Northern District of Iowa
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Former Waterloo Teacher Sentenced to Eight Months’ Imprisonment for FraudRead the Press Release
A former Waterloo teacher was sentenced today to 8 months in federal prison. Defendant is to serve 4 months in BOP facility and 4 months in home confinement.
Anthony Dehl, age 59, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea to wire fraud.
In a plea agreement, Dehl admitted that from 2014 to 2019, he defrauded the Waterloo Education Association (WEA) out of $54,254.07. He withdrew most of the money at a local casino. At the time of the fraud, Dehl was the treasurer of the WEA and concealed his scheme by submitting false treasurer reports and other yearly reports to the organization.
Dehl was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Dehl was sentenced to 8 months’ imprisonment and fined $4,000. Dehl was ordered to make $54,254.07 in restitution to the WEA and defendant paid his restitution in full. Defendant must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Dehl was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marshal on August 3, 2020.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. Cole and investigated by FBI and the Iowa State Auditor’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-02004.
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Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
A convicted felon who unlawfully possessed ammunition was sentenced today to more than two years’ in federal prison.
Mopreme Vychon Todd-Harris, age 21, from Hiawatha, Iowa, received the prison sentence after a February 7, 2020 guilty plea to being a felon in possession of ammunition. In 2017, Todd-Harris was convicted of burglary 3rd degree, a felony conviction. The conviction prohibited him from legally possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Information disclosed at sentencing and in his plea agreement showed that on July 21, 2019, Waterloo police officers observed Todd-Harris, who officers knew to have an outstanding warrant for his arrest, in public with a group of other people. Officers approached Todd-Harris and saw a gun in his right hand. The gun was loaded with live rounds of ammunition, though the gun was later determined to be an antique. The warrant for Todd-Harris’s arrest was because he had previously escaped from the Waterloo Residential Correctional Facility.
Todd-Harris was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Todd-Harris was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery and Special Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Geocaris and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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 19-CR-2061.
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Cedar Rapids Meth User and Domestic Abuser Sentenced to Prison for Unlawfully Possessing a GunRead the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids man who unlawfully possessed a gun was sentenced today to federal prison.
Bradley James Cable, age 34, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison sentence after a November 15, 2019 guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a drug user and a person previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
Information disclosed at sentencing and in his plea agreement showed that
on April 11, 2019, Cedar Rapids police officers searched a home where Cable was residing. Officers located two shotguns, shotgun ammunition, methamphetamine residue, drug paraphernalia, and digital scales. Cable’s fingerprints were found on a glass bong, two shotgun cartridges, and one of the shotguns, which was also reported stolen. Cable admitted to handling the firearm at the residence and admitted he used methamphetamine recreationally. In 2004, Cable was convicted of domestic abuse assault, which prohibited him from possessing a firearm.
Cable was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Cable was sentenced to ten months’ imprisonment, five months of which can be served as home confinement, and fined $3,000. Cable 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 Special Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Geocaris and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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 19-CR-88.
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Waterloo Gang Affiliate Sentenced for Weapon OffenseRead the Press Release
A man who hid a loaded firearm in the HVAC ductwork of a relative’s home in Waterloo, Iowa, was sentenced today to federal prison.
Keyion Smith-Allen, age 20, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 21, 2020 guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a drug user.
In a plea agreement, Smith-Allen admitted he was in possession of a semi-automatic .45 caliber handgun which was found in the basement of a relative’s residence in Waterloo. He further admitted he had purchased the handgun in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and transported it to Waterloo. He admitted to using both ecstasy and marijuana at the time he possessed the handgun. Testimony at sentencing showed that Smith-Allen is an associate of multiple hybrid Waterloo gangs falling under a larger group referred to as “400.”
Smith-Allen was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Smith-Allen was sentenced to 10 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.
Smith-Allen was released on the bond previously set and was immediately remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals following the sentencing hearing.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Liz Dupuich and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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-2002-CJW.
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Felon and Marijuana Grower Sentenced to a Year in Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing GunsRead the Press Release
A convicted felon, illegal user of controlled substances, and marijuana grower who unlawfully possessed two guns was sentenced today to a year in federal prison.
Brian Anderson, age 52, from New Hartford, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 9, 2019 guilty plea to being a felon and an unlawful user of controlled substances in possession of a firearm.
Information at sentencing showed that law enforcement searched Anderson’s home in New Hartford in June 2018. Officers were initially searching the home looking for endangered rattlesnakes that Anderson allegedly possessed. During the search, officers found the body of one dead rattlesnake. But officers also found a marijuana grow operation, including over 120 marijuana plants, and two guns nearby. Anderson was prohibited from possessing guns because he had previously been convicted of the felony offense of manufacturing marijuana and possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute. He also had a previous conviction for illegally possessing two handguns.
Anderson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Anderson was sentenced to 12 months’ and one day in prison. 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.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Waterloo Police Department, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-cr-3054.
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Possessing Five Firearms Sends Felon to Federal Prison for over Six YearsRead the Press Release
A convicted felon who repeatedly possessed firearms while also using drugs was sentenced today to more than six years in federal prison.
George Raymond Bounds, age 49, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 23, 2019 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and a drug user.
Information disclosed during the case shows that Bounds is a three-time felon. He was previously convicted of burglary, kidnapping, and aggravated assault in Arizona in 1996. Between March 2018 and February 2019, Bounds possessed five different firearms on four separate occasions. Bounds repeatedly obtained firearms after officers had seized firearms from him. Testing showed his DNA was on all five firearms. Two of the firearms had altered or obliterated serial numbers.
Bounds was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Bounds was sentenced to 80 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.
Bounds 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 prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force. The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-69.
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Four Sentenced to Federal Prison for Federal Firearms ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Charles Westfall, Jr, age 32, from Clarion, Iowa, Donald Rundall III, age 42, from Stratford, Iowa, Jami Stupka, age 29, from Ames, Iowa and Leah Hanson, age 32, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received prison terms, ranging from over 8 years to time served for their roles in a conspiracy to steal, possess, and traffic firearms.
Donald Rundall III and Leah Hanson were each convicted of one count of conspiracy to possess a stolen firearm, one count of possession of a stolen firearm and one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Jami Stupka was convicted of one count of conspiracy to possess a stolen firearm, and Charles Westfall, Jr., was convicted of one count of possession of a stolen firearm.
Evidence presented by the United States in court revealed before on or about June 17, 2017, Donald Rundall, III and Leah Hanson identified M.C.’s home to Charles Westfall, Jr. and Jami Stupka as containing valuables including firearms. On or about June 17, 2017, defendant Donald Rundall, III, using a crowbar broke into M.C.’s Humboldt County home and garage. Defendants, Charles Westfall, Jr., Donald Rundall, III, Jami Stupka, and Leah Hanson stole valuables including a Mossberg 535 12 gauge shotgun. The weapon and other valuables were concealed at Livermore Mini Storage Units, Leah Hanson’s home as well as other places. Defendants, Charles Westfall, Jr. and Jami Stupka, took a stole TV and the stolen firearm to be bartered, sold, and dispose of to B. H. in exchange for methamphetamine. Charles Westfall, Jr. and Jami Stupka, paid Donald Rundall, III and Leah Hanson in methamphetamine because they expected to obtain methamphetamine in exchange for the TV and firearm. B.H. subsequently sold the firearm to a felon, who could not have lawfully purchased a firearm.
Rundall was sentenced on May 1, 2020, Hanson was sentenced on July 8, 2020, Westfall was sentenced on June 26, 2020, and Stupka was sentenced on June 19, 2020, in United States District Court in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Rundall was sentenced to 96 month’s imprisonment, Westfall was sentenced to 104 months’ and 29 days’ imprisonment, and Stupka and Hanson were each sentenced to time served. Rundall, Hanson, Westfall, and Stupka each must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Westfall and Rundall are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they 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. 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.
The case was investigated by the United States Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Humboldt County and Wright County Sheriff’s Offices, and the Eagle Grove, Iowa Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mikala M. Steenholdt and Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-3024.
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Mexican Man Given More than a Decade Long Prison Sentence for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute over 750 grams of methamphetamine was sentenced today to more than a decade in federal prison.
Fredy Juan Morales-Alvarez, age 33, from Michoaćan, Mexico, received the prison term after a February 2020 guilty plea to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.
In a plea agreement, Morales-Alvarez admitted that, beginning in the fall of 2013 and continuing through December 17, 2013, he conspired to traffic methamphetamine. On December 17, 2013, law enforcement searched Morales-Alvarez’s car during a traffic stop in Waterloo, Iowa, and recovered over 50 grams of methamphetamine. Law enforcement then searched his home, finding an additional 122 grams of methamphetamine, $6,540 in United States currency, and a digital scale.
Morales-Alvarez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Morales-Alvarez was sentenced to 121 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.
Morales-Alvarez 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 Lisa Williams and Special Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Waterloo Police Department, the Cedar Falls Police Department, and the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 14-CR-2013.
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Guatemalan Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States after Being Deported Two TimesRead the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported two times was sentenced today to eight months in federal prison.
Juan Sanchez-Cobo, age 35, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Fort Madison, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 6, 2020 guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States.
At the guilty plea, Sanchez-Cobo admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Sanchez-Cobo was deported in October 2016 following a conviction in the Western District of Texas for illegal entry, a misdemeanor. He was also deported in July 2018 following a conviction in the Western District of Texas for illegal reentry, a felony. Sanchez-Cobo most recently came to the attention of immigration agents on December 25, 2019, following his arrest and conviction in Linn County, Iowa, for public intoxication.
Sanchez-Cobo was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Sanchez-Cobo was sentenced to eight 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.
Sanchez-Cobo is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by 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-04.
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Georgia Man to Federal Prison for Iowa Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced July 13, 2020, to 12 years in federal prison.
Dylan Davis, 27, from Hartwell, Georgia, received the prison term after a March 10, 2020, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence at the guilty plea and sentencing hearing, showed that in November 2017, a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle Davis was a passenger in. During the stop, law enforcement located a loaded CZ Scorpion EVO 3 S1 9mm pistol and two magazines - one loaded with 12-9mm rounds over which which Davis admitted ownership. Pursuant to the stop, officers lawfully searched the vehicle and recovered approximately 4 ounces of methamphetamine located on the back seat near the gun, along with numerous baggies containing approximately 70 grams of marijuana, three digital scales, a red plastic grinder containing methamphetamine, numerous prescription pills, zig zag rolling papers, syringes, 2 glass methamphetamine pipes, numerous plastic zip-lock baggies of various size, two cell phones, and other drug paraphernalia.
Davis was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Davis was sentenced to 144 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. Davis 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 Mikala Steenholdt and 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 17-4074.
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Five-Time Drug Felon Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man with four prior drug-related felonies who trafficked methamphetamine in 2016 was sentenced today to more than 14 years in federal prison.
Andrew Sarchett, age 39, from Kailua Kona, Hawaii, and previously from Marion, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 22, 2020 guilty plea to one count of distribution of methamphetamine.
In a plea agreement, Sarchett admitted he was involved with the sale of methamphetamine in the Cedar Rapids area in 2016. The plea agreement also showed Sarchett was involved in the manufacture of methamphetamine at a Marion residence rented by Sarchett’s then-girlfriend. After the discovery of the methamphetamine laboratory, the landlord of the residence spent approximately $7,500 to clean up the residence. Sarchett had been convicted of four prior drug related felonies.
Sarchett was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Sarchett was sentenced to 176 months’ imprisonment and he was ordered to make $7,500 in restitution to the landlord for repair of the property. He must also serve a six-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Sarchett is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Reinert and investigated by the Marion, Iowa, 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 19-CR-00082. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Marijuana User Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids drug user who unlawfully possessed a loaded gun was sentenced today to one year in prison.
Malik Cain Richardson, Sr., age 24, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison sentence after a January 24, 2020 guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a drug user.
Information disclosed at sentencing and in his plea agreement showed that on February 27, 2020, Richardson was pulled over by Cedar Rapids police officers. During the stop, Richardson admitted he had a firearm and gave it to police. Officers also discovered that Richardson’s front seat passenger had approximately 15 grams of marijuana hidden in her pants. The passenger told officers that Richardson handed it to her as they were getting pulled over. Richardson admitted that he had been a marijuana user since he was 13 or 14 years old. Officers located multiple photos and text messages on Richardson’s phone which show that Richardson also sold marijuana. In July 2019, officers searched Richardson’s home and located marijuana, items consistent with marijuana distribution, and a loaded firearm.
Richardson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Richardson was sentenced to 12 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 Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, 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. 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 19-CR-89.
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Felon Who Hid a Firearm in a Cop Car While Being Arrested Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who hid a firearm in the back of a police car when he was arrested in 2019 was sentenced today to more than 4 years in federal prison.
Juwan Logan, age 43, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 15, 2020 guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
In a plea agreement, Logan admitted he was driving a motorcycle on October 17, 2019, when he was stopped for a number of traffic violations. When Logan was arrested for driving while barred, he was placed in the back of a police car. Although he was patted down, Logan was able to keep a small handgun hidden on his person. Prior to arriving at the Black Hawk County Jail, hid the handgun in the vehicle. Officers found it a short time later. Logan has prior convictions for domestic abuse and possession a firearm as a felon.
Logan was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Logan was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Logan 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 prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Reinert and investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in concert with the Waterloo, Iowa, Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-02074.
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Escape from Halfway House Results in Additional Time in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids man who escaped from a residential reentry center where he was ordered by a federal court was sentenced today to more than 2 years in federal prison.
Caleb Lee Olson, age 45, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 3, 2020 guilty plea to one count of escape from federal custody. In a plea agreement, Olson admitted he was originally sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment for drug trafficking in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids on April 20, 2011, with a term of supervised release to follow. Olson had his supervised release revoked multiple times, most recently in February 2020, when he was sentenced to serve 36 months’ imprisonment. As a condition of Olson’s supervised release, he was required to reside in a residential reentry center. On July 22, 2019, Olson left the Gerald R. Hinzman Center in Cedar Rapids and never returned. Olson was later found in possession of methamphetamine and arrested in Denver, Colorado, on August 26, 2019.
Olson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Olson was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment that must be served in addition to the 36-month sentence imposed for his supervised release violation. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Olson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Reinert and was investigated by United States Marshals Service, the Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 20-CR-00012.
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Selling Two Pounds of Methamphetamine Results in over a Dozen Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who sold at least two pounds of meth was sentenced July 8, 2020, to more than twelve years in federal prison.
Paul Gensley, age 52, from Victor, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 2, 2019 guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute drugs. In a plea agreement, Gensley admitted he agreed to work with at least one other person to distribute drugs in northern Iowa. Testimony during previous hearings in the case showed that Gensley’s source of meth was arrested and jailed, but continued to participate in the conspiracy. While in jail, the source provided a pound of meth to Gensley. Gensley was captured on jail phone recordings talking to his source and later sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant. Evidence showed Gensley sold at least two pounds of meth overall and provided a gun to another participant in the conspiracy. Gensley has multiple previous felony convictions involving stolen property. Law enforcement recently recovered a stolen motorcycle and golf cart from his house.
Gensley was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Gensley was sentenced to 150 months’ and 20 days imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Gensley 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 through a cooperative effort of the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and the Iowa County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 19-cr-86.
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Illegal Alien Sentenced to Federal Prison for Transporting DrugsRead the Press Release
A man who illegally re-entered the United States after being previously deported and who possessed drugs with the intent to distribute, was sentenced July 7, 2020, to 5 years’ in federal prison.
Jacob Rios-Saucedo, age 32, from Mexico, received the prison term after a February 18, 2020, guilty plea to one count of illegal re-entry and one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
In a plea agreement, Rios-Saucedo admitted he had illegally entered the United States from Mexico on an unknown date after previously being deported in 2010. On May 5, 2019, law enforcement pulled over Rios-Saucedo for speeding in Woodbury County, Iowa. Law enforcement lawfully conducted a canine search around the car where the canine alerted to the presence of the odor of a narcotic substance. The vehicle was searched, and police found approximately 5 pounds of packaged cocaine in the trunk area of the car, under the spare tire. Rios-Saucedo admitted that about a week before the arrest in Woodbury County, he had picked up the car on the West Coast and drove to the Midwest. He admitted knowing there were drugs in the car, but he did not know what kind or quantity of drugs there were. He was to be paid $3,000 dollars for making the trip. He also admitted to making a prior trip in April 2019, where he drove a car with $17,000 dollars in it from Iowa to the West Coast, and was paid $1,000.
Rios-Saucedo was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Rios-Saucedo was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 4-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Rios-Saucedo 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 Kevin C. Fletcher and investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-4035.
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Manager of Senior Apartment Complex Sentenced for Using Power of Attorney to Steal from Elderly and Disabled WidowRead the Press Release
The manager of a Dubuque senior apartment complex, who used a power of attorney to defraud an elderly and disabled nursing home resident was sentenced July 7, 2020, to five years’ probation. Janice Kay Schultz, age 59, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 3, 2020 guilty plea to one count of wire fraud.
In a plea agreement, Schultz admitted that she met her victim at the senior apartment complex in Dubuque that Schultz managed. The victim lived alone and had no family. In December 2010, the victim was admitted to a Dubuque nursing home after suffering a stroke and a fall. Afterwards, her physical and cognitive abilities abruptly declined such that she could no longer live at the apartment complex. In April 2011, the victim signed a power of attorney form that purported to give Schultz full authority to manage the victim’s financial affairs. However, the power of attorney expressly stated that defendant was not permitted to make any gifts to herself.
From April 2011 through January 2015, Schultz used the power of attorney to steal nearly $60,000 from the victim. Schultz used this money to buy Green Bay Packer football tickets and pay for other personal expenses. Schultz purchased $24,000 in gift certificates, which she then used for a major home improvement project. At one point, the victim no longer had the necessary funds to support her stay in the nursing home. The Iowa Medicaid program began paying for the victim’s care at the nursing home. Schultz told Iowa Medicaid that the victim had not sold or given away anything of value in the months preceding her application for benefits.
Schultz was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Schultz was sentenced to five years’ probation and fined $2,000. She was ordered to make $59,963 in restitution to the victim’s estate and to repay $5,000 in court-appointed attorney fees.
The prosecution of Schultz is part of the Department of Justice’s Elder Abuse Initiative. In March 2016, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa was selected as one of ten districts nationwide to launch regional Elder Justice Task Forces. The Elder Justice Task Forces reflect the department’s larger strategy and commitment to protecting our nation’s seniors, spearheaded by the department’s Elder Justice Initiative. The Elder Justice Initiative coordinates and supports the Department’s law enforcement efforts and policy activities on elder justice issues. It plays an integral role in the department’s investigative and enforcement efforts against nursing homes and other long-term care entities that deliver grossly substandard care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa has rededicated its efforts and resources to investigate and hold accountable those who have been involved in activities incompatible with ensuring that the state’s more vulnerable citizens are treated with dignity and respect.
The charges also were brought in connection with the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. The task force was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices, and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets; and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Since fiscal year 2009, the Justice Department has filed over 18,000 financial fraud cases against more than 25,000 defendants. For more information on the task force, please visit www.StopFraud.gov.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Vavricek and investigated by the Dubuque Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-cr-1003.
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Dubuque Couple Sentenced to Federal Prison after Stealing Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars from Man’s Elderly MotherRead the Press Release
A married Dubuque couple who stole over $200,000 from the husband’s elderly mother were each sentenced today to two years in federal prison. H. David Derby, age 66, and Patti Lynn Derby, age 52, received the prison terms after each pled guilty on September 23, 2019 to one count of wire fraud.
In their plea agreements and at their sentencing hearings, the evidence showed that the Derbys stole over $200,000 from H. David Derby’s mother between September 2013 and September 2017. The victim was an elderly widow and former school teacher who resided in an assisted living facility in Dubuque. She suffered from mental and physical disabilities and was unable to manage her own financial affairs or care for herself.
The Derbys used various legal forms, including two powers of attorneys, to gain access to the victim’s bank account and carry out their fraud scheme. After transferring money out of the victim’s account on the false pretense that the Derbys would use the funds for her benefit, the Derbys used those funds for their own purposes, including tickets to a rock concert. By October 1, 2017, the Derbys had spent all of the victim’s funds and she was no longer able to afford her assisted living facility and was forced to move into the Derbys’ home. Over the next three months, the victim lost over 23 pounds, broke her wrist, and was hospitalized. The victim later died in March 2020.
“The Derbys’ treatment of the victim in this case is appalling,” said United States Attorney Peter Deegan. “They took advantage of an elderly woman with mental and physical disabilities for their own selfish personal gain. The United States Attorney’s Office will hold accountable those who abuse positions of trust to steal from the most vulnerable members of our community. But I urge everyone to do their part by carefully attending to family and friends to prevent the elderly from becoming victims of fraud.”
The Derbys were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. H. David Derby was sentenced to 26 months’ imprisonment. Patti Derby was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment. They were ordered to make over $211,621.41 in restitution. Each must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The prosecution of the Derbys is part of the Department of Justice’s Elder Abuse Initiative. In March 2016, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa was selected as one of ten districts nationwide to launch regional Elder Justice Task Forces. The Elder Justice Task Forces reflect the department’s larger strategy and commitment to protecting our nation’s seniors, spearheaded by the department’s Elder Justice Initiative. The Elder Justice Initiative coordinates and supports the Department’s law enforcement efforts and policy activities on elder justice issues. It plays an integral role in the department’s investigative and enforcement efforts against nursing homes and other long-term care entities that deliver grossly substandard care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa has rededicated its efforts and resources to investigate and hold accountable those who have been involved in activities incompatible with ensuring that the state’s more vulnerable citizens are treated with dignity and respect.
The charges also were brought in connection with the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. The task force was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices, and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets; and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Since fiscal year 2009, the Justice Department has filed over 18,000 financial fraud cases against more than 25,000 defendants. For more information on the task force, please visit www.StopFraud.gov.
The Derbys were released on the bond previously set. H. David Derby was ordered to surrender to the United States Marshal in two weeks’ time. Patti Lynn Derby was ordered to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Vavricek and investigated by the Dubuque 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 19-CR-1035. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Unregistered Sex Offender in the U.S. Illegally Sentenced in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
A man who was illegally in the United States and was an unregistered sex offender June 25, 2020, was sentenced to 2 years in federal prison.
William Noeli Santamaria-Rodriguez, age 36, from El Salvador, received the prison term after a July 26, 2019, guilty plea to one count of illegal re-entry of an aggravated felon and a December 19, 2019, guilty plea to one count of failure to register as a sex offender.
Santamaria-Rodriguez came to the attention of immigration authorities after his July 5, 2019, arrest in Crawford County for driving without a license. In a plea hearing held on July 26, 2019, Santamaria-Rodriguez admitted he was illegally in the United States after being deported as an aggravated felon to El Salvador on May 16, 2008. His deportation was the result of a June 15, 2006, conviction of two counts of assault with intent/sex abuse in Crawford County, Iowa. Santamaria-Rodriguez was required to register pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act and knowingly failed to do so. The Iowa Sex Offense Registry and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office records do not show the defendant ever registered as a sex offender since his illegal reentry in 2008 through July 5, 2019.
Santamaria-Rodriguez was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Santamaria-Rodriguez was sentenced to 24 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.
Santamaria-Rodriguez 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 Kevin Fletcher and investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations and the United States Marshals Service.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file numbers are 19-CR-4041 and 19-CR-4081.
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United States Attorney and the Internal Revenue Service Remind Taxpayers of Upcoming Filing Deadline and to Remain Vigilant for FraudRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Peter E. Deegan, Jr. and Acting Special Agent in Charge Adam Steiner, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS CI), St. Louis Field Office, are reminding taxpayers that the tax filing and payment deadline is July 15, and to continue to be on the lookout for scam artists.
Deegan and Steiner made the announcement today to urge people who owe taxes, even if they have a filing extension, to carefully review their situation and pay what they can by July 15 to avoid penalties and interest.
Due to COVID-19, the original filing deadline and tax payment due date for 2019 was postponed from April 15 to July 15. For people facing hardships, including those affected by COVID-19, who cannot pay in full, the IRS has several options available on IRS.gov/payments.
“Taxpayers who are unable to pay their taxes in full should act as quickly as possible since interest and penalties can rapidly accumulate when more time passes,” warned Steiner. “You must pay the taxes you owe by July 15.”
In addition, Deegan and Steiner reminded taxpayers that scammers are hard at work looking for ways to steal your personal information and your money. Stay alert! The IRS will not contact you by phone, email or social media to ask for personal information. It is a scam.
“There are those who will seek to shamelessly prey upon vulnerable victims and American taxpayers,” said United States Attorney Deegan. “Working with the criminal investigators from the IRS, my office will continue to prosecute and hold responsible those who do. But I urge all taxpayers to remain vigilant to prevent themselves and those close to them from becoming victims.”
“IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are focusing on bringing to justice criminals that use taxpayer’s personal information as an opportunity to commit a crime, especially those looking to prey on vulnerable taxpayers,” said Steiner.
For official information, go directly and solely to IRS.gov.
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Mexican Man Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the United States after DeportationRead the Press Release
A man who illegally re-entered the United States after being previously deported as a felon was sentenced March 5, 2020, to more than 1 year in federal prison.
Alejandro Garcia-Sanchez, age 38, from Mexico, received the prison term after a November 4, 2019, guilty plea to one count of re-entry of a removed alien after a felony.
In a plea agreement, Garcia-Sanchez admitted he had illegally entered the United States from Mexico on an unknown dated after previously being deported in February of 2019, following a conviction for re-entry of a removed alien in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico.
Garcia-Sanchez was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Garcia-Sanchez was sentenced to 15 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.
Garcia-Sanchez 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 Kevin C. Fletcher and investigated by Enforcement and Removal Office of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 10-CR-3041.
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Mason City Woman to Prison for Federal Meth ConvictionRead the Press Release
A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced June 30, 2020, to more than 5 years in federal prison.
Amanda Adams, age 30, from Mason City, Iowa, pled guilty on February 14, 2020, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that from about May 2019 through October 2019, Adams and others conspired to distribute at least 35 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine in Northwest Iowa. In June 2019, Adams and a co-conspirator sold “fake” methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. In October 2019, Adams and her co-conspirator agreed to sell more methamphetamine to the same cooperator and make good on the previous transaction. After a high speed vehicle pursuit, Adams and her co-conspirator were caught with two ounces of methamphetamine intended for the same cooperator. Officers also seized a sawed-off shotgun and an axe during a search of the vehicle.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Adams was sentenced to 64 months’ imprisonment and must serve a term of 4 years of supervised release following the imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Adams remains in custody of the United States Marshal Service until she can be transferred to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office, Arnold’s Park Police Department, and Iowa Division of Criminalistics Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-4079.
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Marijuana User Sentenced to a Year in Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing GunsRead the Press Release
An illegal user of controlled substances who unlawfully possessed multiple guns was sentenced today to a year in federal prison.
Henry Charles Haas, III, age 42, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea to being an unlawful user of controlled substances in possession of a firearm.
Information at sentencing showed that law enforcement searched Haas’s home in Dubuque. During the search, officers found seven guns that Haas later admitted he possessed. The guns included an AK-47 rifle that was capable of accepting a high-capacity magazine, multiple shotguns, and multiple handguns. Officers also found hundreds of shotgun shells and handgun magazines in Haas’s bedroom. Haas was an unlawful user of marijuana at the time he possessed the guns.
Haas was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Haas was sentenced to 12 months’ and one day in prison. He was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine. 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.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Dubuque Police Department, and the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-cr-1023.
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Honduran Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being DeportedRead the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced today to more than four months in federal prison.
Dagoberto Pacheco-Mata, age 29, a citizen of Honduras illegally present in the United States and residing in Tama, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 11, 2020, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States.
At the guilty plea, Pacheco-Mata admitted he had previously been deported from the United States in November 2011 and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Pacheco-Mata was arrested in February 2020 after his illegal presence in the United States came to the attention of immigration agents.
Pacheco-Mata was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Pacheco-Mata was sentenced to 130 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.
Pacheco-Mata is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by 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-15.
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Fort Dodge Man who Operated a Large Scale Methamphetamine Distribution Operation Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal prisonRead the Press Release
A man who operated a methamphetamine distribution ring in the Dubuque area from 2013 through 2014 was sentenced today to 25 years in federal prison.
Brian Ausborn, age 48, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine after having been previously convicted of a serious drug felony.
In a plea agreement, Ausborn admitted he worked with other individuals over a two-year period to make multiple trips to purchase large quantities of methamphetamine. These large quantities were then redistributed in the Dubuque area. Ausborn had previously been convicted of felony drug offenses in Black Hawk County, Polk County, and Calhoun County, Iowa.
Ausborn was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Ausborn was sentenced to 300 months’ imprisonment and fined $100. He must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Liz Dupuich and Tim Vavricek and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and the Dubuque Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-1005.
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Felon Who Discharged a Shotgun Receives More than Two Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who discharged a shotgun during a dispute was sentenced today to more than two years in federal prison.
Timothy Rabineau, age 45, from Oxford Junction, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 25, 2019 guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence during the case showed that Rabineau was involved in a dispute with another individual. That individual drove by Rabineau’s home in Oxford Junction to continue the argument. When the individual drove by, Rabineau got a shotgun from his home and discharged it once in the air as the individual drove by. Rabineau was a felon, having previously been convicted of possession of stolen property in 2001 and third degree burglary in 2001.
Rabineau was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Rabineau was sentenced to 28 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. The United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted this case with support from the following Project Guardian partners: [list partners here]. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
Rabineau 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 Lisa C. Williams and investigated by the Jones County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-0102.
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Eastern Iowa Nurse Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Patient’s Pain MedicationRead the Press Release
An intensive care unit nurse who stole fentanyl and morphine, both pain medications, from an unconscious patient by withdrawing the drugs from his IV line while he was in the hospital’s intensive care unit in December 2018 was sentenced today to more than @ years in federal prison.
Kelly Kristin Postel, age 43, from Anamosa, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 4, 2020 guilty plea to two counts of acquiring morphine and fentanyl on multiple occasions from October 2018 through December 2018.
In a plea agreement, Postel admitted that between October 2018 and December 2018, she obtained fentanyl and morphine by getting an excess amount of those pain meds from the hospital pharmacy and administering only the prescribed amount of medication to patients. She then used the rest of the pain medication while she was still working as a registered nurse caring for patients in the hospital. Postel also admitted that, on December 10, 2018, she was caring for patients in the intensive care unit at a Cedar Rapids, Iowa, hospital. On that day she went into an unconscious patient’s room, used a syringe to remove fentanyl and another drug from the patient’s IV line, and then used the substances in the employee restroom at the hospital while she was still on duty. Postel admitted she was impaired in her judgment and in being able to do routine nursing tasks after taking the pain medications, even though she was still caring for patients.
Postel was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Postel was sentenced to 4 months’ imprisonment and fined $5500. She was ordered to pay restitution for the drugs she stole, costs of prosecution and forfeit her nursing license. She must also serve a 1-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Health care providers who steal drugs from the patients they care for place those patients and the medical system at risk. This office always stands ready to protect those who are unlawfully exploited by others,” said United States Attorney Peter E. Deegan, Jr. “We especially thank the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations and the Iowa Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for their outstanding work investigating this case.”
“Health care professionals who steal needed medications from patients put patients at increased risk of harm and disrupt the legal drug supply chain,” said Special Agent in Charge Charles L. Grinstead, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Kansas City Field Office. “We will continue to protect the public health and bring to justice health care professionals who take advantage of their unique position and compromise their patients’ health and comfort by tampering with needed drugs.”
Postel was released on the conditions 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 Patrick J. Reinert and investigated by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals and the United States Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-00132.
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Denison, Iowa Man to Federal Prison for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced on June 25, 2020, to more than 10 years in federal prison.
Juan Lopez-Zuniga, 50, from Denison, Iowa, was convicted by a jury on February 7, 2020, after a 3 day trial in federal court, of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The verdict was returned following about 3 hours of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that Lopez-Zuniga was involved in a conspiracy that distributed more than 500 grams of methamphetamine from October 2015 through September 2016, from the Denison, Iowa, area. Evidence showed that Lopez-Zuniga conducted runs from Denison, Iowa, to Worthington, Minnesota, delivering half-pound quantities of methamphetamine to a co-conspirator for further re-distribution in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota. Lopez-Zuniga would then return to Denison with the proceeds of drug sales.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Lopez-Zuniga was sentenced to 127 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5 year term of supervised release following the imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Lopez-Zuniga is being held in the custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Drug Enforcement Administration; Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement; Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; Buffalo Ridge Task Force (Worthington/ Nobles County, Minnesota); and the Internal Revenue Service.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 17-4009. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Okoboji Man to Federal Prison for Meth Conspiracy and Illegal Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessed ammunition was sentenced June 25, 2020, to 7 years in federal prison.
Cole Rongved, 26, from Okoboji, Iowa, pled guilty on October 17, 2019, to one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and one count of illegally possessing ammunition, being subject to an order of protection in the Iowa District Court for Dickinson County.
At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that Rongved was involved in a conspiracy from May 2018 through January 2019 that distributed at least 1500 grams of methamphetamine in the Dickinson County, Iowa area. Rongved admitted that he and two associates acquired over two pounds of methamphetamine from a source in Council Bluffs for later distribution in the Lakes area. During search warrants executed at Rongved’s residence, law enforcement located and seized over 1000 rounds of ammunition, over 5 pounds of marijuana, 37 doses of LSD, 4 grams of methamphetamine, over 2 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, nearly $38,000 in cash, and other items of drug trafficking and drug paraphernalia.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Rongved was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment and must serve a term of 4 years of supervised release following the imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Rongved remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office, Palo County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Iowa Division of Criminalistics Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-4025. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
North Central Iowa Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A Lakota, Iowa methamphetamine dealer was sentenced today to 14 years in federal prison.
Christopher Paul Hanson, age 30, from Lakota, IA received the prison term after a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute at least 1,500 grams of pure methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a drug user.
In a plea agreement, Hanson admitted to distributing at least 1,500 grams of pure methamphetamine in and around North Central Iowa. In September 2018, a vehicle was stopped and in the vehicle was approximately ten pounds of methamphetamine, part of which was packaged for delivery to Hanson for re-distribution. On September 26, 2018, Hanson’s residence was searched pursuant to a search warrant. Law enforcement seized drug paraphernalia, drug packaging materials, drug ledgers, marijuana, methamphetamine, and guns, including a rifle and a pistol, along with ammunition for both guns.
Hanson was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Hanson was sentenced to 168 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.
Hanson 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 Jack Lammers and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Central Drug Task Force.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-3057.
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Fort Dodge Man Given Lengthy Prison Sentence for Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A Fort Dodge man was sentenced June 23, 2020 to more than 24 years in federal prison.
Demetrius Johnson, age 34, from Fort Dodge, IA, received the prison term after a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of firearms by a prohibited person.
In a plea agreement, Johnson admitted he was distributing methamphetamine from the fall of 2017 to on or about August 2019. In December 2019, Johnson sold methamphetamine on two separate occasions in Mason City, Iowa. On January 15, 2018, law enforcement searched Johnson’s Mason City storage locker and apartment where they seized methamphetamine, large quantities of marijuana, and three handguns, one of which was loaded. Johnson left Mason City and moved to Fort Dodge where Johnson was hiding from law enforcement pending his parole violation for another drug dealing offense. On August 1, 2019, Johnson was found in Fort Dodge. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement noticed a strong odor of marijuana which led them to search his residence finding approximately 4.5 pounds of pure methamphetamine, as well as another handgun.
During the course of his drug dealing, defendant used other people to sell drugs for him and maintained an apartment for the purpose of drug dealing. Johnson has three prior felony drug convictions and multiple convictions for violent offenses.
Johnson was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Jonson was sentenced to 292 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and 120 months for possession of firearms by a prohibited person to run concurrently. He must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Johnson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jack Lammers and investigated by the North Central Iowa Drug Task Force, the Cerro Gordo Sheriff’s Office, the Mason City Police Department, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Fort Dodge Police Force, and the Webster County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-3037.
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Carroll, Iowa Man to Federal Prison for Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced June 24, 2020, to more than 5 years’ in federal prison.
Marcelino Delangel, 47, from Carroll, Iowa, pled guilty on December 30, 2019, to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Delangel had been previously convicted of three felony crimes in Mower County, Minnesota, in 2003, 2006 and 2010, respectively.
At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that Delangel illegally possessed a .22 caliber pistol, which was seized from his vehicle that he was driving when stopped by law enforcement on November 7, 2018. Also seized from Delangel’s vehicle was 5.2 grams of methamphetamine, Vicodin pills, and a digital scale. Evidence at the hearing, showed the pistol was loaded with four rounds of ammunition and had been stolen during a burglary in Carroll, Iowa in October 2018.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Delangel remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison. Delangel was sentenced to 61 months’ plus 17 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a term of 3 years of supervised release following the imprisonment. 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.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, and Carroll, Iowa Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-3054. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Dubuque Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Selling Crack Cocaine Near SchoolRead the Press Release
A Dubuque man, who sold crack cocaine to a confidential source on two separate occasions, was sentenced June 23, 2020, to fifteen months in prison.
Christopher DeAngelo Emory, age 32, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison sentence after a February 7, 2020 guilty plea to distribution of crack cocaine near a protected location.
Information disclosed at sentencing and at his plea hearing showed that on two occasions in November 2018, Emory sold cocaine to a confidential source. Both sales took place near a school or park. In total, Emory sold approximately two grams of crack cocaine. Also in November 2018, law enforcement officials searched Emory’s Dubuque house as part of a recent shots fired investigation. During the search, officers located over $300 in cash, ecstasy, and a .380 caliber handgun magazine. Emory has two criminal prior convictions for assault and domestic abuse assault. Emory sold the crack cocaine in this case while he was on probation for the domestic abuse assault.
Emory was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Emory was sentenced to fifteen months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make payment of $100 to the special assessment fund. He must also serve a 6-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 Dubuque Police Department, the Dubuque Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-01028.
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Dubuque Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Prohibited Person in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
A prohibited person who possessed a firearm pled guilty on June 23, 2020, in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Tobias Sarazin, age 33, from Dubuque, Iowa, was convicted of one count of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. At the plea hearing, Sarazin admitted that, in December 2019, he possessed a pistol while being a user of marijuana and methamphetamine.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Sarazin remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Sarazin 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 Dubuque Police Department, the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, 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 20-1005.
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Guatemalan Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being Deported Two TimesRead the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced today to more than three months in federal prison.
Jose Cerillo-Cerillo, age 31, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea today to one count of illegal reentry into the United States.
In a plea agreement, Cerillo-Cerillo admitted he used a fictitious Social Security number and a fraudulent permanent resident card, also known as a “green card,” when he completed employment and tax forms using a fake name in June 2018 at a business in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Alien Registration number on the “green card” used by Cerillo-Cerillo was issued to another person. On the employment application, Cerillo-Cerillo falsely claimed to be a lawful permanent resident of the United States. However, Cerillo-Cerillo was previously deported from the United States in October 2012 and January 2013 and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. On March 4, 2020, Cerillo-Cerillo was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers during the execution of a search warrant as part of an investigation of document fraud in Cedar Rapids.
Cerillo-Cerillo was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Cerillo-Cerillo was sentenced to 111 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.
Cerillo-Cerillo is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by 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-23.
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Marion Businessman Sentenced to over Three Years in Federal Prison for Fraudulent Energy Efficiency Rebate SchemeRead the Press Release
A Marion man who defrauded a Cedar Rapids utility company of more than $300,000 as part of an energy efficiency rebate fraud scheme was sentenced today to more than three years in federal prison.
Dustin James Hutcheson, age 39, from Marion, Iowa, originally from Marshalltown, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 11, 2019 guilty plea to one count of mail fraud and one count of money laundering.
At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that Hutcheson operated Hutch Energy, LLC, an energy-related services business, from his residence in Marion, Iowa. In 2017 and 2018, Hutcheson and his employees approached small business customers of a Cedar Rapids utility company and offered to replace their existing lighting with more energy efficient LED lighting for free. Hutcheson falsely represented that he could do so at no cost to the customer because of a rebate program that the utility company offered and all the customer needed to provide to Hutcheson was the paperwork, which Hutcheson would complete, and the rebate check once the customer received the rebate check in the mail from the utility company. Hutcheson then submitted fraudulent invoices to the utility company, making it appear as if the customer had paid for the lighting and was entitled to a rebate. Hutcheson repeatedly forged the signatures of the utility company’s customers and also inflated the number of bulbs installed on the rebate forms. In total, Hutcheson received over $300,000 in rebate moneys as a result of his fraud scheme. In order to receive referrals for new victims, Hutcheson gave cash kickbacks to multiple individuals with whom the energy company had contracted to provide energy assessments for the customers.
Hutcheson was not a licensed electrician. At sentencing the court found that, although it was unintentional, one of Hutcheson’s light bulbs caused a fire in a nursing home. The nursing home had to evacuate 23 residents, including elderly individuals on feeding tubes and with dementia.
In July 2018, officers searched Hutcheson’s residence in Marion. Undeterred, Hutcheson continued the scheme by using two other company names to continue to submit fraudulent rebate claims to the same utility company.
Hutcheson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Hutcheson was sentenced to 44 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make over $340,000 in restitution the utility company, including paying the utility company’s attorney fees in responding to the government’s investigation and prosecution of Hutcheson. Hutcheson must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
As a result of having been caught using narcotics while on pretrial release, Hutcheson 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 Tim Vavricek and investigated by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-32.
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Clarksville Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Meth He Attempted to BurnRead the Press Release
A man who attempted to destroy methamphetamine by burning it was sentenced June 18, 2020, to five years in federal prison.
Drew Johnson, age 38, from Clarksville, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 8, 2020 guilty plea to aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
In a plea agreement, Johnson admitted that in February 2019 he was in possession of methamphetamine when officers arrived at his home to search it. Johnson, who was outside at the time, admitted running in to the house and throwing the methamphetamine in a wood burning stove and then fighting with officers. Johnson has an extensive criminal history, including two prior convictions for domestic assault and multiple theft convictions.
Johnson was sentenced in Sioux City, Iowa by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Johnson was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a four-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Johnson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle and investigated by the Clarksville Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-cr-3032.
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Three Fort Dodge Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Gun and Meth ConvictionsRead the Press Release
Three Fort Dodge men who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessed stolen firearms were sentenced in federal prison. Osborne and Petersen were sentenced January 28, 2020, and Swan was sentenced on June 18, 2020.
Marcus Swan, 29, pled guilty December 31, 2019, Lucas Osborne, 30, pled guilty August 20, 2019, and Kenneth Petersen, 41, pled guilty on September 10, 2019. Each pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of stolen firearms.
Evidence showed that together the defendants possessed five guns that were stolen during a burglary in Kossuth County, Iowa. Swan and Petersen were also prohibited from possessing firearms based on their prior felony convictions. Osborne was an unlawful user of methamphetamine and therefore also prohibited from possessing firearms. Additionally, evidence shows that the three distributed methamphetamine from October 2018 through February 2019. In total the methamphetamine conspiracy involved the distribution of over 16 pounds of methamphetamine in and around the Fort Dodge area.
Each were sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Osborne was sentenced to 153 months’ imprisonment and must serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Petersen was sentenced to 98 months’ imprisonment, with a 4-year term of supervised release following the prison term. Swan was sentenced to 102 months’ imprisonment and a 4-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Each are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they 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 prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mikala Steenholdt and investigated by the Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-3017. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Minnesota Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Iowa Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced June 17, 2020, to more than 2 years in federal prison.
Emmanuel Fuentes, 35, from Madelia, Minnesota, received the prison term after a December 30, 2019, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from July 2019 through August 2019, Fuentes was involved in the distribution of more than 150 grams of pure methamphetamine. In two separate investigative operations, in July and August 2019, law enforcement seized more than ten ounces of methamphetamine from Fuentes.
Fuentes was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Fuentes was sentenced to 31 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. Fuentes is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-4053. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Eleven Charged with Federal Gun Law ViolationsRead the Press Release
Law enforcement agencies in the Cedar Rapids area continue to make communities safer by partnering to reduce gun related crimes and violence. United States Attorney Peter E. Deegan, Jr. announced charges and arrests in eleven federal gun cases within the last 30 days.
“COVID 19 has not affected federal, state and local law enforcement’s unwavering commitment to investigating and prosecuting offenses involving firearms,” said United States Attorney Peter E. Deegan, Jr. “Convicted felons, drug users, and those who have committed domestic violence are legally barred from possessing guns or ammunition. Those that do will be held accountable.”
“The Cedar Rapids Police Department appreciates the continued partnership with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa as we are both concerned about violent crime,” said Cedar Rapids Chief of Police Wayne Jerman. “Our community is safer today because of the commitment of the U.S. Attorney to prosecute crimes involving the use or possession of illegal drugs and firearms. In some cases, convicted felons, who are not allowed to lawfully possess a gun, are accused of further crimes committed while in possession of a firearm. This is particularly concerning and the reason that we value the work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in helping us hold individuals accountable.”
Special Agent in Charge Kristi Johnson of the FBI noted, “These charges and arrests prove our partnerships with local law enforcement and the communities we serve are crucial to the mission against gun violence.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge of the Kansas City Field Division Marino Vidoli said, “As these cases show, ATF and our law enforcement partners in the Cedar Rapids area are absolutely committed to finding those who use firearms to threaten or inflict harm on members of our community, and bringing them to justice.”
The work of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies has resulted in the following charges in federal court in Cedar Rapids in the last month:
Trever Carl Christopherson, age 31, Rhamond Bolden, age 26, Thomas Anthony Wallace, age 33, Jerell Jackson, age 23, Tony Rhen Brown, age 59, Daniel James Abbott, age 48, and Henry Wilke Eilders, age 42, all of the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, area, have been charged with various violations of federal law including being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. The charges are contained in complaints and indictments filed within the last 30 days in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids. Four additional defendants, whose charges remain under seal, have also been charged with violating federal firearm laws.
The indictment against Abbott alleges that in September and October of 2019, he possessed multiple firearms while being an unlawful user of methamphetamine. The indictment also alleges that two firearms seized in September of 2019 were possessed by Abbott in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, specifically possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. An additional four guns were seized as part of this investigation in March 2020. The case file is 20-CR-32.
The indictment against Eilders alleges that in March 2020, Eilders possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, specifically conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine and or 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. This case is part of a larger drug-trafficking investigation, wherein investigators seized a gun from Eilder’s co-defendant, George Ashby, age 60, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Ashby is facing drug and gun charges as well. The case file is 20-CR-00027.
The indictments filed against Christopherson and Jackson allege that each possessed a firearm while being an unlawful user of a controlled substance. Christopherson is alleged to have been a methamphetamine user while possessing a firearm. Jackson is alleged to have been a marijuana user while possessing a firearm.
The indictment filed against Bolden alleges that he possessed a firearm as a felon. Bolden is a felon based on a prior federal conviction for being a drug user in possession of a firearm.
The indictment filed against Wallace alleges that he possessed a firearm while being an unlawful user of marijuana and after having two prior convictions for domestic abuse.
The indictment filed against Brown alleges that he possessed two firearms while being an unlawful user of heroin and after having previously been convicted of two felonies. Brown has also been charged with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of substance containing methamphetamine.
If convicted on these charges, all defendants face at least a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, $100 in special assessments, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The cases were 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.
These cases were investigated by 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.
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Mexican Man Sentenced to Prison for Document FraudRead the Press Release
A man who used a false identification document and someone else’s social security number was sentenced today to more than three months in federal prison.
Antonio De La Cruz, age 55, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea today to one count of unlawful use of an identification document.
During the guilty plea portion of the hearing, De La Cruz admitted he used someone else’s Social Security number and a fraudulent permanent resident card, also known as a “green card,” when he completed employment and tax forms in December 2016 at a business in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. On the employment application, De La Cruz falsely claimed to be a lawful permanent resident of the United States. The Alien Registration number on the “green card” was issued to another person. On March 6, 2020, immigration agents arrested De La Cruz at his place of employment in Cedar Rapids.
De La Cruz was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. De La Cruz was sentenced to 104 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.
De La Cruz is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by 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-22.
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Dubuque Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Fatal Dose of Fentanyl and Fentanyl AnalogueRead the Press Release
A man who sold a mixture of fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Carl Ravon Watkins, age 29, from Dubuque, Iowa, was convicted of one count of distribution of controlled substances resulting in death.
In a plea agreement, Watkins admitted that in August 2019, a woman called and texted him, looking for heroin. Watkins met with the woman and her boyfriend in the area of the 700 block of Wilson Avenue in Dubuque, where Watkins entered the woman’s vehicle and sold her what was supposedly heroin. The woman took the mixture home, used it later that night, and lost consciousness. Her boyfriend found her hours later, unconscious and not breathing. Emergency responders arrived, but were unable to revive the woman and she was pronounced dead. An autopsy determined that the woman’s death was caused by mixed drug toxicity, specifically from fentanyl and an analogue of fentanyl called acetyl fentanyl. During a search of the woman’s bedroom, officers found a chunky white substance that tested positive for fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl.
Watkins also admitted that the day after the woman’s death, the Dubuque Drug Task Force set up a controlled meeting with Watkins to attempt to purchase $80 of purported heroin from him. When Watkins arrived at the area of the 700 block of Wilson Avenue in Dubuque, officers placed him under arrest. During his arrest, Wilson dropped a baggie containing about a quarter gram of fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Watkins remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Watkins faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, and a lifetime of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-01043-CJW-MAR.
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Marion Man Who Stole over $100,000 from his Grandmother Sentenced to Federal prisonRead the Press Release
A man who drained his grandmother’s checking account, living trust account, and money market savings account of $118,107.80 was sentenced today to 21 months in prison.
Andrew Garrett, age 32, from Marion, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 10, 2020 guilty plea to a one count charging him with wire fraud.
In a plea agreement, Garrett admitted his grandmother was unable to care for herself due to memory issues including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Garrett used a debit card belonging to his grandmother to spend her funds for his personal benefit. Garrett concealed his scheme to defraud by claiming the expenses were related to repairs at his grandmother’s condominium.
Garrett was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Garrett was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment and ordered to repay 118,107.80 in restitution. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Garrett 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 Matthew J. Cole and investigated by the Marion Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 20-CR-2-CJW
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Carroll, Iowa Man to Federal Prison for Meth and Firearm ConvictionsRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute meth while possessing a gun was sentenced May 19, 2020, to more than 8 years in federal prison.
Nicholaus Augustus, 28, from Carroll, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 26, 2019, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. In 2015, Augustus was convicted of burglary 3rd degree, in the Iowa District Court for Carroll County. The conviction prohibited Augustus from legally possessing a firearm in Iowa.
At the guilty plea, Augustus admitted that from about October 2017 and continuing to on or about August 29, 2018, he and others conspired to distribute more than 35 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine in the Carroll, Iowa area. In January 2018, Augustus distributed more than 4 grams of meth to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. In August of 2018, Augustus’ residence was searched as part of a burglary investigation, and law enforcement seized a gun, along with drug paraphernalia and 9mm ammunition.
Augustus was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Augustus was sentenced to 100 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 4-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Augustus 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. 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 prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa Division of Criminalistics Investigations, Carroll, Iowa Police Department, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-3047. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
South Dakota Man with Long Criminal History Sentenced to Federal Prison for Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
A felon and drug user who illegally possessed a gun was sentenced June 11, 2020, to more than 3 years in federal prison.
Dennis Ray Wynn, 46, from Jefferson, South Dakota, received the prison term after a February 18, 2020, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon and illegal drug user.
Evidence presented by the United States at the detention, change of plea and sentencing hearings revealed on June 29, 2018, a traffic stop, led to the discovery of $4,650 in cash and admissions regarding the possession of methamphetamine and marijuana. A search warrant executed at Wynn’s home located the methamphetamine and marijuana and a Jimenez Arms semiautomatic .22 caliber pistol among other things.
Wynn was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Wynn was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 6-month 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 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; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; 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. 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 19-4071. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Man Convicted in State Court of Pimping and Drug Offenses Sentenced to a Consecutive 21 Months’ Imprisonment in Federal Prison for a Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
A man from Minnesota was sentenced June 10, 2020 to more than two years in federal prison.
Ahmed Hassan, age 26, from Pelican Rapids, Minnesota received the prison term after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a drug user.
Evidence at his change of plea and sentencing hearings revealed between December 2018 and April 2019, Hassan was an unlawful user of methamphetamine and knowingly possessed two guns and ammunition on two separate occasions. Hassan came to the attention of law enforcement during their investigation of the defendant’s other felony criminal activity, which included pimping and controlled substance violations. He was convicted in state court for those charges and sentenced to state prison. Upon his release from state prison, he must serve his federal firearms sentence.
Hassan was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Hassan was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. The federal sentence was imposed consecutive to the state sentence, so defendant must complete his state prison term first.
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.
Hassan is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
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 our Project Guardian partners. For more information about Project Guardian, please see /media/1122011/dl?inline.
The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-4038.
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Sioux Center Chiropractic Clinic to Pay $30,418 to Resolve Allegations Related to Claims Submitted to Medicaid for Treatment of Children for Constipation and Ear InfectionsRead the Press Release
A Sioux Center chiropractic clinic, Sioux Center Chiropractic Wellness Center, P.C., and the two chiropractors who operate the clinic – Tyler and Tiffany Armstrong – have agreed to pay $30,418 to resolve allegations they violated the False Claims Act by billing Medicaid for the treatment of conditions for which payment is not allowed, including constipation and ear infections. The settlement agreement resolves allegations related to the treatment of Medicaid beneficiaries seven and under from April 2014 to July 2019. The claims settled by the agreement are allegations only; there has been no admission or judicial determination of liability.
The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Jacob Schunk and Melissa Carrington. The allegations resolved by the settlement arose from an investigation led by the State of Iowa’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. False Claims Act cases also arise under the qui tam, or whistleblower provisions, of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party may file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in any recovery.
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Dubuque Man Who Possessed over 25,000 Images of Child Pornography Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A Dubuque man who possessed over 25,000 images of child pornography was sentenced today to 139 months in prison.
Mark Curtis, Jr., age 37, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison sentence after pleading guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of transportation of child pornography.
Information disclosed at his court hearing today showed that between August 2017 and August 2018, Curtis, Jr. used terms commonly associated with child pornography to search for images and videos of child pornography on the internet. Curtis, Jr. downloaded a number of images and videos to his cellular telephone. Curtis, Jr. then moved some of these images and videos to a Dropbox account. In total, Curtis possessed over 25,800 images. The images depicted minors that ranged in age from infants to pre-teens. Some videos and images involved infants and toddlers engaged in sexual acts. Curtis, Jr. has no criminal history.
Curtis, Jr. was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Curtis, Jr. was sentenced to 139 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make payment of $200 to the special assessment fund. He must also serve a five-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 Dubuque 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 19-CR-1046.
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Illegal Alien Who Used a Fake Name and Another Person’s Social Security Number Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who used another person’s Social Security number to get a job and for tax purposes was sentenced today to three months in federal prison.
Pedro Brito-Raymundo, age 23, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea today to one count of misuse of a social security number.
During the guilty plea portion of the hearing, Brito-Raymundo admitted that on December 26, 2019, he used an alias name and a fraudulent social security card and a fraudulent permanent resident card, also known as a “green card,” on employment forms and state and federal tax forms when applying for work in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Social Security account number and the Alien Registration number on the “green card” were issued to other people. Brito-Raymundo worked using that person’s social security number until he was arrested by immigration officials on February 22, 2020, at his place of employment.
Immigration officials learned about Brito-Raymundo after he was arrested on February 21, 2020, in Linn County, Iowa, on pending state criminal charges for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. Analysis of Brito-Raymundo’s fingerprints showed that he was ordered deported from the United States in November 2013 but had knowingly absconded from ICE supervision.
Brito-Raymundo was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Brito-Raymundo was sentenced to 93 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.
Brito-Raymundo is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by 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-19.
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Illegal Alien Who Used Another Person’s Social Security Number Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who used another person’s Social Security number to get a job and for tax purposes was sentenced today to three months in federal prison.
Alberto Rivera-Ramirez, age 30, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea today to one count of misuse of a social security number.
In a plea agreement, Rivera-Ramirez admitted that on December 14, 2018, he used a fraudulent social security card and a fraudulent permanent resident card, also known as a “green card,” on employment forms and state and federal tax forms when applying for work in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Social Security account number and the Alien Registration number on the “green card” were issued to other people.
Immigration officials learned about Rivera-Ramirez’ illegal conduct after he was arrested on June 6, 2019, in Benton County, Iowa, on state criminal charges. On February 27, 2020, Rivera-Ramirez plead guilty in state court to Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree and was sentenced to 260 days in jail.
Rivera-Ramirez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Rivera-Ramirez was sentenced to 91 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.
Rivera-Ramirez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by 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-24.
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