Northern District of Iowa
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
“Violent Menace” in Cedar Rapids Sentenced to Nearly a Decade in PrisonRead the Press Release
A man with multiple prior convictions for domestic violence was sentenced today to more than nine years in federal prison.
Nyle Brocks, age 28, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea to possessing a firearm after being convicted of domestic violence. Statements at sentencing indicated that Brocks participated in stealing the gun prior to his unlawful possession of it and also violently resisted arrest.
At sentencing, the judge noted that Brocks had 16 prior state court convictions for violent offenses and was both a “violent menace” and an “extreme danger.” The judge further found that “every day Brocks was out of circulation was a slightly safer day for society in Cedar Rapids.”
Brocks was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Brocks was sentenced to 115 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. Brocks 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 Jake Schunk and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-00068-CJW-MAR.
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Carroll County Man Pleads Guilty to Meth and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute meth while possessing guns pled guilty June 15, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.
Christopher O’Tool, 43, from Arcadia, Iowa, was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
At the plea hearing, O’Tool admitted he was involved in two conspiracies, one from about January 2016 through June 2016 and another from March 2019 through July 2019, in which he and others distributed more than four pounds of methamphetamine. In May and June 2016, O’Tool distributed over 50 grams of pure methamphetamine to individuals cooperating with law enforcement. On June 2, 2016, law enforcement stopped O’Tool, searched his vehicle, and seized nearly a pound of methamphetamine and a .45 caliber handgun and ammunition. O’Tool admitted to his involvement in the distribution of methamphetamine in and around the Carroll, Iowa area, which he acquired from a source in Omaha, Nebraska. On July 11, 2019, law enforcement agents met with O’Tool, and with his consent, seized two 9mm pistols from O’Tool’s truck. Later that day, O’Tool also admitted to again distributing methamphetamine in and around the Carroll, Iowa area.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. O’Tool remains in custody pending sentencing. On the conspiracy convictions, O’Tool 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. On the firearm conviction, O’Tool faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment, consecutive to any term of imprisonment imposed on the conspiracy convictions, and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than 3 years of supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, Denison Police Department, Carroll Police Department, and Iowa DCI.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-3017. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Waterloo Man who Ran from Fleet Farm with Stolen Gun Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who stole a semiautomatic firearm with a 16-round magazine from Fleet Farm in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and ran from the store was sentenced today to five years in federal prison.
Dalyn Jamil Culp, age 19, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 11, 2020 guilty plea to theft of a firearm from a federal firearms licensee.
In a plea agreement, Culp admitted he stole a Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol from Fleet Farm in Cedar Falls on February 27, 2020, and fled from the store. Law enforcement was able to find photographs on Culp’s cell phone where he was wearing pants that matched the pants worn by the perpetrator in the surveillance video obtained from Fleet Farm. There was also a video of a firearm with the same make and model as the stolen gun, as well as a photograph of the Fleet Farm barcode attached to the same make and model of firearm which was stolen.
Culp was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Culp was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment and fined $100. He was ordered to make restitution to Fleet Farm. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Culp 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 Elizabeth Dupuich and investigated by the Cedar Falls Police Department, the Waterloo Police Department, and the Department 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-2041-CJW.
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Iowa Man Sentenced to over a Year in Federal Prison for Placing Threatening Phone Call to U.S. Congressman’s OfficeRead the Press Release
A man who called a United States Congressman’s office and told a staffer that he was going to find someone to assassinate the Congressman was sentenced today to more than a year in federal prison.
Kenneth Brown, age 57, previously living in Cedar Falls, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 4, 2020 guilty plea to one count of transmitting a threatening communication in interstate commerce.
At the plea hearing, Brown admitted that on December 18, 2019, he called the Washington D.C. office of Congressman Jerrold Nadler of New York. Brown admitted that he spoke with a staff assistant working in the office and threatened the Congressman. Specifically, as charged in the indictment, Brown said “I will find someone to assassinate that piece of (expletive deleted) you work for. Jerry Nadler is going to be assassinated.”
Information at sentencing showed that Brown has prior criminal convictions involving violence and threats of violence. In 1996, he was convicted of inflicting injury on a spouse and threatening to commit a crime to terrorize the victim. In 2005, he was convicted of two counts of aggravated battery against a household member using a deadly weapon. In that case, Brown restrained a woman against her will and used a knife to hurt the victim in a way that caused or could have caused the victim great bodily harm. In 2010, a warrant was issued for Brown’s arrest because he violated his probation by failing to report to his probation officer, failing to maintain employment, and by incurring new criminal charges. According to a witness, Brown then fled to Mexico because he knew there was a warrant for his arrest. Law enforcement ultimately arrested Brown in 2017 and he was sentenced to almost a year in prison.
Brown was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Brown was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Brown is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Waterloo Police Department, and the United States Capitol Police.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-2042.
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Sioux City Meth Dealer Sentenced in Federal Court for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A Sioux City man who received methamphetamine which he intended to distribute was sentenced June 8, 2021, to more than 21 years in federal prison.
Levi Hamilton, age 40, from Sioux City, received the prison term after a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, Hamilton admitted that beginning on August 25, 2020 and continuing to August 27, 2020, he and another received 2.7 pounds of methamphetamine via mail which they intended to redistribute around the Sioux City area. Hamilton has an extensive criminal history with over twenty convictions. His prior convictions include: serious assault on a peace officer; three theft convictions; two eluding a peace officer convictions; terrorism; resisting arrest; possession of a controlled substance; three eluding convictions; assault on a peace officer; domestic abuse; and serious assault.
Hamilton was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Hamilton was sentenced to 262 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.
Hamilton 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 United States Postal Inspection Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA; the Woodbury County Sheriff's Office; the Sioux City Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement..
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-4078.
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Jury Convicts Cedar Rapids Man of Child Sexual Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
A man who sexually exploited two girls and committed child pornography offenses was convicted by a jury today after a two-and-a-half-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Nathan Nosley, age 30, of Cedar Rapids, was convicted of sexual exploitation of children, distribution of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, three counts of possession of child pornography, and accessing child pornography.
The evidence at trial showed that, between 2018 and 2020, Nosley persuaded, induced, and enticed two girls to produce and send him pornographic images of themselves. Nosley also distributed child pornography to others, used cell phone apps to receive child pornography, used a cell phone to access child pornography, and possessed child pornography on a cell phone, on a memory card, and in an e-mail account.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Nosley remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Nosley faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 150 years’ imprisonment, a $1,750,000 fine, $188,700 in special assessments, and supervised release for 5 years to life following any imprisonment.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Marion 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 is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR 20-101.
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Selling 104 Pounds of Methamphetamine Results in 230 Months of Federal Prison TimeRead the Press Release
A man who distributed pounds of methamphetamine was sentenced June 4, 2021, to nearly two decades in federal prison.
Henry Wilke Eilders, age 43, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 6, 2020 guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
During a search of Eilders’s residence in March 2020, officers located over 800 grams of methamphetamine, a firearm, and $63,151 in cash. Eilders later admitted selling 104 pounds of methamphetamine during the previous year.
Eilders was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Eilders was sentenced to 230 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. Eilders 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 as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of by the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Marion Police Department, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Drug Enforcement Administration
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-27.
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Dubuque New Year’s Day Shooter Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A felon who, after an argument, shot wildly on a populated street, was sentenced today to over eight years in federal prison.
Derrick Damon Timmons, age 30, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 17, 2020 guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Evidence at sentencing showed that, during the early morning hours of New Year’s Day 2020, Timmons had a discussion with another person in Dubuque. Video evidence showed that Timmons left and then returned to the area, where another felon, Katwan Brown, handed Timmons a pistol. Brown and Timmons then went inside a residence for a brief time. When Brown and Timmons returned to the street, Timmons engaged in an animated argument with the other individual. Someone fired a round and people in the area scattered, with Timmons running back into the residence. After a few moments Timmons leaned back out of the doorway and shot wildly up the street multiple times, striking one individual. Another of the rounds Timmons fired struck an occupied apartment nearby, and yet another round struck an unoccupied vehicle. Timmons fled the area after the shooting.
At sentencing, the judge found that Timmons’s conduct was “reprehensible and incredibly dangerous.” Timmons had previously been convicted of felony obstruction of justice and a prior misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, domestic abuse assault with strangulation.
Timmons was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Timmons was sentenced to 100 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Brown was previously sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment and three years’ supervised release.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was made possible in part by evidence from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
Timmons is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Dubuque Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-01013-1-CJW-MAR.
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Sioux City Man Who Embezzled Money from Indian Tribal Organization Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A Sioux City man who engaged in rebate schemes, fraudulent invoice schemes, and stole items belonging to the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska was sentenced on May 28, 2021, to 1 month in federal prison and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.
Jason Ehlers, age 48, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of embezzlement and theft from an Indian Tribal Organization.
In a plea agreement, Ehlers admitted that he stole and embezzled from the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska at least $22,432.00. Ehlers admitted to using his position as a General Manager with BluStone Homes, also known as HoChunk Real-Estate, solely owned by the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, to engage in rebate schemes, a fraudulent invoice scheme, and theft of construction supplies for his own benefit.
Ehlers was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Ehlers was sentenced to 1 month of imprisonment. He must also pay a $10,000 fine and serve a 2-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-4089.
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Everly, Iowa Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for MethRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced May 26, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.
Jimmy Crouch, 48, from Everly, Iowa, pled guilty on December 7, 2020, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine within a protected location, and one count of distribution of methamphetamine within a protected location.
At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that Crouch and others conspired to distribute over seven pounds of methamphetamine mixture from January 2019 through April 2020 in the Wright and Webster County areas. In March/April 2020, law enforcement seized nearly four ounces of methamphetamine from Crouch. On a number of occasions, Crouch and his co-conspirators were observed on home security recordings receiving and distributing ounces to ¼ pounds of methamphetamine to other co-conspirators. Finally, Crouch’s offense conduct included methamphetamine distribution in Eagle Grove, Iowa, within 1,000 feet of two separate protected locations, specifically public parks with playgrounds.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Crouch remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison. Crouch was sentenced to 136 months’ imprisonment and must serve an 8-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Wright County Sheriff’s Office, Eagle Grove Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-3012.
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Heroin Dealer Sent Back to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A Chicago man who intended to distribute fentanyl and a heroin/fentanyl mixture was sentenced today to more than five years in federal prison.
Chanord Hawkins, age 28, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after a November 30, 2020 guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Evidence at sentencing showed that on September 1, 2016, Hawkins was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of federal supervised release after he had pled guilty to distribution of heroin and crack cocaine in federal court. On September 12, 2020, while he was on federal supervised release, Hawkins was a passenger in a car that was stopped by officers with the Cedar Rapids Police Department in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. During the traffic stop, officers searched a fanny pack belonging to Hawkins and recovered a small baggie that contained 0.5 grams of heroin. Hawkins was arrested and transported to the Linn County Correctional Center. After he arrived at the Linn County Correctional Center, deputies searched Hawkins’ person and located two bags of marijuana in his underwear. As a result, officers conducted a strip search and deputies located multiple small plastic baggies tucked inside Hawkins’ buttocks that contained a total of over 9 grams of fentanyl and 25 grams of a heroin/fentanyl mixture. Hawkins intended to distribute some or all of the fentanyl and heroin/fentanyl mixture to another person.
Hawkins was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Hawkins was sentenced to a total of 70 months’ imprisonment, and he must also serve a six-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Hawkins 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 Dillan Edwards and investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA, the Linn County Sheriff's Office, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Marion Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-00081.
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Guatemalan Man Sentenced in Federal Court for Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
A man who was illegally in the United States was sentenced May 21, 2021 to 99 days imprisonment.
Armando Ramirez-Lopez, 28, from Guatemala, received the prison term after a March 19, 2021, guilty plea to illegally re-entering the United States.
At the guilty plea and sentencing hearing, evidence showed that Ramirez-Lopez was arrested on August 29, 2020, in Sioux City, Iowa for possession of methamphetamine. On December 30, 2020, defendant was arrested on an active warrant for failure to appear. Investigation revealed Ramirez-Lopez is an alien who had been ordered removed from the United States to Guatemala on April 22, 2014. Ramirez-Lopez had been physically removed from the United States on January 11, 2017, through the Alexandria, Louisiana, Port of Entry.
Ramirez-Lopez was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Ramirez-Lopez was sentenced to time served of 99 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and investigated by Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-4016. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Convicted Felon Who Was a Repeat Possessor of Guns Sentenced to over Seven Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A Waterloo convicted felon who possessed a gun was sentenced today to 94 months in prison.
Jason John Evans, age 39, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison sentence after a December 8, 2020 guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon.
Information disclosed at sentencing and in a plea agreement show that in July 2020, law enforcement searched Evans’ home. During the search, officers located a loaded gun, ammunition, approximately one ounce of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. At the time, Evans was a convicted felon, having previously been convicted of felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a sawed-off shotgun in federal court.
Evans was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Evans was sentenced to 94 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make payment of $100 to the special assessment fund. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery and investigated by the Mid-Iowa Task Force (Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, Tama County Sheriff’s Office, Marshalltown Police Department), the Iowa National Guard and Counter Drug Program, the 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, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number 20-CR-2036.
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Denison Woman Pleads Guilty to Falsifying Credit Union Statements to Hide EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
A Denison woman who served as CEO of Consumers Credit Union (CCU), and falsified financial records to hide embezzlement, pled guilty on May 24, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.
Janine Keim, age 68, from Denison, Iowa, was convicted of making false statements to auditors of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).
In open court, Keim admitted to falsifying documents to hide the embezzlement of money from CCU in Denison, Iowa. Keim was the CEO of CCU and she admitted to abstracting funds from the credit union. Keim submitted call reports she knew to be false to the NCUA alleging the existence of funds held by CCU. Keim’s actions contributed to a total cash and cash equivalent loss for CCU that resulted in CCU’s insolvency. In October 2020, Keim’s sister, Brenda Jensen, pled guilty to embezzling from CCU.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Keim remains free on bond previously set pending sentencing. Keim faces a possible maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, and 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-4091.
Fort Dodge Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Defrauding Elderly Disabled Veteran Out of Life SavingsRead the Press Release
A Fort Dodge woman who used a power of attorney to defraud an elderly disabled veteran out of more than $120,000 was sentenced May 21, 2021, to more than two years in federal prison.
Janice Kay Jurgensen, age 40, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 22, 2020 guilty plea to one count of wire fraud.
In a plea agreement and at the sentencing hearing, Jurgensen admitted that, in 2018 and 2019, she stole the life savings of an elderly resident of a nursing home. The victim suffered from significant cognitive and physical disabilities due to dementia and a severe stroke. The nursing home resident was a veteran who had served in the Army and was stationed in Germany for a time. The victim had lived frugally during his lifetime and was related to Jurgensen.
In 2018, Jurgensen hired a lawyer to draft a power of attorney for her victim, which purported to appoint Jurgensen as the victim’s attorney-in-fact with complete authority to manage his financial affairs. The victim ostensibly signed the power of attorney form despite his disabilities. The form stated Jurgensen was not entitled to any compensation and could not make any gifts to herself. After obtaining the power of attorney, however, Jurgensen used a debit card linked to her victim’s bank account to make purchases for her own benefit, including food, gas, teacher union fees, “wonder nails,” and a dating website. As a result of Jurgensen’s crime, her victim lost his life savings and was unable to pay for his nursing home care.
Jurgensen was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Jurgensen was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment. She was ordered to make $122,351.93 in restitution to her victim’s conservator. She must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Jurgensen callously stole her elderly victim’s life savings. The sentence she received reflects the seriousness of her crime,” Acting United States Attorney Sean R. Berry stated. “Our office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who target the most vulnerable members of our communities.”
In 2016, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa was selected as one of ten districts in the nation to form an Elder Justice Task Force (http://go.usa.gov/cSngj). The task force was assembled to foster a collaborative working relationship among all levels of government officials, advocacy groups for the elderly and the disabled, and others charged with the care and protection for these vulnerable groups. The goals include ensuring the integrity of all government expenditures by eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse in health programs, and protecting some of the state’s most vulnerable citizens from harm, whether it occurs in nursing homes or other institutions or involves financial fraud schemes. To learn more about the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, visit: https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/
Jurgensen was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marshal’s Service on a date yet to be set.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Vavricek and investigated by the Iowa Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-3051.
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Schaller Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
A man who received and transferred over $35,000 in fraudulently obtained CARES Act unemployment funds from multiple states was sentenced on May 20, 2021, to five years in federal prison. Alvin Lavon Rex, age 61, from Schaller, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 18, 2020, guilty plea to one count of mail fraud.
In a plea agreement, and at his plea and sentencing hearings, Rex admitted he opened multiple bank accounts in the Storm Lake, Iowa, area in May and June 2020. Rex received over $35,000 in unemployment benefits in the names of other individuals from Arizona, Ohio, and Massachusetts. He then withdrew the benefits in cash and mailed the cash through the United States Postal Service. Rex also admitted that, in the months preceding the pandemic, he had received a false and fraudulent tax refund in the name of another person and cashed counterfeit checks at local banks. As a part of his plea agreement, Rex agreed to make full restitution to those banks.
Rex was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Rex was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $63,070.03 in restitution. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Alvin Rex took advantage of unemployment benefits intended for those who lost their jobs because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Acting United States Attorney Sean R. Berry. “We will vigorously investigate and prosecute those who seek to profit from fraud involving COVID-19 benefits. Rex’s sentence reflects the seriousness of his offense and demonstrates that there will be consequences for committing fraud, including prison.”
This prosecution is an example of the Department of Justice’s strong commitment to combating fraud and criminal activity related to COVID-19. 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 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 was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Vavricek and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Storm Lake Police Department. The Sac County Sheriff’s Office, the State of Arizona’s UI Benefit Fraud Investigation Unit, Office of Inspector General, the State of Massachusetts’ Program Integrity Unit, Department of Unemployment Assistance, and the State of Ohio’s Benefit Payment Fraud Control Unit, Department of Job and Family Services provided assistance to the investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-4062.
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Mexican Woman Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being DeportedRead the Press Release
Maria Manzo-Melchor, age 40, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea on January 21, 2021, to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported following a conviction for an aggravated felony.
In a plea agreement, Manzo-Melchor admitted she had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Manzo-Melchor was deported in November 2008 following a conviction in the Iowa District Court for Black Hawk County for forgery, an aggravated felony, for using a fraudulent permanent resident card, also known as a “Green” card. In September 2020, Manzo-Melchor came to the attention of immigration agents following her arrest for Domestic Abuse Assault and Reckless Use of Fire or Explosives in Black Hawk County, Iowa. These charges are still pending in state court.
Manzo-Melchor was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Manzo-Melchor was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Manzo-Melchor is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney 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 20-CR-2047.
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Man with a “Long-Term Relationship with Lawlessness” Sentenced to over Six Years in Prison for Possessing a GunRead the Press Release
A man who has a lengthy criminal history and possessed a loaded gun and drugs was sentenced today to more than six years in federal prison.
Zaire Young, age 34, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 7, 2020 guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
At the guilty plea, Young admitted he possessed a firearm after felony convictions for possession of cocaine base with the intent to distribute, drug tax stamp, and eluding. Evidence in the case showed that Young was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped by law enforcement in May 2020. Officers found a loaded gun inside the car. Young admitted possessing the gun. He also had marijuana in his pocket.
In a previous written order, the court described Young as having a “long-term relationship with lawlessness—spanning more than two decades.” The court also noted that prior to his federal charge, Young had “willfully flouted the law, disregarded authority, and disobeyed the orders of every court he has appeared before.”
Young was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Young was sentenced to 78 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
Young 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 by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, 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 20-cr-2040.
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Drug User Sentenced to over Two Years in Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
A Waterloo, Iowa, man that fired several shots into the air in a residential area was sentenced today to more than two years in federal prison.
Marcus DeShawn Harmon-Wright, age 35, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 16, 2020 guilty plea to one-count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Evidence at sentencing showed that, on April 12, 2020, Harmon-Wright fired several shots into the air, striking his own residence, after observing individuals breaking into his partner’s car. Several minutes later, Harmon-Wright got into an argument with his neighbor, while he continued to possess the firearm. After officers arrived, Harmon-Wright was uncooperative, knocking off an officer’s body worn camera and spitting in that officer’s face intentionally. Harmon-Wright was prohibited from possessing firearms because he was a drug user.
Harmon-Wright was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Harmon-Wright was sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Harmon-Wright 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.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards 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 20-CR-02044.
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Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty in Federal Court for Meth and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and possessed a firearm during his drug trafficking pled guilty May 19, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.
Jerry Powell, 32, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of 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 was previously convicted of two felony drug offenses, namely, felony possession of a controlled substance in South Dakota in 2007, and felony possession of a controlled substance – 3rd offense in Iowa in 2018.
At the plea hearing, Powell admitted that between 2016 through about December 17, 2020, he and others conspired to distribute 50 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine in the Sioux City area. On December 17, 2020, in Sioux City, Iowa, law enforcement caught Powell attempting to flee a legal traffic stop, at first by vehicle, including at speeds in excess of 100 mph on city streets, then after crashing the vehicle, on foot. Law enforcement observed Powell, while running, possess and then throw a handgun (later determined to be a loaded .357 magnum revolver) away during his attempted flight. Law enforcement later seized the firearm and 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 the possession of the firearm due to being a previously convicted felon.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Powell was previously in the custody of the United States Marshals Service and after the guilty plea will remain in custody pending sentencing. On all of the convictions, Powell faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 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.
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 also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
The case is being 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.
Sioux City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Repeated Unlawful Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed a gun on two occasions was sentenced to seven years in federal prison.
Angelo Campbell, age 28, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 16, 2020, guilty plea to two counts of possession of a firearm by an unlawful drug user and domestic abuse misdemeanant.
Evidence at Campbell’s detention, change of plea and sentencing hearings revealed he possessed two different guns on two separate occasions after having been convicted of Domestic Abuse Assault in 2014 and 2016, and while an unlawful user of methamphetamine and marijuana.
Campbell was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Campbell was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Campbell 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.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline
The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-4058.
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Drug User and Felon Sentenced to over Three Years in Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
A Sioux City man who illegally possessed firearms, was sentenced May 13, 2021, to more than three years in federal prison.
Yoni Duenas, 23, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 21, 2020, guilty plea to two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon and a drug user.
Evidence presented by the United States at the detention, change of plea, and sentencing hearings revealed Duenas unlawfully possessed two firearms on two separate occasions. Counting Duenas’ past criminal history and his instant conduct, he has been disarmed by law enforcement four times.
Duenas was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Duenas was sentenced to 40 months’ and five days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. The United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted this case with support from Project Guardian partners. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
The case was investigated by the United States Department of Justice – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Sioux City Police Department. 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 20-4031. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Arizona Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Importation and Distribution of Methamphetamine from Mexico to IowaRead the Press Release
A woman who imported approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine, and a half pound of cocaine, over a two-year period was sentenced on May 11, 2021, to almost 9 years in federal prison.
Brisa Paniagua-Trejo, 40, from Casa Grande, Arizona, pled guilty on December 8, 2020, to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that Paniagua-Trejo coordinated shipments of several pounds of methamphetamine, and cocaine, from 2018 through early 2020 to the Northern District of Iowa and elsewhere. On February 5, 2020, after conducting active surveillance for suspected drug activity, a Woodbury County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle Paniagua-Trejo was operating. Upon conducting a search within the vehicle, law enforcement discovered approximately 75 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 30 grams of cocaine, drug paraphernalia, several phones, and four rounds of .40 caliber ammunition. Paniagua-Trejo was previously convicted of possession with intent to manufacture/deliver methamphetamine, in the Iowa District Court for Woodbury County, and drug possession in the Minnesota District Court for Faribault County.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Paniagua-Trejo was sentenced to 107 months’ imprisonment and must serve a three-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Paniagua-Trejo remains in custody of the United States Marshal until she is 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 20-4054. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Brothers Who Ran Farming Operation Together Sentenced to Federal Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
Two brothers who ran a farming operation together while also farming their own land were sentenced today to federal prison for evading taxes.
Scott Stecher, age 61, and Doug Stecher, age 58, from Clarion, Iowa, received the prison terms after each pled guilty to tax evasion on December 9, 2020.
At the guilty pleas, each brother admitted that each took steps to hide income from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to evade paying income taxes. Information from their plea agreements and from their sentencing hearings showed that, for tax years 2011 through 2013, each brother diverted income from their farming operations into bank accounts that their accountant did not know about. The accountant then prepared tax returns for each brother, which they then signed knowing that the tax returns were false because the returns did not report each brother’s full income. During those three tax years, Doug Stecher hid $718,995 of income from the IRS and paid $240,053 less in income tax than he should have paid. Scott Stecher hid $448,059 of income from the IRS and paid $183,785 less in income tax as a result.
The Stechers were sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Each was sentenced to one month of imprisonment and fined $30,000. They must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Our federal income tax system requires taxpayers to be honest,” said Acting United States Attorney Sean R. Berry. “These sentences show that hiding income from the IRS to avoid paying taxes is a crime with significant consequences. In this case those consequences include federal prison.”
“Today’s sentencings of Scott Stecher and Doug Stecher show that enforcement of our tax laws is vital to maintaining a fair and honest system,” said David Talcott, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation division in the St. Louis Field Office. “There are consequences for individuals who intentionally conceal income and evade taxes that includes going to jail and paying back all the taxes owed plus steep penalties and interest.”
Both Scott and Doug Stecher were released on the bond previously set and are to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file numbers are 20-CR-3049 and 20-CR-3050.
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Gladbrook Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Prohibited Person in Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
A felon and convicted domestic abuser who possessed firearms pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Jason Drew, age 38, from Gladbrook, Iowa, was convicted of one count of being a prohibited person in possession of firearms. At the plea hearing, Drew admitted that, on February 26, 2020, he knowingly possessed two revolvers after having been convicted of two crimes punishable by more than one year of imprisonment and after having been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. According to the indictment, Drew was convicted of theft in the first degree and theft in the second degree in Tama County in 2009. He also was convicted of domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury in Tama County in 2016.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Drew remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Drew 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 also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Tama County Sheriff’s Office, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR 20-74.
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Sioux City Man Who Sold Methamphetamine Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A Sioux City man who sold methamphetamine was sentenced on May 7, 2021, to 10 years in federal prison.
Tad Lynch, age 32, from Sioux City, IA, received the prison term after a guilty plea to two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in Sioux City.
Lynch admitted that on February 20, 2020 and March 4, 2020 that he possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it around the Sioux City area. Lynch has a significant criminal history, including prior convictions for possession of drug paraphernalia, drug possession, check forgery, disorderly conduct, possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, and eluding a peace officer. Lynch also has five prior theft convictions
Lynch was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Lynch was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve an 8-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Lynch 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 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 20-4075.
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Iowa Man Who Used Facebook Messenger to Entice a 12-Year-Old for Sexual Activity Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who sought out and enticed a 12-year-old for sexual activity was sentenced on May 7, 2021, to 14 years in federal prison.
Nathan Landrum, age 40, from Carnarvon, IA, was convicted of enticement of a minor.
In a plea agreement, Landrum admitted that in April 2020, using Facebook Messenger, he knowingly enticed a 12-year-old child to his apartment for sexual activity. After attempting to convince the child to send sexual images of themself, Landrum eventually convinced the child to go his bedroom with him where he admits he intended to engage in sexual activity with the child. DNA testing confirmed the presence of sperm cells closely matching Landrum’s in the child’s underwear.
Landrum was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Landrum was sentenced to 168 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 6-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Landrum 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 was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sac County Sheriff’s Office. 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 20-4046.
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Dubuque Felon Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
A Dubuque man who possessed stolen firearms and sold drugs near a city park was sentenced today to eight years in federal prison.
Jordan Dakota Ness, also known as “Bubba,” age 29, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 18, 2021 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence at detention, plea, and sentencing hearings showed that, in August 2016, law enforcement officers executed a series of search warrants at a home Ness shared with his father, twin brother, and others in Dubuque. In Ness’s basement bedroom, officers found large quantities of marijuana. Just outside of the bedroom, officers discovered a loaded pistol on a shelf. Officers also located a locked cabinet nearby that contained multiple guns and magazines, including a gun stolen in a burglary in Wisconsin, a semi-automatic rifle with an obliterated serial number, and two 25-round, high-capacity magazines.
Ness has a lengthy criminal history, including ten convictions over a ten-year period. Ness’s other convictions include burglary, harassment, and driving while drugged. Ness’s home was located near a public park in Dubuque.
Ness was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Ness was sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
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 also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
Ness is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. In March 2019, Ness’s father, Neil George Ness, was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment after law enforcement officers found an unregistered short-barrel shotgun in another locked cabinet near Neil George Ness’s bedroom during the same search. In January 2021, Ness’s twin brother, Jacob Dylan Ness, who is also a felon, was sentenced to five years’ probation for possessing an unloaded rifle that officers found in his bedroom during the same search.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Vavricek and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Dubuque Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-1022-CJW.
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Dubuque Care Facility’s Owner Agrees to Repay Federal Medicaid Funds to Resolve Allegations Relating to COVID-19 Screening ProceduresRead the Press Release
Care Initiatives, a Texas corporation with a home office in West Des Moines, Iowa, has agreed to repay the United States $214,200 to resolve claims the United States was entitled to restitution for the federal share of Medicaid funds the facility received for an approximately 10 week period while residents at Dubuque Specialty Care, a Care Initiatives facility, were suffering from or testing positive for COVID-19. The United States alleged that repayment of these funds was warranted due to Dubuque Specialty Care’s practices surrounding COVID-19 infections, including the facility’s procedures and criteria for screening symptomatic employees.
Care Initiatives cooperated during the investigation and did not admit to any liability as part of the settlement agreement.
“Our office expects that recipients of federal healthcare funds take appropriate steps to maintain beneficiary safety, to protect our district’s most vulnerable residents, and to ensure their practices comport with recognized standards, especially during this unprecedented time,” said Acting United States Attorney Sean R. Berry.
“Being a healthcare provider in the Medicare and Medicaid programs is a privilege, not a right. It is incumbent upon these providers to protect the safety of beneficiaries under their care, especially during this pandemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Curt L. Muller of Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “Our investigators, working closely with our law enforcement partners, will continue to thoroughly investigate allegations of substandard safety practices.”
Individuals with direct knowledge of facilities in the Northern District of Iowa failing to comply with recognized standards and procedures during the pandemic are encouraged to report any such failures to the appropriate authorities, including the United States Attorney’s Office. The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jake Schunk and investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
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Acting United States Attorney Sean R. Berry Recognizes Police Week and Thanks All Law Enforcement Officers Serving Iowa CommunitiesRead the Press Release
In honor of National Police Week, Acting U.S. Attorney Sean R. Berry recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. This year, the week is observed Sunday, May 9 through Saturday, May 15, 2021.
“This week is a time to honor our law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation,” said Attorney General Garland. “I am constantly inspired by the extraordinary courage and dedication with which members of law enforcement act each day, putting their lives on the line to make our communities safer. To members of law enforcement and your families: we know that not a single day, nor a single week, is enough to recognize your service and sacrifice. On behalf of the entire Department of Justice, you have our unwavering support and eternal gratitude.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is grateful for the important work of our law enforcement partners – federal, state, local, and tribal,” said Acting United States Attorney Berry. “These brave individuals stand on the front lines of our communities, keeping us safe every day. I join the Attorney General in thanking all officers for their bravery and commitment to protecting others at their own risk.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty, and commitment to keeping our communities safe. This year the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted law enforcement officers’ courage and unwavering devotion to the communities that they have sworn to serve.
During the Roll Call of Heroes, a ceremony coordinated by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), more than 300 officers will be honored. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), of the law enforcement officers who died nationwide in the line of duty in 2020, nearly 60 percent succumbed to COVID-19.
Additionally, according to statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 46 law enforcement officers died as a result of felonious acts and 47 died in accidents in 2020. LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website.
The names of the 394 fallen officers who have been added in 2020 to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Thursday, May 13, 2021, during a Virtual Candlelight Vigil, which will be livestreamed to the public at 8:00 pm EDT. The Police Week in-person public events, originally scheduled for May, have been rescheduled due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns to October 13-17, 2021. An in-person Candlelight Vigil event is scheduled for October 14, 2021.
Those who wish to view the Virtual Candlelight Vigil on May 13, 2021, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNLEOMF. The FOP’s Roll Call of Heroes can be viewed at www.fop.net. To view the schedule of virtual Police Week events in May, please view NLEOMF’s Police Week Flyer.
To learn more about National Police Week in-person events scheduled for October, please visit www.policeweek.org.
Heroin User Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a GunRead the Press Release
A Decorah man who unlawfully possessed a gun while a drug user was sentenced yesterday to 46 months in prison.
Lester Wallace Erickson, III, age 30, from Decorah, Iowa, received the prison sentence after a December 21, 2020, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Information disclosed at sentencing and in his plea agreement showed that in October 2019 police officers responded to a storage unit in Ridgeway, Iowa. They found Erickson passed out in a vehicle. He had recently used heroin and fentanyl and overdosed. Erickson was treated for the overdose. Officers searched the vehicle and found a gun in a nearby bag. Erickson had stolen the gun a few days prior from a friend. He intended to pawn the gun. In 2018, Erickson was convicted of a felony-controlled substance offense. Erickson has twelve adult criminal convictions, nine of which were committed while he was on court supervision. Erickson also has one conviction for a violent offense.
Erickson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Erickson was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make payment of $100 to the special assessment fund. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Alex Geocaris and Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery and investigated by the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Department, the Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive.
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 also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. The United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted this case with support from its Project Guardian partners. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-2050.
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Guatemalan Man Who Possessed a Fraudulent Social Security Card and a Fraudulent Permanent Resident Card Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A Guatemalan man who possessed false identification documents was sentenced today to two months in federal prison.
Miguel Padilla, age 46, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and living in Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 3, 2021, guilty plea to one count of unlawful possession of identification documents.
In a plea agreement, Padilla admitted that in August 2019, he possessed a fraudulent social security card and a fraudulent permanent resident card, also known as a “green card,” in connection with completing paperwork to obtain employment in Waterloo, Iowa. The account numbers on the identification documents were assigned to other people. 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.
Padilla was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Padilla was sentenced to 60 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.
Padilla was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marshal on May 21, 2021.
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 20-CR-02048.
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Guatemalan Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being DeportedRead the Press Release
A Guatemalan man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported once was sentenced yesterday to 15 months in federal prison.
Moses Suarez-Garcia age 39, a citizen of Guatemala, illegally present in the United States and residing in Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 15, 2021, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States.
Information disclosed at sentencing showed that in November 2019, Dubuque police officers responded to a report of sexual abuse. Suarez-Garcia and another woman were located. Suarez-Garcia was charged with, and ultimately convicted of, assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. Officers learned through their investigation that Suarez-Garcia had been removed from the United States in 2012 but had since illegally reentered.
Suarez-Garcia was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Suarez-Garcia was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make payment of $100 to the special assessment fund. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney 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 20-CR-1038.
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Man Involved in 2014 Drug Robbery Found Guilty in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
A man who robbed and murdered his drug dealer was convicted by a jury today after a nine-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Matthew Barrett Robbins, age 48, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was convicted of robbery affecting interstate commerce, conspiracy to commit robbery affecting interstate commerce, and using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence resulting in murder. The verdict was returned this morning following more than nine hours of jury deliberations.
The jury found that Robbins and others planned to rob a local drug dealer, and then robbed the dealer on May 31, 2014. The jury also found that Robbins used a firearm during the robbery, and that the firearm was fired, killing the victim.
“Matthew Robbins used a gun to steal drugs and money,” said Acting United States Attorney Sean R. Berry. “Robbins’s actions resulted in the death of the man he robbed. Today’s verdict holds him accountable for that death. This verdict was made possible by the extraordinary cooperation and hard work of more than a dozen law enforcement agencies.”
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Robbins remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Robbins faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $750,000 fine, and 11 years’ of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa C. Williams and Emily K. Nydle and was investigated by the Marion Police Department, the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Iowa City Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, the Davenport Police Department, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, and the Daytona Beach Shores Florida Police Department. Assistance was also provided by the Waypoint Services Survivor's Program in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-cr-53.
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Man Convicted of Trafficking Methamphetamine and Possessing a Gun Sentenced to over 20 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who sold methamphetamine out of his residence in Fairfax, Iowa, and possessed firearms was sentenced today to more than 24 years in federal prison.
Jason Richard Corey, age 54, formerly from Fairfax, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance, two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime during a November 2020 jury trial.
The evidence at trial showed that Corey sold a quarter pound of methamphetamine to an individual in August 2019 at his home in Fairfax, Iowa. Shortly after the sale, Corey was in a car that was stopped and found to have more than 70 grams of methamphetamine hidden in the bottom of a disinfectant wipes container and a bag inside the car. Law enforcement then searched Corey’s home and found a half pound of methamphetamine and two firearms. Additional evidence showed that Corey dealt more than 25 pounds of methamphetamine during 2019 and that one of his methamphetamine sources gave him two firearms for his protection.
Corey was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Corey was sentenced to 295 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.
Corey 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 Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Marion Police Department, the Hiawatha Police Department, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-cr-00029.
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Heroin Dealer Who Caused the Death of a Young Woman Convicted After Three-Day TrialRead the Press Release
A Chicago man who distributed heroin to a person who died from using it, was convicted by a jury today, after a three-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Eric DeAngelo Griggs, age 40, from Chicago, Illinois, was convicted of one count of distribution of heroin that resulted in the death of a young Cedar Falls woman on August 31, 2018, one count of using Facebook Messenger to facilitate the heroin distribution, and one count of using a cellular telephone to facilitate another heroin distribution on September 1, 2018. Griggs was found not guilty of possession with intent to distribute heroin for heroin seized from a vehicle in which he was traveling on September 1, 2018. The verdict was returned today following about nine hours of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that Griggs was a source of supply of heroin for some individuals in Waterloo, Iowa, area during the summer of 2018. On August 31, 2018, Griggs arranged to distribute $100 worth of heroin to a young Cedar Falls woman via Facebook messenger. She subsequently returned to a residence in Cedar Falls, used the heroin, and then died of acute heroin intoxication. Within a few hours after her body was found, officers were able to text Griggs using her phone to set up another heroin transaction. Griggs came to the location agreed upon with the undercover officer and was identified as the same person who had communicated with the young woman the day before.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Griggs remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Griggs faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Reinert and Special Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and was investigated as part of the Northern Iowa Heroin Initiative and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Waterloo Police Department, the Cedar Falls Police Department, the Tri-County Drug Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-02062.
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Two Romanian Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Placing Card Skimmers on ATMsRead the Press Release
Two men who used credit card skimmers in an attempt to obtain the debit card information of 183 people were sentenced on April 23, 2021, to 10 months each in federal prison.
Stefan Daniel Busoi, age 30, and Razvan Marian Diculescu, age 29, both from Romania, received the prison terms after November 2, 2020 guilty pleas to possession of device-making equipment.
Information at sentencing showed that bank employees and law enforcement officers found credit card skimmers and pinhole cameras on three ATMs in Dubuque, Iowa, on June 17, 2020. Using traffic camera and ATM footage, officers determined that Busoi and Diculescu installed the skimmers and cameras on June 15, 2020. Officers arrested Busoi and Diculescu on June 18, 2020, at one of the ATMs when they returned for the skimmers. While the skimmers were in place, 183 people used the three ATMs. Busoi and Diculescu, who were in the United States unlawfully, possessed fraudulent Greek passports at the time of their arrest and were initially charged as John Does.
Busoi and Diculescu were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Busoi and Disculescu were each sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment. They must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by the Dubuque Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States State Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-1027.
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Fort Dodge Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine and Firearm Charges Following a Hit and Run AccidentRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty April 19, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.
Daniel Moss, 45, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and illegal possession of a firearm. Previously, in 2009, Moss was convicted of another drug felony offense in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine within a protected location, and employment or use of person under 18 to assist in conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, Moss admitted that from June 2020 through about July 5, 2020, he conspired to distribute more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine to others in the Fort Dodge, Iowa area. On or about July 5, 2020, Moss was involved in a hit and run accident with another vehicle. After fleeing the scene, Fort Dodge police officers pursued Moss and ultimately caught him that same day, at which time Moss assaulted a police officer and a loaded handgun fell from his waistband. The firearm was later determined to be stolen. Moss also had approximately $2,500 and a black Nike sports duffel bag he discarded as he fled the accident. A search of the Nike sports bag revealed a drug ledger, paperwork with Moss’ name, syringes, baggies with residue, a scale, a cell phone, approximately $14,500, and approximately 2 grams of methamphetamine. Another bag found within Moss’ abandoned vehicle contained approximately 54 grams of pure methamphetamine, a scale, and a pipe used for ingesting controlled substances. Moss’s prior felony conviction, and drug use, prohibited him from possessing a gun.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Moss remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. On the conspiracy conviction, Moss faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, and at least 10 years of supervised release following any imprisonment. On the firearm conviction, Moss faces a maximum sentence of not more than 10 years’ imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a fine of not more than $250,000, and a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years.
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 also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Fort Dodge Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and Iowa DCI.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-3002. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
DEA Prepares for Prescription Drug Takeback DayRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Sean R. Berry joins the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in announcing that on April 24th, DEA will hold its 20th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The biannual event will be held at thousands of collection sites around the country. The event is an effort to rid homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.
“The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs,” Acting U.S. Attorney Berry stated. “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, opioid overdose deaths have increased during the pandemic. Prescription medications often end up in the wrong hands, fueling an epidemic that kills more Americans than car accidents. DEA Take Back Day provides a way for any American to step up and help combat this crisis by simply cleaning out their medicine cabinet.”
Last October Americans turned in 492.7 tons (985,392 pounds) of prescription drugs at collection sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,800 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 19 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 13 million pounds—more than 6,800 tons—of pills. The disposal service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles, or sharps, only pills or patches.
Flushing medications down the toilet or throwing them in the trash pose potential safety and health hazards. This initiative addresses the public safety and public health issues that surround medications languishing in home cabinets, becoming highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse.
For more information or to locate a collection site near you, go the DEA web site at https://takebackday.dea.gov/ where you can search by zip code, city, or state.
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Sioux City Woman Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Related Unemployment FraudRead the Press Release
A Sioux City woman who stole government funds using a COVID-19 unemployment scheme pled guilty on April 20, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.
Linda Bosquez, age 59, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of theft of government funds. In a plea agreement, Bosquez admitted that from April 30, 2020 through July 22, 2020, she stole at least $24,235 from the United States Department of the Treasury.
Bosquez falsely claimed, in her name and those of others, unemployment benefits, through the States of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio, including benefits related to COVID-19 relief funds to which she was not entitled.
Bosquez received a total of at least 35 ACH credits (electronic deposits) for unemployment insurance claims (32 from Georgia, 1 from Michigan, 1 from Ohio, and 1 from Arizona). Bosquez made approximately 11 cash withdrawals following unemployment insurance credits, totaling approximately $27,299.30. Bosquez was receiving benefits from other states via ACH and prepaid cards in the names of other individuals, while she was also receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.
The case was prosecuted by United States Attorney Ron Timmons and was investigated by the United States Department of Labor and the Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Rooting out COVID-19 fraud is a priority of the Department of Justice. On March 27, 2020, the President signed the CARES Act, which provides emergency assistance to individuals, families, and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including increased unemployment benefits.
These prosecutions are an example of the Department of Justice’s strong commitment to combating fraud and criminal activity related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 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 Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Sentencing for Bosquez will be before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand and will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Bosquez will remain free on bond pending sentencing. Bosquez faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-CR-4029.
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Department of Justice Commemorates National Crime Victims’ Rights WeekRead the Press Release
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (“OVC”) and the United States Attorney Offices for the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa will join communities nationwide in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and celebrating victims’ rights, protections and services. This year’s observance takes place April 18-24 and is the 40th anniversary of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
OVC leads communities throughout the country in their annual observances of NCVRW by promoting victims’ rights and honoring crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf. This year’s theme - Support Victims. Build Trust. Engage Communities. - celebrates the contributions that we all can make toward building trust in our community’s capacity to support the healing journeys of crime victims. Trust is collective as well as individual, so we are honoring both the individual victims in our community and the groups engaged in building networks of understanding and support.
In Iowa, Acting United States Attorneys Sean Berry and Richard Westphal announced winners for five awards based on their service to victims in Iowa. In the Northern District of Iowa, the following award was announced:
- The Award for Excellence in Victim Services is presented to Cinnamon Mawdsley from the Kossuth County Attorney’s office. Ms. Mawdsley has worked as the Kossuth County Victim/Witness Coordinator for seventeen years. She has demonstrated a passion for assisting crime victims and survivors through the criminal justice process. Ms. Mawdsley also provides victim assistance training to her colleagues. Ms. Mawdsley’s great work has been recognized by the victims she supports, her co-workers in the Kossuth County Attorney’s Office, and law enforcement organizations and other allied professionals.
“For nearly two decades, Cinnamon Mawdsley has dedicated countless hours to serving crime victims and survivors,” said Acting United States Attorney Berry. “In doing so, she has set a high standard for assisting victims during a difficult process. Her work has impacted hundreds of victims, law enforcement officers, and community members.”
In the Southern District of Iowa, the following awards were announced:
- The Law Enforcement Victim Services Award is presented to
-Investigator Brady Carney of the Des Moines Police Department,
Investigator Carney’s tireless work to help multiple victims in a large-scale sex trafficking investigation was critical to supporting federal charges. His relentless efforts have not only provided evidence to support prosecution, but also invaluable assistance to victims from all over the country.
-Investigator Michael Sieren of the Ottumwa Police Department, Throughout his career, Investigator Sieren’s fierce dedication to holding violent offenders accountable was outmatched only by his unwavering concern for protecting victim’s safety. The Ottumwa community is a safer, better place as the result of Investigator Sieren’s perseverance and compassion.
-Detective Erin Costanzo of the Des Moines Police Department, As a member of the DART (Domestic Abuse Resource Team) at the Des Moines Police Department since 2006, Detective Costanzo is on the front lines of domestic abuses cases. She has regularly provided follow up investigation for state criminal prosecutions, while at the same time providing valuable access to resources and support for victims. Because of her commitment, countless victims have found a lifeline to safer and happier lives.
- The award for Excellence in Victim Services is awarded to Nicole Norton/Victim Witness Coordinator at the Story County Attorney’s Office. In their time of need, Nicole Norton has selflessly provided vital assistance to Story County victims, specifically victims of violent crime and sexual abuse. Her empathy, compassion, and willingness to go the extra mile has clearly made a difference in countless victims’ lives, and the successful prosecution of the involved criminal offenders.
“These awards proudly recognize the exceptional efforts of four individuals providing assistance to federal and state victims in the Southern District of Iowa,” said Acting United States Attorney Westphal. “Advocacy for the rights and safety of victims is a cogent reminder of the long-term human impact of these crimes. The service of these four individuals, and other state and federal victim advocates, are a vital component of our criminal justice system.”
Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first Victims’ Rights Week in 1981, putting crime victims' rights, needs, and concerns in a prominent spot on the American agenda. He also established the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime, which laid the groundwork for a national network of services and legal safeguards for crime victims.
For more information on how to create your own public campaigns to raise awareness about crime victims’ rights online and at events throughout the year, please visit: https://www.ovc.ojp.gov/
Belmond Man Pleads Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man who received methamphetamine by mail for redistribution pled guilty April 16, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.
Rafael Perez-Mercado, 29, from Belmond, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. During the investigation, it was also determined that Perez-Mercado was in the United States illegally.
At the plea hearing, Perez-Mercado admitted that between on or about September 2020 and continuing to on or about October 22, 2020, he and others were responsible for the distribution of over ten pounds of methamphetamine in the Wright County area. On October 8, 2020, law enforcement intercepted a package from Mexico destined to be ultimately delivered to Perez-Mercado. On October 22, 2020, law enforcement made a controlled delivery of the package to Perez-Mercado’s residence. Perez-Mercado was captured while exiting the rear of his residence as a law enforcement agent attempted to make contact with him at the front door. Law enforcement seized nine 1-pound packages of methamphetamine from a bag dropped by Perez-Mercado as he attempted to flee from the agents. Later that same day, during the execution of a search warrant at Perez-Mercado’s residence, law enforcement seized two 1-pound packages of methamphetamine from inside a statute delivered to Perez-Mercado. Law enforcement also found evidence of methamphetamine smuggling in Perez-Mercado’s garage.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Perez-Mercado remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Perez-Mercado 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 Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Wright County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa DCI, Homeland Security Investigations/ICE, and Eagle Grove Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-3047.
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Stand-up Comedian who Defrauded the Social Security Administration Receives Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
A man who defrauded the Social Security Administration out of more than $105,000 over a five-year period was sentenced on April 16, 2021, to one year and one day in federal prison.
Dustin Francis Ruzicka, age 50, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 10, 2020 guilty plea to Social Security disability insurance benefits fraud.
In a plea agreement, Ruzicka admitted that he knowingly failed to report his employment, his income, and improvement in function to the Social Security Administration between January 2011 and October 2016. Information from sentencing and a plea agreement showed that Ruzicka began receiving Social Security disability benefits in 1992 for plantar fasciitis and adjustment disorder. In 2004, Ruzicka started a stand-up comedy act, “Bustin Dustin,” and, in 2010, Ruzicka began working for Visalus, a dietary supplements company. Agents with the Social Security Office of Inspector General investigated Ruzicka, including by observing one of his stand-up comedy shows. During the performance, agents saw that Ruzicka was continuously on his feet and did not appear to be in any pain. When the agents identified themselves and interviewed Ruzicka at his residence several months later, he walked with a noticeable limp. On social media, Ruzicka posted about his earnings, his “entrepreneurship,” his “retirement,” and posed with his BMW.
Ruzicka was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Ruzicka was sentenced to twelve months and one day’s imprisonment. He was ordered to make $105,676 in restitution to the Social Security Administration. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Ruzicka 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 Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-94.
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Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty April 15, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.
Brett Michael Walking Eagle, 41, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine within 1000 feet of a protected location.
At the plea hearing, Walking Eagle admitted that on or about December 2, 2019, he and an individual cooperating with law enforcement agreed that Walking Eagle would either sell or coordinate the sale of approximately 6 ounces of methamphetamine to the cooperating individual. In return, Walking Eagle requested roughly a half ounce of the 6 ounces for himself. Walking Eagle instructed the individual cooperating with law enforcement to travel to the Boys and Girls Home parking lot, in Sioux City, Iowa to meet with another person who would provide the methamphetamine.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Walking Eagle remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Walking Eagle faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 80 years’ imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least 8 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Special 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 20-4086.
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Dubuque Man with Violent History Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Stolen GunRead the Press Release
A Dubuque man was sentenced on April 16, 2021 to 78 months in prison for unlawfully possessing a stolen gun.
Christopher Nicholas Roth, age 39, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison sentence after a November 5, 2020 guilty plea to possession a firearm by a prohibited person.
Information disclosed at sentencing and at his plea hearing showed that, in April 2020, Roth became upset with a group of people and threatened at least one of them, causing the police to be called. When officers located Roth later, he was in possession of a loaded gun, which he had recently stolen from someone he knew. Roth admitted he was a user of methamphetamine and marijuana. Roth has 27 adult criminal convictions, including convictions for theft, attempted burglary, harassment, domestic abuse, and OWI. Fourteen of Roth’s prior convictions were committed while he was on probation for another offense. Seven of Roth’s prior convictions include physical violence or threatening others.
Roth was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Roth was sentenced to 78 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make payment of $100 to the special assessment fund. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Alex Geocaris and investigated by the Dubuque Police Department, the Dubuque Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-1014.
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Cedar Rapids Man Sent Back to Federal Prison for Escaping Halfway HouseRead the Press Release
A man who left a halfway house while still serving a federal term of imprisonment was sentenced on April 16, 2021, to another six months in federal prison.
Julius Marvell Sullivan, age 28, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 1, 2020 guilty plea to escape from custody.
On April 3, 2019, Sullivan was convicted of distribution of a controlled substance within a protected location and sentenced to thirty months’ imprisonment. In a plea agreement, Sullivan admitted that the Bureau of Prisons transferred him to a halfway house in June 2020 to serve out the remainder of his sentence. On October 7, 2020, Sullivan signed out of the halfway house and then failed to return as required. The United States Marshals Service arrested Sullivan inside a beauty shop on October 28, 2020.
Sullivan was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Sullivan was sentenced to 6 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. Sullivan 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 Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by the United States Marshals’ Service.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-85.
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Battle Creek Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A man who received child pornography was sentenced April 14, 2021, to more than 11 years in federal prison.
Russell Roy Wilson, age 30, from Battle Creek, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 3, 2020, guilty plea to one count of receipt of child pornography.
In a plea agreement, Wilson admitted that between November 2016 and October 2018, in the Northern District of Iowa, he knowingly received visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct using a cell phone. During the execution of a search warrant at Wilson’s residence on or about October 18, 2018, officers seized items belonging to Wilson which after forensic examination were found contain child pornography. Wilson has failed to comply with the sex offender registry guidelines on a number of occasions.
Wilson was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Wilson was sentenced to 135 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $12,000 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.
Wilson 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 investigated by The Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and Ida County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-4043.
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Armed Drug Dealer Sentenced to more than Eight Years in Federal Prison on a Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
A convicted felon, and armed drug dealer, who unlawfully possessed a gun was sentenced April 14, 2021 to more than eight years in federal prison.
Gregory Sewalson, age 34, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 7, 2020, guilty plea to illegal possession of a firearm as a felon. Evidence presented by the United States at the detention, change of plea, and sentencing hearings revealed on September 14, 2019, when officers executed search and arrest warrants for defendant, he was in his basement apartment. Instead of surrendering, he hid his gun in a ceiling tile in his bedroom, scattered more than 65 grams of pure (actual) methamphetamine throughout his basement apartment, and initially refused to surrender to law enforcement. Sewalson had previously been convicted of felony theft in 2014 and felony disarming a peace officer in 2017. He was also convicted of possession of a controlled substance 3rd offense in 2018.
Sentencing was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Sewalson was sentenced to 102 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.
Sewalson 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.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
The case was investigated by the Sioux City Police Department and the United States Department of Justice -- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-4025
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Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Iowa-Minnesota Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty April 15, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City. Robert Board, 45, originally from Brownsville, Texas, more recently living in Medalia, Minnesota, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, Board admitted that from July 2019 through June 2020, he was involved in the distribution of more than 500 grams of mixed methamphetamine and more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine. In July and August 2019, Board was involved in the distribution of over one pound of pure methamphetamine to an informant in controlled drug operations with law enforcement. Board also admitted to obtaining at least 12 kilograms of methamphetamine and at least 73 pounds of marijuana from sources in California and Washington to transport to Minnesota and Iowa for further distribution.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Board was taken into United States Marshal custody and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Board 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 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 20-4065. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Silencers into the United StatesRead the Press Release
A Sioux City man who smuggled goods into the United States pled guilty April 15, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.
Lloyd Clark, age 72, from Sioux City, Iowa was convicted of smuggling goods into the United States. In a plea agreement, Clark admitted in October 2020, Customs and Border Protection seized parcels coming into the United States from China, one of which was falsely labeled as “spiral tube” and addressed to Clark at his residence in Sioux City. On November 12, 2020, law enforcement seized 7 silencers, 1 modified rifle with an installed silencer, and 1 WWII-era machine gun from Clark’s home. Clark did not have legal authority to possess the silencers and firearms.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Clark remains free on bond pending sentencing. Clark faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, 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 21-4030.
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