Northern District of Iowa
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
United States Attorney’s Office, Inter-Religious Council of Linn County, and Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission Host Forum on Protecting Places of WorshipRead the Press Release
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA –United States Attorney Peter E. Deegan, Jr., the Inter-Religious Council of Linn County, and the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission hosted a community forum on October 22, 2019, focused on protecting places of worship. Leaders of the interfaith community, representatives of houses of worship, and other community stakeholders and members attended. They discussed hate crime laws, identifying and reporting hate crimes, and best practices for creating safe and secure houses of worship.
Speakers and panelists included law enforcement officials from the FBI, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa, Linn County Attorney’s Office, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the Linn County Sherriff’s Office. A second panel of community faith leaders was moderated by Ms. Sarika Bhatka and included panelists Rev. Dr. Sherri Ilg, Krishna Iyer, Rev. Leoma Leigh-Williams, Imam Hassan Selim, and Rabbi Todd Thalblum.
United States Attorney Deegan expressed appreciation to the agencies involved and the community members attending for their willingness to discuss issues that communities across the state and country encounter. No one in our community should feel threatened because of his or her religion, and everyone should feel safe when going to their chosen house of worship,” said Deegan. “All of these organizations and people coming together shows that Iowans want to be proactive when it comes to keeping our communities safe.”
“The FBI is tasked with defending civil rights in the United States, and the Constitution guarantees that everyone in the United States has freedom to practice their own religion,” said Special-Agent-in-Charge Kristi Johnson of the Omaha Field Division of the FBI. “No one deserves to live in fear because of how they choose to worship.”
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Marijuana User in Possession of Loaded Firearm Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed a firearm while a marijuana user was sentenced today to more than three years in federal prison.
Christopher Roby, age 19, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 10, 2019 guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a drug user.
Evidence during the case showed that Roby was a passenger in a vehicle that police attempted to stop. The vehicle, driven by an associate of Roby’s, refused to stop and led police on a high speed chase, in excess of 80 miles per hour. When police finally stopped the vehicle, officers found a loaded revolver was under the area Roby was seated in. Roby admitted to possessing the gun. Police also found approximately one-half ounce of marijuana on Roby at the time of his arrest.
Roby was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Roby was sentenced to 41 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.
Roby 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 a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-cr-2062.
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California Man with Lengthy Criminal Record Sentenced to 17 ½ Years in Federal Prison for Iowa Meth and Firearm ConvictionsRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced October 18, 2019, in federal court in Sioux City.
Robinson Nguyen, 38, from Selma, California, pled guilty on June 3, 2019, to one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine; one count of possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and one count of illegally possessing a firearm. Nguyen was previously convicted of at least four felony offenses in California, ranging from thefts to possession of a controlled substance to possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.
At the plea hearing, Nguyen admitted that from about September 2017 through July 2018, he was involved in a conspiracy that distributed at least 500 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine. Evidence showed that Nguyen transported ½ to ¾ pounds of methamphetamine a number of times from California to Colorado then Sioux City, Iowa for distribution and later had his girlfriend transport ¼ pound of methamphetamine by bus. Nguyen and others in the conspiracy intended to distribute this methamphetamine to another person. Law enforcement later seized a 9mm pistol from a search of the house were Nguyen resided. Nguyen admitted he possessed the firearm for protection.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Nguyen remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison. Nguyen was sentenced to 210 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a four year term of supervised release following any imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by 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 18-4089. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Sioux City Woman Pleads Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty October 16, 2019, in federal court in Sioux City.
Stephanie Holbrook, age 32, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, Holbrook admitted that from about September 2018 through April 2019, she and others conspired to distribute more than three pounds of methamphetamine in the Woodbury County, Iowa area. On four separate occasions Holbrook, with the aid of another co-conspirator, distributed nearly one pound of pure methamphetamine (in total) to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. Then on April 17, 2019, after a co-conspirator helped arrange for a methamphetamine transaction, Holbrook was caught with nearly a half pound of pure methamphetamine.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Holbrook will remain in custody pending sentencing. Holbrook faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-4029.
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Okoboji Man Pleads Guilty to Meth and Illegal Possession of Ammunition ChargesRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessed ammunition pled guilty October 17, 2019, in federal court in Sioux City.
Cole Rongved, 26, from Okoboji, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and one count of illegally possessing ammunition, as Rongved was subject to an order of protection in the Iowa District Court for Dickinson County.
At the plea hearing, Rongved admitted that he was involved in a conspiracy from May 2018 through January 2019 that distributed more than 3 pounds of methamphetamine in the Dickinson County, Iowa area. Rongved admitted 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 before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Rongved remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Rongved faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by 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.
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Justice Department Awards over $273.4 Million to Improve Public Safety, Serve Crime Victims in American Indian and Alaska Native CommunitiesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – United States Attorney Peter E. Deegan, Jr., joined the Department of Justice today in announcing the award of over $273.4 million in grants to improve public safety, serve victims of crime, combat violence against women and support youth programs in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
“Violent crime and domestic abuse in American Indian and Alaska Native communities remain at unacceptably high levels, and they demand a response that is both clear and comprehensive,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “We will continue to work closely with our tribal partners to guarantee they have the resources they need to curb violence and bring healing to the victims most profoundly affected by it.”
The Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa, the only tribe in the Northern District of Iowa was awarded over $380,000 in funding. This funding will be used to support the Tribe’s justice systems and alcohol and substance abuse programs.
“Improving public safety will always be a priority for my office and the Department of Justice,” said Deegan. “This grant awarded to the Meskwaki Tribe is another step toward making our communities safer for all.”
Nationwide, 236 grants were awarded to 149 American Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages and other tribal designees through the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation, a streamlined application for tribal-specific grant programs. Of the $118 million awarded via CTAS, just over $62.6 million comes from the Office of Justice Programs, about $33.1 million from the Office on Violence Against Women and more than $23.2 million from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. A portion of the funding will support tribal youth mentoring and intervention services, help native communities implement requirements of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and provide training and technical assistance to tribal communities. Another $5.5 million was funded by OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance to provide training and technical assistance to CTAS awardees.
The Department also announced awards and other programming totaling $167.2 million in a set-aside program to serve victims of crime. The awards are intended to help tribes develop, expand and improve services to victims by supporting programming and technical assistance. About $25.6 million of these awards were awarded under CTAS and are included in the $118 million detailed above.
CTAS funding helps tribes develop and strengthen their justice systems’ response to crime, while expanding services to meet their communities’ public safety needs. The awards cover 10 purpose areas: public safety and community policing; justice systems planning; alcohol and substance abuse; corrections and correctional alternatives; children’s justice act partnerships; services for victims of crime; violence against women; juvenile justice; violent crime reduction; and tribal youth programs.
The Department also provided $6.1 million to help tribes to comply with federal law on sex offender registration and notification, $1.7 million in separate funding to assist tribal youth and nearly $500,000 to support tribal research on missing and murdered indigenous women and children and other public safety-related topics.
Today’s announcement is part of the Justice Department’s ongoing initiative to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
A listing of today’s announced CTAS awards is available at: https://www.justice.gov/tribal/awards. A listing of all other announced tribal awards are available at: https://go.usa.gov/xVJuE.
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Dayton, Iowa Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing GunsRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed two handguns pled guilty October 17, 2019, in federal court in Sioux City.
Christopher Johnson, 45, from Dayton, Iowa, was convicted of possession of firearms by a felon. Johnson was previously convicted of manufacture of methamphetamine and/or possession with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, a felony, in August of 2001, in Boone County, Iowa.
At the plea hearing, Johnson admitted that on May 28, 2017, in Webster County, Iowa, law enforcement officers were dispatched to a residence in Dayton, Iowa, on reports of a person (later identified as Johnson) at the residence under suspicious circumstances. Law enforcement officers located Johnson nearby (at a residence where Johnson was known to reside) in a barn. Law enforcement officers located and seized two guns, namely a Ruger .22 caliber pistol and a Jimenez Arms .22 caliber pistol, along with some .22 caliber ammunition from Johnson.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Johnson remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Johnson faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Dayton Police Department, Webster 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 17-3028. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Nearly 14 Years in Federal Prison for Cedar Rapids Man Convicted of Selling Heroin and FentanylRead the Press Release
A man who sold heroin laced with fentanyl was sentenced on October 16, 2019, to more than 13 years in federal prison.
Reginald Love, age 28, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 6, 2019 guilty plea to one count of distributing heroin and fentanyl.
In a plea agreement, Love admitted that on two occasions in November 2018 he sold heroin laced with fentanyl to another individual. At sentencing, Love admitted that he had actually sold over 20 grams of heroin in the Cedar Rapids area. Love had a prior adjudication for aggravated assault in Chicago, during which he had displayed a firearm to another person and stated, “Don’t run, cause I’ll shoot you!” He also had prior convictions in Chicago for assault (after he again threatened to shoot another person), attempted battery, residential burglary, two convictions for delivery of cannabis, and a conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Love was on parole for the firearm charge at the time he sold heroin and fentanyl in Cedar Rapids.
Love was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Love was sentenced to 166 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.
Love is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA; the Linn County Sheriff's Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and 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 18-CR-00121-CJW-MAR.
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$3.1 Million Judgment Entered Against Five Rural Home Health Providers in Iowa and South DakotaRead the Press Release
On October 16, 2019, a federal court in Cedar Rapids entered a consent judgment for a total of $3,133,282.95 against five home health providers located in Iowa and South Dakota. The providers – Sergeant Bluff Healthcare, LLC (Iowa); Red Oak Healthcare, LLC (Iowa); Logan Healthcare, LLC (Iowa); Elk Point Health Care #1 LLC (South Dakota); and Flandreau Healthcare 2, LLC (South Dakota) – provided home health services to Medicare beneficiaries.
In a complaint filed on October 2, 2019, the United States alleged that, between January 2012 and December 2015, the five companies submitted false claims to Medicare for therapy services. The complaint alleged the claims were false either because the services provided were not skilled or because the beneficiaries’ medical conditions did not justify the need for skilled therapy services. The United States further alleged that the companies received notifications that their claims for therapy services were inordinately high and that the companies failed to take adequate steps to address their billing procedures after receiving the notifications.
In a civil judgment filed in federal court in Cedar Rapids on October 16, 2019, judgment was entered against each entity as follows: Sergeant Bluff Healthcare, LLC ($1,245,149.01); Red Oak Healthcare, LLC ($228,333.42); Logan Healthcare, LLC ($775,373.15); Elk Point Healthcare #1, LLC ($788,484.69); and Flandreau Healthcare 2, LLC ($115,942.46). The entities are all affiliates of Welcov Healthcare, LLC, a Minnesota entity in the midst of assignment proceedings in Hennepin County (Minnesota) District Court.
The matter arose from an affirmative investigation. False Claims Act cases can also be brought under the qui tam provisions of the Act, which encourage whistleblowers to bring suit on behalf of the United States and share in any financial recovery.
The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys from three different United States Attorney’s Offices: Jacob Schunk, Northern District of Iowa (United States Attorney Peter E. Deegan, Jr.); Meghan Roche, District of South Dakota (United States Attorney Ron Parsons); and David Faith, II, Southern District of Iowa (United States Attorney Marc L. Krickbaum). The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General led the investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-cv-4066-LTS-KEM.
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Two Cedar Rapids Felons on Way to Shooting Range Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a GunRead the Press Release
Two Cedar Rapids men, responsible for possessing a gun when they were prohibited from doing so, were sentenced October 10, 2019. Jontreyvius Richmond was sentenced to 24 months in prison and Darnell Henderson was sentenced to 31 months in prison.
Jontreyvius Richmond, age 21, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Darnell Henderson, age 23, received the prison sentences after June 10, 2019 guilty pleas to possession of a firearm by a felon.
Information disclosed at sentencing and at their plea hearings showed that
in October 2018, Richmond, Henderson, and another man were travelling to a firing range near Solon, Iowa, to shoot a gun they had in the car. Richmond was driving. Police conducted a traffic stop on the car. Officers could smell marijuana and see marijuana in the car. Officers searched the care and located a .22 caliber rifle and ammunition in the trunk. Richmond admitted that he had recently smoked marijuana and that he and his friends were travelling to the firing range to shoot the rifle. The gun had been in the passenger compartment of the car prior to officers stopping it, but as they were being pulled over, the occupants passed it back to the trunk.
Richmond has a prior carrying weapons conviction. He also has a felony conviction for extortion. Henderson has a prior felony conviction for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
Richmond and Henderson were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Richmond was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment. Henderson was sentenced to 31 months’. Both were ordered to make payment of $100 to the special assessment fund. Both must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) through a cooperative effort of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Cedar Rapids Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-00041.
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Northwest Iowa Otolaryngologist Agrees to Pay $1,000,000 to Resolve Medicaid False Claims AllegationsRead the Press Release
Dr. Tracey Wellendorf, an otolaryngologist with a clinic in Carroll, Iowa, agreed to pay $1,000,000 to resolve False Claims Act allegations relating to as many as 115 procedures performed on Iowa Medicaid beneficiaries between October 13, 2014, and November 27, 2015.
The allegations relate to claims for endoscopic sinus surgeries. The United States alleges that the claims submitted for the subject procedures were improper either because they did not meet the applicable medical necessity standard or were otherwise incorrectly coded for payment.
“Medical providers who perform unnecessary procedures or wrongfully code claims violate the public trust,” said Peter E. Deegan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa. “This settlement is another indication of our office’s dedication to vigorous enforcement of the False Claims Act and our unyielding effort to protect patients, save taxpayer money, and ensure a fair marketplace for honest practitioners.”
In addition to agreeing to pay the $1,000,000 settlement, Dr. Wellendorf also entered into an Integrity Agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. That agreement requires Dr. Wellendorf to engage in enhanced compliance measures for the next three years.
“Medically unnecessary services pose potential harm to patients and place needless burdens on taxpayers who fund government health programs,” said Curt Muller, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “HHS OIG entered into an integrity agreement requiring Dr. Wellendorf submit to three years of intensive quarterly monitoring by an independent review organization.”
The matter arose from an affirmative investigation. False Claims Act cases can also be brought under the qui tam provisions of the Act, which encourage whistleblowers to bring suit on behalf of the United States and share in any financial recovery.
The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jacob Schunk and investigated by the State of Iowa’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of a Gun and CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
A Sioux City man with a criminal history that included a domestic violence conviction, and a felony conviction was sentenced October 7, 2019 to more 13 years in federal prison.
Freddy Bernal, age 33, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 23, 2019, jury verdict finding him guilty of one count of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a prohibited person, and one count of cyberstalking
Evidence at trial showed that on or about December 5, 2017, police were dispatched to the victim’s home where they found a gun that defendant, nicknamed “Trigger” for his habit of carrying a gun, had hidden at the home, and where officers learned of the unwelcome course of conduct defendant had visited upon the victim for a number of years.
Defendant’s pattern of behavior toward the victim included a string of threating text messages, frequent voice calls stating he was watching the victim and was going to kill her, and indirect calls by people calling on defendant’s behalf, demanding the victim call defendant. Finally, an incident where defendant held the victim’s baby out the window of a moving car to threaten and harass her.
The jury found, as a result of defendant’s course of conduct, the victim was placed in fear of death or serious injury to herself, and defendant caused substantial emotional distress to the victim.
Bernal had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses including convictions for Willful Injury Causing Serious Injury; Criminal Gang Participation; Felony Theft; and Domestic Abuse Assault.
Bernal was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Bernal was sentenced to 156 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.
“No one should be subjected to the kind of threatening and dangerous conduct that Freddy Bernal displayed in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Deegan. “I want to commend Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ford Fairchild and Margaret Groban and Senior Trial Attorney Mona Sedky for their outstanding work in bringing Bernal to justice.”
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.
Bernal is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system
The case was investigated by the Sioux City Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild with the assistance of Assistant United States Attorney Margaret S. Groban, National Domestic Violence Coordinator of the USDOJ’s Office of Legal Programs and Senior Trial Attorney Mona Sedky, USDOJ’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-4013.
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Marion Meth User Sentenced to Maximum Sentence in Federal Prison for Possessing GunsRead the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids man, responsible for possessing nine guns while using drugs, was sentenced October 9, 2019, to 120 months in prison.
Logan Gerber, age 30, from Marion, Iowa, received the prison sentence after a May 6, 2019 guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a drug user.
Information disclosed at sentencing and at his plea hearing showed that on June 9, 2018, Gerber was stopped by Cedar Rapids police officers for driving his grandparent’s Mustang without their consent. Officers found Gerber had a loaded Glock 9mm firearm in his waistband. Gerber was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time. Officers also searched another car Gerber was driving prior to taking his grandparent’s car. They located additional guns including a sawed-offed shotgun, a large amount of ammunition, extended magazines, tactical vests, and zip ties. Gerber was later released. In October 2018, Gerber was once again stopped by Cedar Rapids police officers. In his vehicle, officers located a nine-inch knife within Gerber’s reach, marijuana, and another firearm. In total, Gerber was found responsible for unlawfully possessing nine guns.
Gerber was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Gerber was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make payment of $100 to the special assessment fund. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) through a cooperative effort of the Cedar Rapids Police Department, Marion Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-00024.
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Media Advisory: United States Attorney’s Office, Inter-Religious Council of Linn County, and Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission to Host Forum on Protecting Places of WorshipRead the Press Release
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA –United States Attorney Peter E. Deegan, Jr., the Inter-Religious Council of Linn County, and the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission will host a community forum focused on protecting places of worship. Leaders of the interfaith community, representatives of houses of worship, and other community stakeholders and members are encouraged to attend to discuss hate crime laws, identifying and reporting hate crimes, and best practices for creating safe and secure houses of worship. Speakers include officials from local, state, and federal law enforcement as well as from local community organizations.
Event Details
When: 5:30PM-8:30PM, Tuesday, October 22, 20019
Where: Cedar Rapids Public Library- Whipple Auditorium
450 5th Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
This event is open to the press. Photography permitted. A press release will be provided and interview opportunities will be available.
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Habitual Domestic Abuser Sentenced to Four Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who physically assaulted a woman who was similarly situated to him as a spouse was sentenced today to four years in federal prison.
Daniel Shawn Posey, age 40, from Garwin, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 5, 2019, guilty plea to domestic assault by a habitual offender.
In a plea agreement, Posey admitted he assaulted the victim while the two were staying in a hotel room at the Meskwaki Bingo Casino. Posey and the victim were involved in a verbal argument which became physical when Posey took the victim’s cellular telephone and broke it as the victim attempted to call the police. Posey then hit the victim with a closed fist in the victim’s right eye, resulting in injuries to the victim including a swollen right eye and bruising.
Posey was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Posey was sentenced to 48 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.
Posey 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Meskwaki Nation Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-0028.
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Drug Dealer Guilty of Selling Heroin to Man Who Died of Overdose Sentenced to 16 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Michael Stevenson was sentenced October 7, 2019 to more than 16 years in federal prison after a jury found him guilty on all five counts of a five-count indictment.
Michael Stevenson, age 29, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 25, 2019 jury verdict finding him guilty of conspiracy and distribution of heroin and crack cocaine.
Evidence at trial showed Stevenson intentionally conspired to distribute crack cocaine from January of 2017 to September of 2017. As part of his drug dealing activities, Stevenson sold drugs to Adam Birch who died of a drug overdose on February 2, 2017. After the death of Birch, police located more than 300 text messages to Stevenson the majority of them being drug-related. Testimony at trial proved that Stevenson had provided Birch with heroin on February 1st, the day before Birch’s overdose death. Stevenson continued to sell heroin and crack cocaine even after the overdose of Birch. At trial Stevenson admitted he dealt drugs for 2-3 years and that he traveled to Chicago, Illinois to get re-supplied with heroin and crack cocaine for redistribution in Dubuque. Judge Williams found that Stevenson obstructed justice by threatening a trial witness as well as by being untruthful in his trial testimony. Judge Williams also found that Stevenson directed at least one other person in the drug conspiracy that involved more than five people. Judge Williams determined that an increased sentence was warranted based on Birch’s death, and the fact that even after learning of Birch’s death, Stevenson continued to sell heroin.
Stevenson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Stevenson was sentenced to 200 months’ imprisonment [and fined $500. He was ordered to make $13,194.59 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.
Stevenson 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 Attorneys Jack Lammers and Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by the Dubuque Police Department, Dubuque Sheriff’s Office, and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 18-CR-1023.
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Charles City Man with Multiple Previous Drug Offenses Sentenced to Federal Prison for Selling MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Alonzo Henderson, age 45, from Charles City, Iowa, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison on October 4, 2019, after an April 19, 2019, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
In Henderson’s plea agreement, he admitted that on December 1, 2017, he was in possession of a total of $65,500 in cash proceeds recovered from his backpack and his residence and over 500 grams of methamphetamine. Henderson admitted that on May 17, 2018, officers searched his residence again and recovered $106,572 in drug proceeds and over 5.5 kilograms of (pure) methamphetamine. Henderson had previously been convicted in five felony drug trafficking cases in state court. Henderson also has multiple assault convictions.
Henderson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Henderson was sentenced to 300 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. Henderson 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 Attorneys Emily K. Nydle and Justin Lightfoot and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Waterloo Police Department, and the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-cr-2066.
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Fourth Mason City Man Sentenced for Involvement in Sale of Stolen GunsRead the Press Release
A man who assisted with the sale of a stolen firearm was sentenced October 4, 2019 to three years in federal prison.
Amador Ramos, age 46, from Mason City, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea to one count of a two-count indictment filed on December 19, 2018. Ramos pled guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Ramos, a convicted felon, admitted he arranged for the sale of a stolen firearm.
On May 12, 2017, a Thompson, Iowa residence was burglarized and seven firearms were stolen. Joshua Rudnicki, Kyle Krug, and Daniel Solano were involved in the theft of the firearms; Rudnicki, Krug, and Solano were all sentenced in September. Ramos admitted to assisting Krug with the sale of one of the firearms.
Ramos was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Ramos was sentenced to 39 months’ imprisonment. Ramos must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Ramos is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jack Lammers and investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Mason City Police Department, and the Clear Lake Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-3058.
Three Time Federal Felon Sentenced to over Sixteen Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who was convicted in federal court for illegally possessing a gun for the third time was sentenced October 3, 2019, to more than sixteen years in federal prison.
Fernaris Braggs, age 38, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 25, 2019 guilty plea to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
At the guilty plea, Braggs admitted he illegally possessed a handgun on December 23, 2018. On that day, Braggs was in a car involved in a hit-and-run accident. Law enforcement officers learned Braggs was involved and searched the area of the accident for him. The officers found Braggs near a gas station. Braggs saw the officers and ran from them. Officers caught and tackled him. Braggs continued to struggle with the officers. During the struggle, Braggs dropped a loaded handgun onto the ground.
At the time he possessed the handgun, Braggs was a convicted felon. In 2001, he was convicted in federal court of distributing crack cocaine two times and illegally possessing a firearm as a drug user. In 2011, approximately two months after he got out of federal prison, Braggs was caught with a gun and marijuana he planned to sell. Braggs was then convicted of possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute it and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He was still on supervised release from that conviction when he possessed the handgun on December 23, 2018.
Braggs was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Braggs was sentenced to 195 months’ imprisonment in total. He was sentenced to 135 months in prison on the new charge and 60 months in prison for violating his prior supervised release. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Braggs is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Cedar Rapids 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-31.
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New Hampton Man Sentenced to over 15 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A man who distributed and possessed child pornography was sentenced today to over 15 years in federal prison.
William Rolen, age 57, of New Hampton, Iowa, received the sentence after an April 26, 2019, guilty plea to one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Rolen also communicated with an undercover agent and planned to meet with a child and engage in sex acts, but he did not show up for the meetings.
Rolen was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Rolen was sentenced to 188 months’ imprisonment. Special assessments of $10,200 were imposed, and Rolen must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release. He must comply with all sex offender registration and public notification requirements.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Police Department, the New Hampton Police Department, and the Chickasaw 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.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR 19-2014.
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Marijuana User Sentenced to over Two Years for Possessing Multiple HandgunsRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed three separate handguns during a one-year period was sentenced today to more than two years in federal prison.
Aquarias Tykee Madlock, age 19, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 17, 2019, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a drug user.
Evidence at sentencing showed Madlock possessed a Ruger SR9 9mm handgun in January 2018, a stolen .380 caliber Kel-Tec handgun in April 2018, and a Hi Point JCP .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun in November 2018. At the time he possessed these firearms, Madlock was a regular user of marijuana and was also involved in distributing marijuana.
Madlock was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Madlock was sentenced to 30 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.
Madlock is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams and was investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-2011.
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False Statement on Firearms Form Lands Cedar Rapids Man in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who falsified ATF forms in order to purchase firearms was sentenced October 2, 2019, to more than a year in federal prison.
Joseph Lamont Thompson, age 24, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 2, 2019 guilty plea to one count of making a false declaration during the purchase of a firearm.
In a plea agreement, Thompson admitted that between May 2017 and March 2018, he was an unlawful user of heroin. Thompson also admitted that, between November 2016 and May 2018, he purchased at least 11 firearms in Iowa. Law enforcement eventually recovered at least four of those guns in the possession of people other than Thompson. Thompson admitted that he repeatedly falsified ATF forms while purchasing guns. At sentencing, Thompson admitted that he had sold two of the guns he purchased to a heroin dealer, and that he had purchased one of the guns for another heroin dealer.
Thompson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Thompson was sentenced to 12 months and one day of imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Thompson was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marshal on October 16, 2019.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-00009-CJW-MAR.
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Three Years of Illegally Buying and Possessing 28 Guns Leads to over Three Years in Federal Prison for Drug UserRead the Press Release
A user of meth and marijuana who illegally purchased and possessed 28 guns between August 2015 and August 2018 was sentenced October 1, 2019, to more than three years in federal prison.
Nathan Fisher, age 26, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 12, 2019, guilty plea to being an unlawful user of drugs in possession of a firearm.
At the guilty plea, Fisher admitted he purchased a handgun on August 3, 2018. He further admitted that at the time he bought and possessed this gun, he was an unlawful user of both methamphetamine and marijuana.
Further information at sentencing showed that the gun Fisher purchased on August 3, 2018, was the 28th gun he had purchased since August 2015. During this three-year period, Fisher was regularly using both meth and marijuana. Each time Fisher purchased a gun, he filled out a form. On that form, he lied each time, telling the seller of the guns that he was not an unlawful user of drugs.
Additionally, Fisher purchased at least six guns for other people, a practice commonly referred to as “straw purchasing.” Each time he did so, Fisher also lied on the form he had to complete, indicating he was the ultimate purchaser of the gun. Of the 28 guns Fisher purchased, nine have been recovered. Eight of those nine were found by law enforcement in the possession of someone other than Fisher. The whereabouts of the remaining 19 guns Fisher purchased are unknown.
Fisher was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. In sentencing Fisher, the Judge noted that Fisher’s crime was very serious. The Judge especially noted that Fisher was likely buying guns to give to others who could not legally purchase or own guns, such as convicted felons. The Judge also noted that Fisher used drugs, possessed ammunition, and failed to comply with numerous Court orders while awaiting trial.
Fisher was sentenced to 37 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.
Fisher is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-119.
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Sioux City Man to Federal Prison for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced on September 30, 2019, in federal court in Sioux City to 15 years in federal prison. Armondo Grimaldo pled guilty May 2, 2019, in federal court in Sioux City.
Armondo Grimaldo, 33, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Grimaldo was previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in 2015 in Woodbury County, Iowa.
At the plea hearing, on May 2, 2019, Grimaldo admitted his involvement in a conspiracy that distributed more than 4 pounds of meth in the Sioux City, Iowa area from September 2018 through November 2018. On November 16, 2018, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle operated by Grimaldo, for fraudulent license plates. During a search of Grimaldo and his vehicle, five separate baggies, each containing methamphetamine (total of more than ½ pound), $6,351 and a collapsible baton, all in close proximity with each other were located and seized.
Grimaldo was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Grimaldo was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Grimaldo 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 was investigated by Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-4088.
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Minnesota Man to Federal Prison for Iowa Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute meth was sentenced on September 30, 2019, in federal court in Sioux City to 15 years in federal prison.
Raul Flores Marin, 47, from Bigelow, Minnesota, was convicted on April 25, 2019, after a four-day jury trial of one count of conspiracy to distribute meth, one count of possession with intent to distribute meth, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The evidence at trial showed that in the early morning hours on July 19, 2017, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call regarding a suspicious pickup truck with Minnesota license plates trespassing on property in rural Osceola County. While traveling towards the residence, law enforcement observed a pickup bearing Minnesota plates heading away from the property. Shortly after following the truck, it veered onto the left-hand side of the gravel road and almost into the ditch and a traffic stop was initiated. Law enforcement encountered Marin and after a search of the truck, law enforcement located and seized a 9mm handgun along with over 15 grams of methamphetamine. Evidence at trial further showed that Marin was involved in a conspiracy that distributed more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine in the Osceola County, Iowa area.
Marin was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Marin was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Marin remains in custody of the United States Marshals until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mikala M. Steenholdt and was investigated by the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, Osceola County Sheriff’s Department, Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force, and Iowa Division of Criminalistics Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-4011.
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Fort Dodge Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced October 1, 2019, to five years in federal prison.
Chelsea Collins, 31, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distributing methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, Collins admitted her involvement in a conspiracy that distributed methamphetamine in the Fort Dodge area from January 2018 through September 2018. In four separate transactions in July 2018, Collins distributed and aided others in the distribution of over 35 grams of pure methamphetamine to individuals cooperating with law enforcement. Evidence at sentencing also showed Collins threatened cooperators and law enforcement officers involved in the investigation of her and her co-conspirators.
Collins was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Collins was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a 4-year term of supervised release after the federal prison term. This term was ordered consecutive to two state prison sentences Collins is also serving at this time. There is no parole in the federal system. Collins is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County, Iowa Sheriff’s Office, and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-3041.
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Cedar Rapids Man Who Led Police on Two Pursuits Sentenced to over Sixteen Years in Federal Prison for Distributing HeroinRead the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids man, responsible for selling over 480 grams of heroin, was sentenced September 30, 2019, to 200 months in prison.
Lloyd Koger, age 42, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison sentence after a December 28, 2018 guilty plea to distribution of heroin after a prior felony drug conviction.
Information disclosed at sentencing and at his plea hearing showed that Koger was convicted in 1995, 1999, and 2004 of felony drug offenses in Illinois. During one such offense, Koger was found in possession of 170 baggies of heroin within 1,000 feet of a school. In 2016, Koger started selling heroin in the Cedar Rapids area. At times, he was selling daily and people would line up to get heroin from him. In February 2018, Koger led police on a pursuit after Cedar Rapids police officers attempted to stop the car he was driving. Koger eventually came to a stop. Officers located over $3,000 in drug proceeds on him.
On August 3 and August 9, 2018, Koger sold heroin to a confidential informant. In August 2018, Koger again led officers on another pursuit after Cedar Rapids police officers tried to stop the car he was driving. Koger drove up to 80 miles per hours through residential areas of Cedar Rapids. He eventually came to a stop after colliding with another vehicle. No one was injured in the crash. Koger had over $9,000 on him at that time.
In total, Koger was responsible for selling over 480 grams of heroin in the Cedar Rapid area. Koger has 17 criminal convictions going back to the age of 17.
Koger was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Koger was sentenced to 200 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a six-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 was investigated as part of the Northern Iowa Heroin Initiative and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Cedar Rapids Police Department, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Marion Police Department, Linn County Sheriff’s Department, Johnson County Drug Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-00093.
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Three-Time Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Loaded Firearm with Obliterated Serial NumberRead the Press Release
A convicted felon who was stopped with a loaded firearm while under the influence of drugs in Waterloo was sentenced today to more than six years in federal prison.
Jesus David Jimenez, age 33, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 2, 2019 guilty plea to being a felon and drug user in possession of a firearm.
At the guilty plea, Jimenez admitted he possessed a pistol in Waterloo, Iowa, in September 2018. Court documents reflect that Waterloo officers saw Jimenez walking on a public street, apparently intoxicated. Jimenez had in his possession a loaded .45 caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number. Jimenez admitted that he assumed the gun had been stolen because its serial number had been removed. Jimenez’s backpack contained methamphetamine, cocaine, two syringes, marijuana, and two digital scales.
Before moving to Waterloo in 2017, Jimenez was convicted of two felonies in California involving firearms. He was convicted of committing a robbery involving a carjacking with a gun. Jimenez was later convicted of assault with a gun in relation to a drive-by shooting. He was as also convicted of another felony for evading a peace officer.
Jimenez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Jimenez was sentenced to 78 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Jimenez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-02016-LTS-MAR.
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Seven Men from Waterloo Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
Seven men, all from Waterloo, Iowa, were sentenced over the last fifteen months in federal court in Cedar Rapids based on their involvement in a crack cocaine trafficking conspiracy. Evidence from various hearings showed the investigation, which was a cooperative effort of numerous law enforcement agencies, included use of wiretaps and confidential sources.
Gregory Porter Washington, age 40, was sentenced on June 13, 2018, to 180 months’ imprisonment and supervised release of ten years. The sentence came after he pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Washington had previously been convicted of possession of cocaine and marijuana with intent to deliver in state court.
Ronald Corey, age 62, was sentenced on August 13, 2018, to 57 months’ imprisonment and supervised release of five years. The sentence came after he pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine.
Melvin Maurice Grubbs, age 37, was sentenced on October 11, 2018, to 179 months’ imprisonment and supervised release of three years. The sentence came after he pled guilty to two counts relating to the use of a phone to facilitate drug trafficking. Grubbs had previously been convicted possession of marijuana with intent to deliver on two occasions in state court.
Michel Earl Snow, age 42, was sentenced on November 20, 2018, to 197 months’ imprisonment and supervised release of eight years. The sentence came after he pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Snow had previously been convicted of delivery of cocaine, possession of crack cocaine with intent to deliver, and delivery of cocaine base.
Deon Marcell Goldsmith, age 38, was sentenced on December 17, 2018, to 46 months’ imprisonment and supervised release of one year. The sentence came after he pled guilty to two counts relating to the use of a phone to facilitate drug trafficking.
Keylynn Landon Goldsmith, age 34, was sentenced on January 3, 2019, to 60 months’ imprisonment and supervised release of one year. The sentence came after he pled guilty to two counts relating to the use of a phone to facilitate drug trafficking. Goldsmith had previously been convicted of ongoing criminal conduct in state court.
Corey Demarcus Jones, age 39, was sentenced on September 24, 2019, to 71 months’ imprisonment and supervised release of six years. The sentence came after he pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. Jones had previously been convicted of possession of cocaine base with intent to deliver and a drug tax stamp violation in state court.
All seven defendants were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle and was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Waterloo Police Department, the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, the Cedar Falls Police Department, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Iowa City Police Department, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa State Patrol.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 17-cr-2051.
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Guatemalan Man Who Used a Fraudulent Social Security Card Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who used a false identification document and someone else’s social security number was sentenced today to almost three months in federal prison.
Daniel Riz-Morente, age 35, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Postville, Iowa, received the prison term after a July 3, 2019, guilty plea to one count of unlawful use of an identification document and one count of misuse of a social security number.
At the guilty plea, Riz-Morente admitted he used a fraudulent Social Security card when he completed employment and tax forms using an alias name in April 2019, at a business in West Union, Iowa. The Social Security account number on the card used by Riz-Morente belonged to another person. On June 4, 2019, Riz-Morente was arrested by immigration agents at the business in West Union where Riz-Morente was working under the alias name.
On March 4, 2019, Riz-Morente first came to the attention of Custom and Border Patrol agents in New Mexico after he illegally entered the United States with a minor child. Riz-Morente was released and instructed to report to the ICE office in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, pending further immigration proceedings. As part of his release conditions, Riz-Morente was told he could not work in the United States without government authorization and proper documentation.
Riz-Morente was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Riz-Morente was sentenced to 115 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Riz-Morente 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 19-CR-1016.
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Guatemalan Man Sentenced to Prison Following Deportation and Document FraudRead the Press Release
A man who had been deported, illegally returned to the United States, and then used false identification documents to obtain a job was sentenced today to more than four months in federal prison.
Jose Mariano Choch-Quiej, age 32, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Postville, Iowa, received the prison term after a July 1, 2019, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States.
In a plea agreement, Choch-Quiej admitted he had previously been deported from the United States in August 2007 and that he illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. When he was found in 2007, Choch-Quiej initially claimed to be a Mexican citizen to avoid being returned to Guatemala. In May 2019, immigration agents found Choch-Quiej at the Winneshiek County Jail in Decorah, Iowa, following his arrest for driving with a suspended license.
Choch-Quiej also admitted he used a fraudulent Social Security card and a fraudulent permanent resident card, also known as a “green card,” when he completed employment forms in August 2018, at a business in Decorah, Iowa. The Social Security account number on the card used by Choch-Quiej belonged to another person. The Alien Registration number on the “green card” was issued to another person.
Choch-Quiej was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Choch-Quiej was sentenced to 133 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.
Choch-Quiej 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 19-CR-2034.
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Cedar Rapids Man Who Carjacked a Teenager and Robbed a Store While Carrying a Gun Sentenced to over 18 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids man who carjacked an 18-year old woman at gunpoint and carried a loaded handgun during and in relation to the robbery of a Cedar Rapids cell phone store was sentenced in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids on September 25, 2019, to 222 months’ in federal prison.
Cedric Antonio Wright (a/k/a “Tony” or “Mitch”), age 22, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was convicted by a federal jury in November 2018 of four charges: carjacking; carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the carjacking; unlawful possession of a firearm as a felon and unlawful drug user; and carrying a firearm during and in relation to the October 23, 2017 robbery of a phone store in southwest Cedar Rapids. Wright had earlier pleaded guilty in the same case, on October 29, 2018, to one count of robbery and conspiracy to rob the phone store.
The evidence at trial showed that on October 22, 2017, Wright carjacked an 18 year-old Kirkwood Community College student who was returning to her apartment near Kirkwood after spending an evening with her parents. As the student parked her car outside her apartment, Wright approached and pointed a handgun at her head while demanding she give Wright her car keys and cell phone. The student later identified a photo of Wright that appeared online and identified Wright from a group of photos at the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
Trial evidence showed that on October 23, 2017, Derrick Ford agreed to give Wright and Gage Rupp a ride in his minivan from southeast Cedar Rapids to an apartment complex on the west side of Cedar Rapids, where Wright claimed the group could transfer into the stolen car. After transferring into the stolen vehicle, the group drove to a parking lot adjacent to the strip mall where the phone store is located. Wright and Rupp then entered the store and demanded the clerk let them into the room where the store inventory was located. The clerk complied and testified at trial he did so because the robbers entered the store aggressively and “I felt in fear of my life.”
Wright and Rupp returned to the waiting car with more than $1,000 in cash and about $40,000 in cell phones and other electronic devices they had stolen from the store. One of the stolen devices was a tracker that alerted police of the robbery. Police responded to the tracking device within a few minutes and were able to quickly apprehend Wright, Rupp, and Ford.
Information at the sentencing hearing showed that Wright had an extensive criminal history, even at his relatively young age, including a prior aggravated robbery conviction and numerous other offenses. The government also presented evidence that in the months preceding the robbery, Wright had been engaged in a financial fraud scheme, whereby Wright agreed to pay bills for others, in exchange for them paying him half of the cost of the bill being paid. Wright then apparently paid the bills using a fraudulently obtained credit card.
Chief United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand noted that Wright’s crimes in this case were extremely violent and had been committed on back-to-back evenings, something that “stood out” from others. Further, the nature and circumstance of the offenses were “frankly, disgusting” according to the judge.
Wright was ordered to serve 222 months’ in prison, or 18 and a half years, to be followed by five years of supervision upon release from imprisonment. Wright was also ordered to pay $600 in special assessments. Wright remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending designation to a federal prison.
Rupp was sentenced on August 22, 2019, to serve twelve years’ imprisonment in connection with the same case. Ford was sentenced on January 18, 2019, to serve 20 months’ imprisonment following his plea of guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the phone store robbery.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Richard Murphy and Emily Nydle and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force. The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Marshal Service, and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl .
The case file number is 18-CR-0015.
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Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to 32 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting a ChildRead the Press Release
A man who sexually exploited a 14-year-old girl, enticed her to engage in prostitution, and received child pornography was sentenced today to 32 years in federal prison.
Kevin Herring, age 30, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the sentence after a September 28, 2018, guilty plea to one count of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of receipt of child pornography. Evidence at sentencing showed that, in January 2018, Herring was at a halfway house in Cedar Rapids following his federal prison sentence for being a felon and domestic abuser in possession of a firearm. While on a pass from the halfway house, he met the victim, a runaway 14‑year-old girl. Herring persuaded, induced, and enticed the victim to engage in prostitution and to send him sexually explicit images of herself. Herring asked the victim if she loved him and told her she could live with him after he left the halfway house.
Herring was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by Chief United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Herring was sentenced to 384 months’ imprisonment in this case and an additional 24 months’ imprisonment for a supervised release violation in a previous case, to be served consecutively. A special assessment of $200 was imposed, Herring was ordered to pay $111,654 in victim restitution, and he also must serve a seven-year term of supervised release. He must comply with all sex offender registration and public notification requirements.
“Kevin Herring preyed upon the vulnerability of a 14-year-old runaway girl,” said United States Attorney Peter Deegan. “His repulsive conduct earned him every minute of the sentence he received. Our office has and will continue to hold accountable predators like Herring and prosecute them the full extent of the law.”
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, the Waterloo Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations.
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.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is CR 18-58.
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Mexican Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being Deported Eleven TimesRead the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced today to five months in federal prison.
Gabriel Hernandez-Martinez, age 39, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States received the prison term after a June 21, 2019, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States.
At the guilty plea, Hernandez-Martinez admitted he had previously been deported from the United States in October 2009, December 2009, March 2010, and November 2010 and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Hernandez-Lopez and other illegal aliens were found by immigration agents in May 2019 after a traffic stop in Bremer County, Iowa. Hernandez-Martinez was also deported to Mexico one time in November 1998, three times in November 1999, two times on the same day in June 2005, and one additional time in October 2009.
Hernandez-Martinez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Hernandez-Martinez was sentenced to five months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Hernandez-Martinez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by 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 19-CR-2038.
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Sioux City Man Who Fled from Police with Stolen Gun, Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A Sioux City man was sentenced September 20, 2019, to more than 9 years in federal prison.
On April 25, 2019, Brandon Esquibel, age 26, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty to felon in possession of a firearm. Esquibel was previously convicted of a felony controlled substance violation in 2012 and possession of a controlled substance 3rd or subsequent offense in 2017, both in the Iowa District Court.
Evidence at the detention, change of plea, and sentencing hearings revealed that on October 30, 2018, defendant fled from law enforcement, grabbed a gun from his waistband and discarded it as he fled. During the foot pursuit, defendant ran into an officer, grabbing the handrails of the officer’s rifle. Esquibel continued to flee from officers and was subsequently tased, and taken into custody. Law enforcement later determined that the firearm defendant possessed – a loaded pistol -- had been reported as stolen.
Esquibel has a substantial criminal history, including an assault conviction and involvement in an assault committed while he was in custody. In addition, Esquibel has a history of fleeing from law enforcement, and violating previous grants of release from custody.
Esquibel was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Esquibel was sentenced to 110 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Esquibel is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-4005.
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Colorado Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting a CongressmanRead the Press Release
A Colorado man pled guilty on September 23, 2019, in United States District Court in Sioux City.
Blake Gibbins, 27, from Lafayette, Colorado, pled guilty to one count of assaulting a member of congress. At his guilty plea hearing, and in a plea agreement, Gibbins admitted that on March 22, 2019, at the Mineral City Mill & Grill in Fort Dodge, Iowa, he approached a table where U.S. Congressman Steve King and others were seated and assaulted Congressman King by intentionally throwing a cup of water on him.
Sentencing before Chief United States Magistrate Judge Kelly Mahoney will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Gibbons faces a possible maximum sentence of not more than one year imprisonment, a $100,000 fine, and up to 5 years’ probation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy T. Duax and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Fort Dodge Police Department, and the United States Capitol Police.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is CR19-3033-LTS.
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Estherville, Iowa Man Pleads Guilty to Meth and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine while illegally possessing guns pled guilty September 20, 2019, in federal court in Sioux City.
Dustin Julich, 35, from Estherville, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and illegal possession of a firearm. Julich was previously convicted of theft and burglary, and was prohibited from possessing firearms in Iowa.
At the plea hearing, Julich admitted that from about December 2015 through February 2019 he and others distributed over 1 kilogram of methamphetamine in the Estherville, Iowa area. During a search warrant of Julich’s truck and trailer, law enforcement seized approximately ½ pound of methamphetamine along with two guns.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Julich remains in custody of the United States Marshal and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Julich faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment on the conspiracy conviction. On the firearm conviction, Julich faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than three years of supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mikala Steenholdt and was investigated by Estherville Police Department, Emmet County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and Iowa Division of Criminalistics Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-3010. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Illegal Alien Who Used Another Person’s Name and Social Security Number Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who used another person’s Social Security number to get a job was sentenced today to more than three months in federal prison.
Rony Sandoval-Ramirez, age 28, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Toledo, Iowa, received the prison term after a June 25, 2019, guilty plea to one count of misuse of a social security number.
In a plea agreement, Sandoval-Ramirez admitted that on November 3, 2015, he used someone else’s name and social security number on employment forms and state and federal tax forms when applying for work in Tama, Iowa.
On September 5, 2016, Sandoval-Ramirez was arrested in Nobles County, Minnesota, and charged with driving while intoxicated. On September 7, 2016, Sandoval-Ramirez was arrested by immigrations for being illegally present in the United States and then released on an immigration bond. In July 2017, Sandoval-Ramirez was convicted of driving while intoxicated.
Following his release from immigration custody, Sandoval-Ramirez continued working under the false name in Tama, Iowa. He updated his employment forms in October 2018, again using the name and social security number of the other person. Sandoval-Ramirez worked under that person’s name until he was again arrested by immigration officials after he was charged with domestic assault with injury and two counts of child endangerment on May 25, 2019. These charges are currently pending in the Iowa District Court for Tama County.
Sandoval-Ramirez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Sandoval-Ramirez was sentenced to 98 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.
Sandoval-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 19-CR-61.
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Sioux City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing MethRead the Press Release
A man who distributed 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine was sentenced Thursday, September 5, 2019 to 10 years in federal prison.
Andrew Karlos Orellana, age 40, from Sioux City, Iowa received the prison term after a guilty plea to one Count of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
In a Plea Agreement, Orellana admitted to distributing a quarter pound of methamphetamine for $3,200.
Orellana has an extensive criminal history including Theft, Possession of Marijuana, Criminal Trespass, and Assault in the Second and Third Degree, Burglary in the Third Degree, Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated, Public Intoxication, and Possession of Methamphetamine.
Orellana was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Orellana was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment and fined $100. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Orellana is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jack Lammers and investigated by Sioux City Police Department and the Tri-State Drug Task Force.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-4007.
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Mason City Man Involved in Burglary Where Guns Were Stolen Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who possessed numerous guns stolen in a burglary was sentenced September 10, 2019 to 10 years in federal prison.
Daniel Solano, age 33, from Mason City, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
In a plea agreement, Solano admitted to possessing seven firearms from May 12, 2017 to May 30, 2017 and committing a felony crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, specifically, Reckless Homicide in Cook County, Illinois on or about July 26, 2007.
On May 12, 2017, Solano and others broke into a Thompson, Iowa residence and stole seven guns.
Solano was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Solano was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment. Solano must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Solano is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jack Lammers and investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Mason City Police Department, and the Clear Lake Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-3058.
Marion Man Pleads Guilty in Energy Efficiency Rebate SchemeRead the Press Release
The owner of a local energy efficiency company who defrauded a utility company by making false statements on rebate forms and paying a kickback to an employee of one of the utility’s contractors, pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Dustin James Hutcheson, age 39, from Marion, Iowa, was convicted of one count of mail fraud and one count of money laundering. At the plea hearing, Hutcheson admitted that, from May 2017 through June 2018, he falsely represented to a utility company’s customers that Hutcheson’s company, Hutch Energy, LLC, could replace the customer’s current lighting at no cost to the customer on account of the utility company’s energy efficiency rebate program. In truth, Hutcheson and other Hutch Energy, LLC, representatives made false and fraudulent representations to the utility company on energy efficiency rebate forms and associated invoices about the amount of money the utility company’s customers had paid Hutch Energy, LLC, for replacement LED tubes. He also made further false and fraudulent representations to the utility company about the number of LED tubes that Hutch Energy, LLC, had sold to the customers of the utility company. Hutcheson also forged the signatures of the authorized representatives of the utility company’s customers on the rebate forms. By doing so, Hutcheson ensured that the utility company would mail a rebate check to the customer, for later transfer to Hutch Energy, LLC, because Hutcheson made it appear that the utility company’s customers had certified the truth and accuracy of the false and fraudulent representations on the rebate forms. Hutcheson also admitted at the plea hearing that he had paid an employee of one of the utility company’s contractors $1,400 as a kickback for referring the utility company’s customers to Hutch Energy, LLC.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Hutcheson remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Hutcheson faces a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $1,500,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Vavricek and was 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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27 Year Old Klemme, IA Man Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who was in possession of a stolen firearm and methamphetamine was sentenced Tuesday, September 11, 2019 to more than 12 years in federal prison.
Jacob Dean Ganseveld, age 27, from Klemme, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
In a plea agreement, Ganseveld admitted to distributing methamphetamine. On January 6, 2019, law enforcement stopped Ganseveld for multiple traffic violations. An officer’s K9 smelled a controlled substance coming from Ganseveld’s car. After searching the car, police located eight baggies containing methamphetamine, marijuana, multiple syringes, as well as a digital scale with methamphetamine residue. Police also discovered a revolver and a box of ammunition. Ganseveld admitted to possessing the gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime as well as distributing methamphetamine.
Ganseveld was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Ganseveld was sentenced to 145 months’ imprisonment and must pay a special assessment of $200. Ganseveld must also serve a 4-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Ganseveld is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jack Lammers and investigated by Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, Garner 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-3012.
Occupational Therapist Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Accessing Private Health Data and Stealing OpioidsRead the Press Release
A licensed occupational therapist who improperly accessed the private health and residence information of at least 1,900 patients, and then entered or burglarized thirteen homes across North Central Iowa in repeated attempts to steal prescription opioids from vulnerable and elderly persons, was sentenced September 9, 2019, to more than one year in federal prison.
Samantha Jo Rogers, age 33, from Mason City, Iowa, originally from Lapeer, Michigan, received the prison term after a March 11, 2019, guilty plea to one count of acquiring and attempting to acquire a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge, one count of wrongfully obtaining individually identifiable health information under false pretenses and with intent to use for personal gain, and one count of false statements relating to health care matters.
In a plea agreement and at sentencing, it was established that Rogers was an Iowa-licensed occupational therapist who worked for a North Iowa hospital and various therapy companies. From at least July 2017 through June 2018, Rogers illegally accessed the private health and residence information of no less than 1,900 patients at the hospital. Rogers also similarly accessed such information from one of the therapy companies no less than 1,572 times. Rogers then used this information to locate and travel to some of the residences and attempted to obtain the patients’ prescription pain medication on the pretense that she was a public health worker. On other occasions, Rogers used a crow bar to break down the patients’ doors and commit burglaries to obtain the narcotics. In early 2018, for example, Rogers burglarized the same Forest City home twice in attempts to steal an elderly man’s prescription pain killers.
Another one of Rogers’s victims was an elderly woman who had recently been discharged to her residence from a Waverly nursing home after receiving skilled nursing care. In January 2018, Rogers travelled to the woman’s home and falsely stated that the woman’s doctor did not want her taking her pain medications anymore. Rogers then took the medications from the woman. As a result of Rogers’s false statements, the woman’s family had to take the woman to the emergency room due to the excruciating pain she began experiencing. The woman eventually had to return to the Waverly nursing home for more skilled care as a result of Rogers’s actions. Then, after the woman was discharged a second time from the nursing home, Rogers returned to the woman’s home and knocked on her doors and windows trying to get into the home, until one of the woman’s family members arrived to help the elderly woman.
Rogers was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Judge Williams called Rogers’ crimes “egregious” and emphasized that the victims of her burglaries would never fully regain the sense of safety they had previously felt in their homes. Judge Williams also found it was “particularly egregious” when, less than a month after law enforcement officers had executed a search warrant at Rogers’ Mason City home, Rogers took a crow bar to another home as a part of her scheme.
Rogers was sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment. She was ordered to make $524.59 in restitution to one of the victims of her burglaries and an additional $20.92 to Medicare. Rogers must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term, and she must forfeit her State of Iowa occupational therapy license to the United States. There is no parole in the federal system. After violating her pretrial release on numerous occasions, Rogers is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Vavricek and investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mason City Police Department. The Worth County Sheriff’s Office, the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, the Hampton Police Department, the Clear Lake Police Department, and the Iowa State Patrol also assisted in Rogers’ prosecution.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-3051.
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Cedar Rapids Man Who Sold Heroin that Caused Two Overdoses Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who sold heroin to two individuals who nearly died was sentenced today to more than six years in federal prison.
Travon Patterson, age 28, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 18, 2019 guilty plea to distribution of heroin within 1,000 feet of a protected location after a prior felony drug conviction.
At the guilty plea, Patterson admitted that on December 27, 2016, he distributed heroin to another individual near an elementary school in Marion, Iowa. Court documents reflect that Patterson also admitted that on December 16, 2016, he sold heroin to two of his customers, a male and a female. The female used some of the heroin Patterson sold them and lost consciousness inside a gas station bathroom. Gas station employees discovered her and called the police. First responders found her unresponsive, with shallow, irregular breathing. The first responders administered Narcan, the opioid reversal drug, to the female and she regained consciousness.
Court documents further reflect that, on December 23, 2016, Patterson distributed heroin to the male customer from the December 16 overdose incident. The distribution occurred at Patterson’s mother’s residence, and the male used the heroin there. The male lost consciousness shortly thereafter, and Patterson and his mother called 911. First responders arrived and found the male unconscious with shallow breathing and an abnormally low respiratory rate. The first responders administered Narcan, and he regained consciousness.
Patterson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Patterson was sentenced to 77 months’ and 10 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a six-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Patterson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA; the Linn County Sheriff's Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Justin Lightfoot and Dan Chatham.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-00003-CJW-MAR.
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Guatemalan Man Who Possessed a Fraudulent Social Security Card Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A Guatemalan man who possessed a false identification document in the name of a U.S. Citizen was sentenced today to more than one year in federal prison.
Andres Tzunux-Ordonez, age 22, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and living in Postville, Iowa, received the prison term after a June 27, 2019, guilty plea to one count of unlawful possession of an identification document.
In a plea agreement, Tzunux-Ordonez admitted that in February 2013, using the name of a U.S. citizen, he used a fraudulent social security card and a State of Missouri identification card bearing his photograph when completing paperwork to obtain employment in Postville, Iowa. Tzunux-Ordonez also used the social security number on the card when applying for insurance in December 2017. The social security number belonged to the U.S. citizen whose name Tzunux-Ordonez used to work.
On March 11, 2019, defendant was arrested at his place of work and admitted that he knowingly used the identity of a U.S. citizen to work in Iowa. Tzunux-Ordonez turned over to immigration officials a Texas birth certificate and the social security card and State of Missouri identification card he used to obtain work in Postville.
Tzunux-Ordonez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Tzunux-Ordonez was sentenced to one year and one day imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Tzunux-Ordonez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-1008.
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Three Time Felon to Federal Prison for Meth Conspiracy and Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine while possessing guns was sentenced August 30, 2019, to 30 years in federal prison.
On March 21, 2019, Brandon Lee Boone, 46, from Des Moines, Iowa, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a stolen firearm. Boone was previously convicted of the manufacture/delivery/possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine in 2004 and possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine in 2008, both in the Iowa District Court. Boone was also previously convicted of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon in the United States District Court in 2009 and felony drug trafficking of methamphetamine with a firearm in Worthington, Minnesota in 2018.
At the plea hearing, Boone admitted his involvement in a conspiracy that distributed at least 15 kilograms of mixed methamphetamine from January 2018 through February 2018. On February 6, 2018, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, during a routine traffic stop of a vehicle in which Boone was a passenger, law enforcement seized over 800 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine and three guns, including a loaded .44 caliber handgun on his person and a stolen AR-15 rifle with an extra capacity 60 round drum magazine. Boone admitted he possessed the methamphetamine with intent to distribute it and possession of guns (as a convicted felon) during the time and in furtherance of the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. At the time of the stop, Boone was heard to say “If I could get to my guns, I would blow their heads off.”
Boone was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Boone was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment and must serve a 10 year term of supervised release following imprisonment. Boone remains in U.S. Marshals custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Fort Dodge Police Department, Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa Division of Criminalistics Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-3004. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Sioux City Man Sentenced to Prison for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
A man who failed to register as a sex offender was sentenced on September 29, 2019, to 41 months’ in federal prison.
Charles Lee Cook, age 36, from Sioux City, received the prison term after an April 9, 2019, guilty plea to one count of failure to register as a sex offender.
At the guilty plea, Cook admitted that from October 20, 2017, through November 18, 2018, he knowingly failed to register or update his registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. The investigation showed that beginning in April 2018, Cook registered two different addresses in Sioux City, but failed to reside at either location. Cook is required to register as a sex offender due to a March 28, 2007, conviction for sexual abuse in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska.
Cook was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Cook was sentenced to 41 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.
Cook 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 United States Marshals Service.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-04006.
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Fort Dodge Woman Sentenced to Repay Iowa Department of Human Services Nearly $35,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP) FundsRead the Press Release
A woman who unlawfully obtained SNAP funds for her household was sentenced September 3, 2019, to time served and restitution.
Jessica Martinez-Roque, age 34, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the sentence after a guilty plea to one count of theft of government funds.
In a plea agreement, Martinez-Roque admitted that between about May 1, 2014, and January 31, 2019, she knowingly lied on application forms to acquire Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP) funds, to which she knew she was not entitled, in the sum of $34,656.
SNAP, formerly Food Stamps, is a federally funded program, administered by the states, that assists households in purchasing food. Households must meet income, resource, and various non-financial eligibility criteria in order to qualify for said benefits. The amount of monthly assistance is dependent upon reported income and the number of individuals within the household. Martinez-Roque reported on her Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) applications and review/recertification eligibility documents (RREDs) that she was not employed or only worked short periods of time. She failed to report the father of her three children was living in the home and working full time. Properly reporting his income would have made her household ineligible for benefits.
Martinez-Roque was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Martinez-Roque was sentenced to time served. She was ordered to make $34,656 in restitution to the Iowa Department of Human Services. She must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher and investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG), the Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (IDIA).
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-03006.
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Fort Dodge Man to Federal Prison for Meth and Gun ConvictionsRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine while illegally possessing firearms was sentenced August 30, 2019, to 20 years in federal prison.
Wayne Quillen, age 49, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possession of a firearm by a felon. Quillen was previously convicted of robbery in the first degree in 1989 and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute in 2001, each in Webster County, Iowa.
At the plea hearing on March 12, 2019, Quillen admitted that from about 2017 through July 2018, he and others conspired to distribute more than three pounds of methamphetamine in the Fort Dodge area. On December 27, 2017, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the residence of a co-conspirator, Cody Groat, where Quillen was living. Officers seized ¾ pound of methamphetamine, three handguns, a modified (short) .410 shotgun with no serial number, and assorted 9mm ammunition. Two of the 9mm handguns had been stolen and the short shotgun possessed by defendant had a makeshift shoulder strap and was found just outside defendant’s bedroom in the basement.
Quillen was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Quillen was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Quillen 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 was investigated by the Fort Dodge Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Webster County, Iowa Sheriff’s Office, and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-3023. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Nurse Who Stole Pain Medication from Her Elderly Patients at Two Area Nursing Homes Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
An Iowa licensed practical nurse (LPN) who stole pain medications from her elderly and vulnerable patients at two Waterloo-area nursing homes was sentenced August 29, 2019, to more than a year in federal prison.
Lacey Staveley, age 36, from Evansdale, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 15, 2018, guilty plea to one count of acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge and one count of false statements relating to health care matters. On May 2, 2019, Staveley also pled guilty to one count of contempt of court.
In a plea agreement, Staveley admitted that, in November 2016, while employed at a nursing home in Cedar Falls, Iowa, she used her patients’ identities to get drugs. Staveley got pills containing hydrocodone by accessing her patients’ prescribed medications and diverting pain pills to herself. Staveley’s victims were long-term residents of the nursing home who had chronic pain and were on Medicare at the time. To cover up her scheme, Staveley destroyed an original medication log, placed it in a trash can, and replaced it with a fake medication log. When the nursing home discovered her thefts and asked her to provide a urine sample for testing, Staveley provided the nursing home with a fake urine sample consisting of toilet water. Because the sample obviously had flecks of toilet paper in it and no urine color, the nursing home obtained an actual urine sample from Staveley. This urine tested positive for the use of opiates, marijuana, and hydrocodone. The nursing home terminated Staveley’s employment.
In January 2018, Staveley was again working as a LPN for a different nursing home in Waterloo, Iowa. This nursing home was unaware of Staveley’s prior employment in Cedar Falls. Staveley took two oxycodone pills from a patient’s medication stocks. She also replaced the pills in the original blister pack with an anti-psychotic drug that did not provide pain relief. This patient complained of pain constantly. Staveley also admitted that she took four narcotic pills, containing Vimpat, from another nursing home patient and replaced those pills with an anti-seizure drug that had a similar shape and color. This second patient was non-verbal and could not even complain of pain. After discovering her actions, the second nursing home also terminated Staveley’s employment.
After being charged in federal court, Staveley violated the terms of her release more than 30 times. A federal judge revoked Staveley’s release after Staveley traveled to Tama County, burglarized her sister’s home, and stole her sister’s prescription drugs. Staveley’s sister suffered from serious medical conditions that required the prescriptions.
Staveley was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Staveley was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment. She was ordered to make more than $500 in restitution. She must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This prosecution is part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations, which are part of a joint initiative between the Department of Justice and Health and Human Services to focus efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country. The Medicare Fraud Strike Force operates in nine locations nationwide. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force has charged over 3,700 defendants who collectively have falsely billed the Medicare program for over $14 billion.
Staveley is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Vavricek and investigated by the Iowa Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-2031.
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