belonging to Hunt. Officers also found a small quantity of marijuana and crack cocaine which Hunt admitted using.
Hunt was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Hunt 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.
Hunt 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 Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-35.
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Ohio Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for His Role in Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man from Ohio who was involved in a conspiracy to distribute drugs was sentenced February 16, 2022, to four years in federal prison.
Dean Warren Wright, age 47, from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, received the prison term after an August 6, 2021 guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
At the guilty plea, Wright admitted he was part of an agreement to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana in the Northern District of Iowa. Wright was stopped in a vehicle in Iowa and was found to be in possession of more than $74,000 in cash related to drug trafficking.
Wright was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Wright was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Wright is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle and was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Waterloo Police Department, the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cedar Falls Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-cr-2060.
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Minnesota Man Pleads Guilty in Federal Court for Illegally Possessing a ShotgunRead the Press Release
A Minnesota man who possessed a 12-gauge shot gun while using marijuana and being a convicted felon, pled guilty on February 10, 2022, in federal court in Sioux City. Michael Anthony Hangman, age 36, from Worthington, MN, was convicted of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
At the plea hearing, Hangman admitted to possessing a 12-gauge shotgun while being an unlawful user of marijuana and having prior felony convictions. Hangman led law enforcement on a police chase beginning in Minnesota and ending in Iowa. Hangman was traveling at speeds reaching 120 mph. Hangman’s shotgun was modified or cut to approximately 19 inches and spray painted black. Officers recovered marijuana, a digital scale with meth residue on it, and baggies from Hangman’s car. Hangman was prohibited from possessing firearms due to his drug use and prior felony convictions in the State of Minnesota for Terroristic Threats-Reckless Disregard, and Drugs-Storing Meth Paraphernalia in the Presence of Child or Vulnerable Adult.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Hangman remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Hangman faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and Mikala Steenholdt-Purdy and was investigated by Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, Osceola County Attorney’s Office, Nobles County Sheriff’s Office (MN), Buffalo Police Department (MN), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms,
Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations Crime Laboratory, and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4003.
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60-Year-Old Mason City Drug Dealer Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A Mason City man who was part of a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin with his son was sentenced February 11, 2022, to more than 17 years in federal prison.
Charleton Maxwell, age 60, from Mason City, Iowa, received the prison term after a July 9, 2021, jury verdict finding him guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, two counts of distribution of heroin, and one count of distribution of heroin and methamphetamine.
Evidence at trial showed that Charleton Maxwell, and his son, Antione Maxwell, who is set to be sentenced at a later date, conspired to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and heroin in and around Mason City between January 2018 and October 2020. Both Charleton and Antione were caught distributing methamphetamine and heroin. Testimony at trial showed that both defendants were involved in a long-term conspiracy involving numerous others to distribute pounds of methamphetamine as well as heroin in the Mason City area.
Maxwell was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Maxwell was sentenced to 210 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 4-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Maxwell 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 North Central Iowa Drug Task Force, the Cerro Gordo Sheriff’s Office, the Mason City Police Department, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Clear Lake Police department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-3044.
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Three Time Felon in Possession of Assault Rifle Sentenced to More Than Thirteen Years’ in PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who possessed an AR-15 rifle was sentenced today to more than thirteen years in federal prison.
David Wright, Jr., age 23, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a June 10, 2021 guilty plea to two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms.
Evidence in the case showed that Wright and another individual were following an unmarked police car in Waterloo. A marked police car attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Wright’s vehicle, but the driver refused to stop and fled from police at high rates of speed. Once the vehicle stopped, Wright fled on foot. Police located an AR-15 rifle that was fully loaded with a round in the chamber on the seat where Wright was seated. The AR-15 rifle had previously been stolen. The month before, Wright was in possession of a .45 caliber handgun. At the time that Wright possessed these handguns, he was serving a term of federal supervised released, having previously been convicted for illegally possessing firearms as a drug user.
Wright was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Wright was sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Judge Williams also imposed an additional twelve-month sentence for violating the terms of his supervised release. 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.
Wright is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams and was investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-2008.
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Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing MethRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty February 8, 2022, in federal court in Sioux City.
William Thompson, 62, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Thompson was previously convicted of possession of methamphetamine and unlawful user/felon in possession of a firearm in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, in 2000. Thompson was also convicted of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance as a habitual offender in the Iowa District Court for Woodbury County in 2011.
At the plea hearing, evidence showed that from about 2019 and continuing to on or about June 8, 2021, Thompson and others who worked at the Madonna Rose Café participated in the distribution of approximately 10 pounds methamphetamine. Thompson was the co-owner of the Café. On four separate occasions between April and May 2021, Thompson distributed methamphetamine out of the Café to individuals cooperating with law enforcement. In June 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Café building and seized approximately one pound methamphetamine from Thompson that he planned to distribute to others.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Thompson remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Thompson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 21-4066. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Drug User Who Possessed Multiple Firearms Sentenced to Seven Years’ in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed multiple firearms was sentenced today to seven years’ in federal prison.
Devonte Wright, age 21, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 24, 2021 guilty plea to being a drug user in possession of a firearm.
Evidence in the case showed that Wright possessed at least seven firearms, including a firearm with an obliterated serial number, a stolen firearm, and an AR-15 rifle. During the time Wright possessed these firearms, he was a marijuana user. Wright posted multiple videos of himself smoking marijuana while in possession of the firearms to public social media sources.
Wright was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Wright was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case 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.
Wright is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams and was investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-cr-2007.
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Cedar Rapids Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Prohibited Person in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
A prohibited person who possessed a firearm pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Rakeem Leonard, age 30, from Cedar Rapids, was convicted of one count of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. At the plea hearing, Leonard admitted that, on July 19, 2021, he possessed a Taurus 9mm pistol after having been convicted of two felonies and while he was subject to a no contact order.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Leonard remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Leonard 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 is being investigated by the High Risk Unit of the Sixth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR 21-53.
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Waterloo Man Who Put Gun to Woman’s Head Found Guilty After Jury TrialRead the Press Release
A jury found a convicted felon who put a gun to a woman’s head and fired the gun at a residence guilty on February 9, 2022, following a three-day jury trial.
Trivansky Tyrique Swington, age 29, from Waterloo, Iowa, was found guilty of possessing a firearm as a felon.
Evidence at trial showed that, on February 15, 2021, Swington was with a group of friends at a residence in Waterloo, Iowa. The group had been drinking for several hours when some of them decided to leave. Swington and three others got into a vehicle. Before the vehicle even left the residence, Swington got into an argument with a woman inside the vehicle. Swington began scratching and clawing at the woman and pulling her hair. Swington pulled out chunks of the woman’s hair, which officers later found in the back of the car and in the driveway. At some point, Swington pulled out a .38 Special Revolver and pointed it at the woman’s head. Other people in the vehicle tried to wrestle the gun away from Swington. Eventually, one person got out of the vehicle and went to get help. Two people, including the victim, called 9-1-1 while Swington was still at the residence. While they were on the phone with 9-1-1, Swington took off down the street, turned around and fired the gun at the residence. Officers responded to the scene and spoke with witnesses who said that Swington had pulled out a revolver. Officers located Swington a couple blocks away. With the use of a K9, officers were able to track Swington’s path of travel and locate a .38 Special Revolver. Witnesses positively identified the revolver as the one Swington had pulled on them. Swington has previously been convicted of a felony offense.
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.
Swington is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be sentenced. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery and Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra Hake and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the United States Marshal’s Service.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-2033.
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Spencer Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A Spencer man who possessed child pornography was sentenced February 9, 2022, to 15 years in federal prison.
Anthony Martin, age 30, from Spencer, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 22, 2021, guilty plea to receipt of child pornography. In a plea agreement, Martin admitted to knowingly receiving and attempting to receive visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Martin further admitted to receiving and possessing approximately 13 videos containing child pornography and approximately 162 images containing child pornography. Martin was previously convicted in Iowa of Lascivious Acts with a Child.
Martin was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Martin was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was 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.”
Martin 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 Ron Timmons and investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4012.
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Virginia Man Pleads Guilty in Paycheck Protection Program Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
A Virginia man who laundered over $900,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds pled guilty on February 8, 2022, in federal court in Sioux City. Benjamin Sakyi, age 31, from Dumfries, Virginia, formerly of Ghana, was convicted of one count of money laundering conspiracy.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act is a federal law enacted in late March 2020 that provided emergency financial assistance, including Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) funds, to the millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Evidence at the plea hearing, and a prior detention hearing in Virginia, showed that Sakyi received over $900,000 in fraudulently obtained CARES Act funds at three different financial institutions in the names of two Virginia corporations, Blue Flight Logistics LLC and NKB Enterprise LLC. Sakyi then transferred the funds elsewhere. Sakyi received the CARES Act funds from a Minnesota man, Donald Franklin Trosin, formerly of Armonstrong, Iowa. Trosin had submitted over 20 fraudulent PPP and EIDL loan applications to the Small Business Administration in the name of Trosin and another individual at Minnesota and Iowa financial institutions. Trosin falsely represented he had 120 employees on his payroll and over $5 million in payroll expenses when, in truth, Trosin did not operate a business at all.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Sakyi remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Sakyi faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment. In July 2021, the district court sentenced Trosin to 40 months in federal prison for his role in the money laundering conspiracy.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department's response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice's National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, the Small Business Administration-Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-4013. The case file number for Donald Trosin’s case is 20-CR-4066.
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Sioux City Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Federal Prison for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
On February 8, 2022, Melroy Johnson Sr., 66, from Sioux City, Iowa, was sentenced to 264 months in federal prison.
Johnson Sr. was found guilty by a jury on July 9, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence at trial and sentencing, showed that Johnson Sr., in 2017 and 2018, had two co-conspirators travel to California, obtain large quantities of methamphetamine, and deliver the meth to Johnson Sr. in Sioux City for further distribution. The co-conspirators delivered between one and five pounds of methamphetamine to Johnson Sr. Evidence at trial also showed that in 2018 and 2019, Johnson Sr. arranged for meth to be mailed from California to various coconspirators in Sioux City. The packages contained from 2-5 pounds of methamphetamine as well as cocaine and marijuana, and were primarily provided to Johnson Sr. for further distribution.
Sentencing was held before United States Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Johnson, Sr. was sentenced to 264 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Johnson, Sr. remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and 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 19-4065. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Woodbury County Woman Pleads Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty February 3, 2022, in federal court in Sioux City.
Tarina Hinojosa, 36, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, Hinojosa admitted that from January 2021 through September 2021, she and others distributed more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Evidence further showed that in February 2021, Hinojosa was arrested for possession of an eight-ball of methamphetamine in Sioux City. Also, in July 2021, in a traffic stop in Sioux City, officers seized 146 grams of methamphetamine in two separate baggies and $2,200 from Hinojosa. Later, in September 2021, in another traffic stop in Sioux City, officers seized approximately 50 grams of methamphetamine in multiple baggies from Hinojosa. Hinojosa admitted she planned to distribute some or all of these amounts of methamphetamine to other persons.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Hinojosa remains in custody of the United States Marshal and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Hinojosa 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 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4082. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Man Pleads Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Daniel Trevino, 45, formerly from Primghar, Iowa, pled guilty on February 5, 2022, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, Trevino admitted that between December 2020 and April 2021, he and others were involved in a conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. On April 24, 2021, Trevino was stopped while driving. After Trevino showed signs of impairment, law enforcement received permission to search a bag located next to Trevino. Inside the bag, law enforcement discovered a scale, cell phones, and other drug paraphernalia. When the vehicle was being secured to be towed, a black magnetic box fell from the steering column which later was found to contain approximately a quarter pound of methamphetamine. Trevino admitted he had just picked up the methamphetamine from a source in Colorado.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Trevino remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Trevino 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 Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa DCI Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4076. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Jury Convicts Anamosa Man of Being a Prohibited Person in Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
A felon with domestic abuse convictions who possessed firearms and ammunition was convicted by a jury on February 3, 2022, after a one-and-a-half-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Douglas Hurt, age 41, of Anamosa, Iowa, was found guilty of possessing two firearms and ammunition after having been convicted of one felony and three misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence.
The evidence at trial showed that, in June 2020, in the cabin where he lived, Hurt possessed a Chinese Type 56 7.62 x 39 mm caliber rifle, a Remington 870 Express Magnum 12-gauge shotgun, and ammunition.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Hurt was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the trial and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Hurt faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years on supervised release following any imprisonment.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
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 is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is CR 21-59.
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Iowa “Con Artist” Returned to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
An Arnolds Park man who defrauded a Florida innkeeper while on supervised release on bank fraud and wire charges was sentenced on February 1, 2022, to three years in federal prison. Ronald Goldberg, age 63, from Arnold’s Park, Iowa, received the prison term after a three-day hearing in federal court in Sioux City.
Evidence at the supervised release revocation and detention hearings showed that, in January 2019, Goldberg checked into an ocean-front hotel in Palm Beach, Florida, with a credit card from a luxury automobile dealership in Dallas, Texas. When the automobile dealership called the hotel to question a charge on its credit card bill, the hotel confronted Goldberg. Goldberg then left the hotel in the middle of the night without paying his hotel bill in full.
At the time of the incident at the Palm Beach hotel, Goldberg was on supervised release for a 2016 conviction in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota for two counts of bank fraud and one count of wire fraud. Goldberg has a lengthy criminal history, including prior federal convictions for wire fraud and interstate transportation of money obtained by fraud in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, interstate transportation of stolen securities, possession of stolen securities, bank fraud, and attempted escape in the Southern District of Florida, forging a signature of a United States Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and Wire Fraud in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. After the Iowa federal court issued a warrant for Goldberg’s arrest in 2021 to answer for the 2019 incident, Goldberg did not surrender himself and ultimately was arrested in a hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Goldberg was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. At the hearing, Chief Judge Strand found Goldberg committed the Florida crime of defrauding an innkeeper, a felony, but not a separate charge of unauthorized use of a credit card. In imposing sentence, Chief Judge Strand referred to Goldberg as a “con artist” with a lengthy history of defrauding victims. Goldberg, who holds himself out as a fine Italian wine importer, 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.
Goldberg 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 16-CR-4066-LTS.
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Waterloo Woman Who Used Marijuana and Possessed Guns Found Guilty at TrialRead the Press Release
A woman who possessed firearms while being a user of marijuana was convicted by a jury today after a three-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Allyssa Stovall, age 23, from Waterloo, Iowa, was convicted of being a drug user in possession of firearms. The verdict was returned this afternoon following less than two hours of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that, in July 2020, Stovall purchased two firearms, a Ruger 9mm pistol and a SCCY Industries 9mm pistol, from Scheels in Cedar Falls and Mr. Guns in Waterloo. She continued to possess the firearms until law enforcement officers seized them on July 22, 2021. During this time, Stovall was also a user of marijuana. Stovall posted photographs on public social media of her holding a marijuana blunt and spoke about her marijuana use during a recorded telephone call. Law enforcement also encountered Stovall in February 2021, after she drove her car into a snowbank. During this encounter, officers smelled the odor of marijuana from Stovall’s vehicle and eventually located marijuana throughout the vehicle. Finally, officers located marijuana and other items of drug paraphernalia during a search of Stovall’s apartment in July 2021.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Stovall was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the verdict was returned and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Stovall faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams and was investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and the Cedar Falls Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-cr-2060.
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Woodbury County Man to Federal Prison for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Fabian Alcaraz-Santillan, 25, from Sioux City, Iowa, was sentenced on January 31, 2022, to 123 months in federal prison.
Alcaraz-Santillan pled guilty on September 8, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
At the hearings, evidence showed that from August 2020 through September 11, 2020, Alcaraz-Santillan and others conspired to distribute more than 10 pounds of methamphetamine in the Sioux City area. Alcaraz-Santillan received multiple packages of methamphetamine concealed in women’s corsets from Mexico with the intent for further distribution.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Alcaraz-Santillan was sentenced to 123 months imprisonment and must serve a 5-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Alcaraz-Santillan remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-4090.
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Man Formerly from Cedar Rapids Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Firearm After Multiple Felony ConvictionsRead the Press Release
A man formerly from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who possessed a gun after three prior felony convictions was sentenced January 27, 2022, to more than three years in federal prison.
Patrick Derone James, age 28, now from Conyers, Georgia, received the prison term after a June 16, 2021 guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
At the guilty plea hearing, James admitted possessing a firearm after being convicted of three felonies, specifically forgery, burglary, and possession of crack cocaine with enhanced penalties. Evidence at previous hearings showed that, on March 21, 2020, James was in a vehicle that had been reported stolen along with an adult female and two minor children in Cedar Rapids. In the vehicle, police officers recovered marijuana and a teal firearm with an obliterated serial number. James admitting possessing the firearm for protection and that he had smoked marijuana in the vehicle earlier in the day.
James was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade. James was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
James is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation 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 20-cr-00049.
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After More Than 30 Years with the Department of Justice, United States Attorney Sean R. Berry Announces RetirementRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Sean R. Berry of the Northern District of Iowa has announced his retirement effective January 31, 2022. After Mr. Berry’s departure, Tim Duax, currently First Assistant United States Attorney and Branch Chief of the District’s Sioux City office, will serve as Acting United States Attorney.
Mr. Berry, a graduate of Northwestern University Pritzker Law School and the University of Notre Dame, began his career as a federal prosecutor in 1989 when he joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California in Los Angeles. During his time in Los Angeles, Mr. Berry prosecuted numerous complex white-collar cases and served as the Chief of the Major Frauds Section. After a decade in Los Angeles, Mr. Berry moved to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa. Over the next twenty years, Mr. Berry continued to prosecute the most complex fraud cases and child exploitation cases. Mr. Berry served in numerous leadership roles in the office, including serving as Criminal Chief and First Assistant United States Attorney. Mr. Berry also served as Acting United States Attorney and United States Attorney on multiple occasions when there was no presidentially appointed United States Attorney in the District.
“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve in the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Northern District of Iowa and the Central District of California. Representing the United States for more than 30 years has been a great honor,” Berry said. “It has been a particular privilege to work with the extraordinary attorneys and staff in the Northern District of Iowa. Their deep commitment to the Department of Justice’s mission is demonstrated in everything they do. Of course, all of our work is made possible by our fantastic federal, state, and local law enforcement and agency partners who dedicate their lives and often risk their personal safety to make our communities better and safer.”
Mexican Man Who Used a Fraudulent Permanent Resident Card Sentenced to Jail Time and Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
A man who used a false identification document was sentenced today to nine days in prison.
Francisco Gonzalez-Matias, age 42, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Waterloo, Iowa, received the sentence after a November 22, 2021 guilty plea to one count of unlawful use of an identification document.
At the guilty plea, Gonzalez-Matias admitted he used a fraudulent Permanent Resident Card, also known as a “green card,” when he completed employment forms at a business in Cedar Falls in April 2021. On the employment application, Gonzalez-Matias falsely claimed to be a lawful permanent resident of the United States. The Alien Registration number on the green card was assigned to a male from Russia. Gonzalez-Matias also used a fictitious Social Security Number on employment and tax forms at the business. Social Security and Permanent Resident cards are documents used to prove identity and are prescribed by statute or regulation for entry into or as evidence of authorized stay or employment in the United States. As an illegal alien, Gonzalez-Matias was not authorized to work in the United States.
Gonzalez-Matias was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Gonzalez-Matias was sentenced to nine days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Gonzalez-Matias was released following the hearing to begin serving his term of supervised release.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by 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 21-CR-2029.
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Man Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Federal Prison for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
On January 26, 2022, a man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced in federal court in Sioux City.
Nicholas Griffin, 38, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty on August 31, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Griffin was previously convicted of four felony drug offenses, including possession with intent to deliver marijuana in Dickinson County in 2004; delivery of cocaine in Dickinson County in 2008; possession of MDMA with intent to deliver in Blackhawk County in 2008; and possession of marijuana with intent to deliver in Webster County in 2015.
Evidence at the hearings showed that from November 2020 through January 2021, Griffin and others distributed more than 10 pounds of methamphetamine in the Webster and Hamilton County areas. In January 2021, law enforcement attempted to stop the vehicle Griffin was driving. Griffin attempted to flee, with speeds reaching in excess of 100 mph, ultimately resulting in Griffin crashing his vehicle into a utility pole in Fort Dodge, Iowa. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement seized approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine, about ½ gram of cocaine, about ¼ ounce of marijuana, and $7,559 in U.S. currency.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Griffin was sentenced to 214 months’ imprisonment and a ten-year term of supervised release following any imprisonment. Griffin remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol, Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County Iowa Sheriff’s Office, Hamilton County Iowa Sheriff’s Office, and Iowa DCI Laboratory.
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The case file number is 21-3001. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to Prison for Unlawful Possession of Two FirearmsRead the Press Release
A Mexican man who illegally possessed firearms was sentenced yesterday to more than two years in federal prison.
Pedro Salazar-Trejo, age 34, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea on October 4, 2021, to one count of Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien.
In a plea agreement, Salazar-Trejo admitted that he unlawfully possessed two firearms in July 2021 while being illegally present in the United States. Salazar-Trejo had previously been deported three times and did not have permission to reenter the United States. While in the United States illegally, Salazar-Trejo was convicted in Texas of forgery of government documents, a social security card and driver’s license, in 2005, and fleeing the scene of an accident in 2008. Salazar-Trejo was first deported in May 2014 following a conviction in the Southern District of Texas for illegal entry into the United States. He was deported a second time in December 2017 following his arrest during a traffic stop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, by ICE officials. He was deported a third time in September 2019 following a conviction in the Western District of Texas for Illegal Reentry of a Deported Alien, a felony.
On July 22, 2021, Cedar Rapids Police Officers responded to a local hotel after Salazar-Trejo called them saying someone was going to kill him and had planted a bomb in his hotel room. Inside the hotel room officers saw and seized a 9mm pistol and a semi-automatic rifle with a high-capacity magazine. Both firearms were loaded and both had a round in the chamber. Salazar-Trejo was taken into custody without incident.
Salazar-Trejo was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Salazar-Trejo was sentenced to 27 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.
Salazar-Trejo is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and 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 21-CR-48.
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Chicago Man Found Guilty of Heroin and Fentanyl Crime Near a PlaygroundRead the Press Release
A man who set up a heroin and fentanyl distribution deal was convicted by a jury on January 27, 2022, after a four-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Derrick Darryl Trawick, age 39, from Chicago, Illinois, was convicted of one count of aiding and abetting the distribution of heroin and fentanyl. The jury found that the crime occurred near a playground, but did not find that the use of the drugs resulted in serious bodily injury to the customer. The verdict was returned after about three hours of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that Trawick was a heroin dealer in Dubuque who was nicknamed “Worm” and “KG.” During the early morning hours of May 31, 2019, two of his heroin customers contacted him to purchase a $40 bag of heroin. Trawick and another man drove to meet the customers and then directed them back to Trawick’s residence on Walnut Street, which was around the corner from the playground at Jefferson Park. Trawick and the other man then returned to Trawick’s residence and went inside. A short time later, the other man exited the residence, walked to the customers’ car, and sold them the purported heroin, which actually contained both heroin and fentanyl. The customers then drove to a nearby motel and used the heroin and fentanyl. One of those customers suffered an overdose during which she lost consciousness and stopped breathing for several minutes. She regained consciousness after being given Narcan by her companions and chest compressions by a first responder.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Trawick remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Trawick faces a mandatory minimum sentence of one year of imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $2,000,000 fine, and a lifetime of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jason Norwood.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-1016-CJW.
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Waterloo Drug Dealer Who Possessed Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A Waterloo man who possessed firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime was sentenced January 26, 2022, to five years in federal prison.
Jordan Charles Johnson, age 28, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 13, 2021 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
In a plea agreement, Johnson admitted that, on October 18, 2019, law enforcement recovered over 900 grams of marijuana in vacuumed sealed bags, over $3,000 in United States currency, a Ruger SR22 .22 LR caliber pistol, a Mossberg 715P .22 LR caliber pistol, and a short-barreled Remington 514 .22 LR caliber weapon made from a rifle with no serial number from his bedroom. Johnson also admitted that he intended to distribute some or all of the marijuana to another person, and that the Ruger SR22 pistol and the Mossberg 715P pistol were available for the protection of himself, his drug proceeds, and the marijuana.
Johnson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Johnson was sentenced to 60 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.
Johnson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-02045-CJW.
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Former Go Cedar Rapids Executives Plead Guilty to Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Doug Hargrave, age 55, from Puyallup, Washington, pled guilty on January 26, 2022, in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Aaron McCreight, age 47, from Dothan, Alabama, pled guilty today. Each man was convicted of one count of bank fraud.
At the plea hearings, the two men admitted that they formerly held executive positions in Go Cedar Rapids (“GoCR”), an organization that planned and executed Newbo Evolve, a three-day music and cultural event in August 2018. McCreight was President and Chief Executive Officer, and, in the summer of 2018, Hargrave was GoCR’s Finance Director. As the Newbo Evolve event dates approached, GoCR did not have enough money to, among other things, pay Kelly Clarkson and buy the alcohol that was to be sold at the concert venue.
Hargrave and McCreight admitted, as alleged in the charging documents, that they defrauded the financial institution that had extended a loan to GoCR to finance Newbo Evolve by making misrepresentations about Newbo Evolve’s actual ticket sales, projected revenue, projected expenses, and the true amount of loss they were projecting and expecting Newbo Evolve to generate. They did this in order to fraudulently induce the bank to loan GoCR additional money to support Newbo Evolve. In July 2018, McCreight and Hargrave sent a false and fraudulent Newbo Evolve 2018 Budget to the bank in support of GoCR’s request for an increase in its loan. In a meeting with representatives of the bank, McCreight fraudulently misrepresented the number of tickets that had been sold for Maroon 5 and Kelly Clarkson’s performances. The bank subsequently increased the loan to GoCR from $1.5 million to $2.2 million.
Sentencing hearings before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after presentence reports have been prepared. Hargrave and McCreight were released on bond pending sentencing. Hargrave and McCreight each face a possible maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment, a fine, and a period of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by United States Attorney Sean R. Berry and Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file numbers are 22-CR-01 and 22-CR-02.
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Chicago Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Crack Cocaine with the Intent to Distribute itRead the Press Release
A man who was found with nearly 75 grams of crack cocaine and admitted that he owed someone $13,000 for “fronting” him 226.8 grams of crack cocaine, was sentenced today to ten years in federal prison.
Desmond McSwain, age 31, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after a guilty plea on June 28, 2021, to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance after having previously been convicted of a serious felony drug offense.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that McSwain sold crack cocaine on multiple occasions in May and June of 2020. On August 28, 2020, McSwain was a passenger in a car that also contained two children. When law enforcement stopped the vehicle, they smelled an overwhelming odor of marijuana coming from the car. Law enforcement found just under 75 grams of crack cocaine, marijuana, and over $1,000 in cash. McSwain had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses for trafficking heroin in Illinois.
McSwain was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Linda Reade. McSwain was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment and must also serve an 8-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
McSwain 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 Attorneys Devra Hake and Alex Geocaris, and it was investigated by the Dubuque Police Department and the Dubuque Drug Task Force.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-01002.
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Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A man who received child pornography was sentenced today to more than 15 years in federal prison.
Ricardo Castillo, Jr., age 64, from Sioux Falls, SD received the prison terms after an August 31, 2021, guilty plea to receipt of child pornography. In a plea agreement, Castillo admitted that he utilized his work computer to receive and possess child pornography between July 2017 and January 2019. Castillo committed this offense after having a 1991 conviction for Lascivious Acts with a Child in the Iowa District Court for Woodbury County. A forensic examination of Castillo’s work computer and a hard drive revealed at least 4,000 images of child pornography, which Castillo attempted to delete when confronted by law enforcement.
Castillo was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Castillo was sentenced to 183 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $9,000 in restitution to victims. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mikala Purdy-Steenholdt and Ron Timmons, and was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-4092.
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Sioux City Man Sentenced to More Than 25 Years in Federal Prison for Meth and Firearm ConvictionsRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and possessed a firearm during his drug trafficking was sentenced January 24, 2022, in federal court in Sioux City.
Jerry Powell, 32, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty on May 19, 2021, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of illegal possession of a firearm, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Powell had two previous drug-related convictions, one in Iowa in 2018 and one in South Dakota in 2007.
At defendant’s plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that between 2016 and December 17, 2020, Powell and others conspired to distribute 50 grams of methamphetamine in the Sioux City area. On December 17, 2020, law enforcement in Sioux City caught Powell attempting to flee a legal traffic stop, first by vehicle, at speeds in excess of 100 mph on city streets, then, after crashing the vehicle, on foot. Law enforcement observed Powell throw a handgun (later determined to be a loaded .357 magnum revolver) away during his attempted flight. Law enforcement later seized six ounces of methamphetamine from the vehicle operated by Powell. Powell admitted he had acquired the methamphetamine from a source and possessed it with the intent to distribute some or all of it to another person or persons. Powell also admitted he was prohibited from legally possessing a gun due to being a previously convicted felon.
The court also found that Powell and another, working for another conspirator, were involved in the transport of at least 10 pounds of methamphetamine from a source in Arizona back to Sioux City.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Powell remains in custody of the United States Marshals Service until he can be transported to a federal prison. Powell was sentenced to 254 months’ imprisonment and must serve a 5 year term of supervised release following 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 was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Sioux City Police Department and the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4005. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Man Who Fled from Police After Tossing Firearm and Drugs Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who fled from police and tried to get rid of a loaded firearm, $14,000 in cash, and marijuana was sentenced yesterday to over nine years in federal prison.
Christopher Evans, age 33, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after pleading guilty on June 7, 2021 to possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that, during a high-speed chase with law enforcement, Evans struck a vehicle containing a pregnant woman, two children, and an adult male. After the collision, a child had glass in his car seat. Both the pregnant woman and a child suffered injuries as a result of the crash. Instead of checking on the occupants of that car, Evans continued to flee from law enforcement on foot before being ultimately detained. During the chase, Evans tried to dispose of a loaded firearm and illegal drugs.
Evans was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Evans was sentenced to 110 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.
Evans 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 Hake and Assistant United States Attorney Jake Schunk, and it was 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 20-CR-01041.
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Guatemalan Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being Deported Three TimesRead the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported three times was sentenced today to ten months in federal prison.
Juan Ramirez-Morales, age 37, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea on September 27, 2021, to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported.
At the guilty plea, Ramirez-Morales admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Ramirez-Morales was deported in December 2012, April 2013, and October 2013. Ramirez-Morales’ second deportation occurred following his conviction in January 2013 in the Southern District of Texas for Illegal Entry into the United States. Ramirez-Morales was convicted in the Iowa District Court for Black Hawk County of Operating While Intoxicated, second offense, a felony, in 2011. He was also convicted in Black Hawk County of Operating While Intoxicated for offenses occurring in 2005 and 2006, and for Operating a Motorboat While Intoxicated in 2019.
Ramirez-Morales was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Ramirez-Morales was sentenced to ten months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Ramirez-Morales 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 21-CR-2049.
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Chicago Man Who Conspired to Distribute Drugs Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who was found in possession of 370 methamphetamine tablets, almost 200 grams of cocaine, and marijuana, was sentenced yesterday to more than 15 years in federal prison.
Brian Hale, age 35, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after pleading guilty in July 2021 to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
In a plea agreement, Hale admitted that he possessed 151 grams of marijuana, 370 tablets containing 134 grams of methamphetamine, 195 grams of cocaine, and $5,262 in cash. The drugs and cash were found during a traffic stop of the car Hale was driving through Dubuque County. During the traffic stop, a drug dog alerted to the odor of drugs coming from the car. Hale had attempted to disguise the smell of drugs by sprinkling chili powder over the packages containing the drugs. Law enforcement then searched the car and found the drugs and money. Hale further admitted that he had agreed to distribute at least some of the methamphetamine to other people and that the cash was either proceeds from drug sales or was intended to be used to further drug-trafficking activities.
Hale has prior convictions for drug offenses. Hale had previously been convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, manufacturing/delivering cocaine, and possession with intent to deliver heroin.
Hale was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Hale was sentenced to 188 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 4-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Hale 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 Attorneys Devra Hake and Alex Geocaris and was investigated by the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office and the Dubuque Drug Task Force.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-01036.
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Webster City Man Sentenced to over 10 Years Federal Prison for Meth OffenseRead the Press Release
A man who possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced January 24, 2022, in federal court in Sioux City.
On August 23, 2021, Joshua Boice, 35, from Webster City, Iowa, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
On March 7, 2020, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of Boice for suspected driving while impaired. Boice admitted using methamphetamine and marijuana before work that day, and to possessing needles used to inject methamphetamine. During a subsequent search, law enforcement seized methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, pills, and needles. On October 18, 2020, law enforcement conducted another traffic stop of Boice in Ames, Iowa. Law enforcement discovered drug paraphernalia, approximately $4,700 cash, a firearm, and methamphetamine. In total, Boice possessed with intent to distribute approximately 2 pounds of meth.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Boice was sentenced to 128 months 16 days imprisonment and must serve a 5-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Boice 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 Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol, Webster City Police Department, Iowa State University Police Department, and Iowa DCI Laboratory.
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The case file number is 20-3048. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Fort Dodge Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced January 25, 2022, in federal court in Sioux City.
William Howard Rockey Halstead, 34, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, pled guilty on August 19, 2021, to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
On September 2, 2020, Halstead was stopped by law enforcement for having an inoperable break light. During the stop, law enforcement observed multiple items resembling marijuana in plain view within the car. Halstead was asked to step out of the car at which time he locked his glovebox and exited the car. A subsequent search of Halstead uncovered a digital scale in his pocket. A search of the car revealed numerous pieces of marijuana on the seat, floorboard, and center console of the vehicle. Law enforcement then opened the glovebox and found a loaded Hi-Point JCP 40 Smith and Wesson handgun. Upon arrest, Halstead admitted he also had a small bag of methamphetamine in his sock. Halstead had 17 prior criminal convictions including burglary, grand larceny, controlled substances offenses, evading law enforcement, possession of a firearm by a felon, and absence from custody.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Halstead was sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment and must serve a term of 3 years of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Halstead 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 Mikala Purdy-Steenholdt and Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Fort Dodge Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-3040. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Cedar Rapids Nurse Sentenced in Drug Diversion and Tampering SchemeRead the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids surgery center nurse, who diverted fentanyl to her own use at a local outpatient surgery center, was sentenced on January 21, 2022, to five years probation. Sabrina Thalblum, age 52, from Cedar Rapids, received the sentence after a July 21, 2021, guilty plea to one count of acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge, and one count of adulteration and misbranding with intent to defraud and mislead.
At her guilty plea and sentencing hearings, Thalblum admitted that, from about August 2018 to August 2019, she was an unlawful user of, and addicted to, fentanyl, a highly addictive opioid and controlled substance. Thalblum abused her position as a registered nurse to gain access to fentanyl at her employer, a local surgery center, and divert it to her own use. As a part of her scheme, Thalblum tampered with the vials of fentanyl. Thalblum removed the caps from vials of fentanyl at the outpatient surgery center and then carefully punctured the vials with needles and drew out the fentanyl. She then refilled the vials with saline to make the vials appear as if they still contained fentanyl. Thalblum also carefully reglued the caps of the vials to make it appear as if the vials were undisturbed, when, in truth, these consumer products no longer contained their declared values of fentanyl. In this way, the Thalblum made it appear as if the vials remained new, unopened, and filled with the controlled substance on their respective labels, that is, fentanyl, when, in truth, the Thalblum had diverted some or all of the fentanyl in the vials to herself.
Thalblum was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Thalblum was sentenced to five years of probation and fined $10,000. She also must forfeit her nursing license. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Vavricek and investigated by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-102.
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Marshalltown Woman Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Her Role in Large-Scale Drug RingRead the Press Release
A Marshalltown, Iowa woman who was involved in the distribution of nearly five kilograms of methamphetamine was sentenced today to ten years in federal prison.
Eva Ordaz Hernandez, age 45, from Marshalltown, Iowa, received the prison sentence after an August 2, 2021 guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that in 2018, investigators began investigating a large-scale drug trafficking organization operating between Mexico and Iowa. As part of the investigation, investigators learned that Ordaz Hernandez was distributing large amounts of methamphetamine and collecting money on behalf of the organization. On one occasion, Ordaz Hernandez collected $20,000 in currency for an outstanding drug debt owed to the organization. This transaction occurred at Ordaz Hernandez’s residence in front of her minor granddaughter. On another occasion, Ordaz Hernandez’s minor son collected $5,000 in drug debt owed to Ordaz Hernandez and other members of the group.
Ordaz Hernandez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Ordaz Hernandez was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley Corkery and Dillan Edwards. This case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Mid-Iowa Task Force (Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, Tama County Sheriff’s Office, Marshalltown Police Department), Iowa National Guard and Counter Drug Program, Tri-County Task Force (Cedar Falls Police Department, Waterloo Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, 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 20-CR-2034.
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Man who took sexually explicit photos of thirteen year old victim receives over 29 year sentenceRead the Press Release
A man who took sexually explicit photographs of a thirteen-year-old victim and distributed the photographs to an undercover officer online, was sentenced today to more than 29 years in federal prison.
Joshua Baird, age 40, from Anthon, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea to sexual exploitation of a child.
At the guilty plea, Baird admitted that, in February of 2021, he knowingly photographed a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct with his cellular telephone. Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed he later distributed these photographs to an undercover officer online because he thought they would “impress” her. Baird also engaged in an inappropriate online relationship with a teenager in Australia. At the sentencing hearing, Baird referred to his sentence as a “court ordered spiritual retreat” and further stated he was “excited” to be in prison.
Baird was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Baird was sentenced to 354 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.”
Baird 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-cr-2012-CJW.
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37-Year-Old Arnold’s Park Man Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
An unlawful drug user who illegally possessed explosive devices and guns was sentenced January 19, 2022, to 5 years in federal prison.
Darrell H. Sorey, age 37, from Arnold’s Park, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 15, 2021, guilty plea to one count of receipt and possession of an unregistered firearm/destructive device.
Evidence in this case revealed on January 12, 2020, Sorey’s father died in a rollover vehicle accident in Marion County, Iowa. At the scene of the accident an AR-15 rifle, a SKS style rifle, drum-magazines, ammunition, a pipe bomb and two CO2 “cricket” bombs – all three with fuses attached – were found. These discoveries, inside the car and in the debris field, led to January 15, 2020 searches of three residences in Dickinson County, Iowa. During one of the searches, investigators located Sorey, narcotics, drug paraphernalia, more CO2 cartridge bombs, including a CO2 cartridge bomb attached to an arrow, gunpowder, and a cellular telephone. During another of the two searches two .22 caliber rifles, one shotgun, and multiple rounds of ammunition for those firearms were discovered. Sorey’s criminal history includes convictions for interference with official acts, simple assault, disorderly conduct, multiple OWIs and controlled substance offenses.
Sorey was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Sorey was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. Sorey must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Sorey 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 Marion County, Iowa Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa State Patrol, the State Fire Marshal’s Division, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement (all of the Iowa Department of Public Safety), the Dickinson County, Iowa Sheriff’s Office, the Milford, Iowa Police Department, the Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force, and the United States Department of Justice – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The 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 20-CR-4048.
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