Northern District of Iowa
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Nurse Pleads Guilty to Drug Theft and TamperingRead the Press Release
Katie Louise Boll, age 31, from Manchester, Iowa, a nurse who took hydrocodone and morphine from patients, pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Boll was convicted of one count of acquiring controlled substances by misrepresentation, fraud, deception and subterfuge, and one count of tampering with a consumer product.
In a plea agreement, Boll admitted that between September 2018 and January 2019, she acquired hydrocodone prescribed for two of her patients for her own use on at least 50 occasions. Boll took the pills by swapping the hydrocodone pills for over-the-counter pills containing acetaminophen. Boll admitted that on December 24, 2018, she stole a morphine oral solution that was prescribed for a hospice patient for pain management and used mouthwash to dilute the solution to hide her theft. Boll also admitted that on December 29, 2018, she acquired controlled substances from ten additional patients by swapping their prescribed pain management medications for other substances. Boll further admitted she had been acquiring pain medications through fraud from hospitals and other facilities where she worked since October of 2016. Finally, Boll admitted her nursing license allowed her the ability to commit her crimes.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Boll remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Boll faces a possible maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov. The case file number is 19-CR-2044.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Reinert and investigated by Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals and the United States Food and Drug Administration.
Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Selling Meth in IowaRead the Press Release
An Iowa man who sold and possessed meth was sentenced August 29, 2019, to five years in federal prison.
Jaime William Hasselbusch, age 28, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 11, 2019, guilty plea to distribution of methamphetamine.
In a plea agreement, Hasselbusch admitted selling methamphetamine three times in Cedar Rapids. Hasselbusch also possessed over a half ounce of pure methamphetamine on another occasion. At sentencing, the district court enhanced Hasselbusch’s sentence after finding that he possessed brass knuckles in connection with his drug offenses.
Hasselbusch was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Hasselbusch was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a four-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Hasselbusch is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle and was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Linn County Sheriff's Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/. The case file number is 1:19-cr-00007-CJW-MAR.
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Nebraska Woman to Federal Prison on Meth ChargesRead the Press Release
A woman who trafficked methamphetamine was sentenced on August 28, 2019 to five years in federal prison.
Cecelia V. Hardheart, age 26, from Winnebago, Nebraska, received the prison term after an April 11, 2019, guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine near a protected location.
Evidence at the detention, change of plea, and sentencing hearing revealed Cecelia V. Hardheart tried to hide 27 grams of ice methamphetamine in her person during a traffic stop, conducted within 1000 feet of the real property comprising a public playground, Dinosaur Park, located at 1515 Nebraska Street, and Alfred Thompson Children’s Park located at 803 14th Street in Sioux City, Iowa. She refused to surrender the meth, requiring a search warrant to be obtained and executed by police and medical staff, who removed the meth by force. Hardheart has a lengthy criminal history including weapons charges (stemming from her possession of a 24-inch machete) and two assault convictions.
Hardheart was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Hardheart was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a 8-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Hardheart is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she 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 19-4011. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Armed Gunman with Lengthy Criminal History Sent to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a GunRead the Press Release
A felon who unlawfully possessed a firearm was sentenced on August 30, 2019 to more than 7 years in federal prison.
Thomas Tuttle, age 34, from Watertown, South Dakota, received the prison term after a March 27, 2019, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Information provided by the United States at the sentencing, change of plea, and detention hearings revealed that on November 2, 2018, Tuttle walked into a convenience store in Sheldon, Iowa carrying a loaded 9 mm, Kel-Tec, Carbine, which contained 30 rounds of ammunition, and stole a pack of cigarettes, frightening customers and employees alike in the process. Tuttle, in fact, possessed and brandished the gun in connection with other felony offenses and contemporaneously with his possession of methamphetamine.
Tuttle was arrested from inside his car by a law enforcement tactical team. He had ingested a large amount of illegal drugs, and had the loaded gun in close proximity. He later commented that he had come to Iowa with “bad intentions” and had he not been sleeping when the tactical team approached him “things would have gone differently” during his arrest.
It was also revealed that Tuttle has a history of dangerousness and violence. He has been convicted four times for Driving Under the Influence, three times for assaultive conduct, and repeatedly for controlled substance violations and other offenses.
Tuttle was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Tuttle was sentenced to 90 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $8.00 in restitution (for the packet of cigarettes). He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Tuttle 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 Sheldon, Iowa, Police Department, which was assisted by the O’Brien County Attorney’s Office and Sherriff’s Office and other nearby agency and departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-4008.
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Honduran Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being Deported in 2017Read the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced today to eight months in federal prison.
Cesar Hernandez-Lopez, age 29, a citizen of Honduras illegally present in the United States and residing in Muscatine, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 24, 2019, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been convicted of an aggravated felony.
At the guilty plea, Hernandez-Lopez admitted he had previously been deported from the United States in May 2017 and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Hernandez-Lopez was found by immigration agents in April 2019 at a traffic stop in Cedar County, Iowa.
Hernandez-Lopez was deported after being convicted in September 2016 of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, an aggravated felony, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. In that case, law enforcement officers found a loaded handgun during the execution of a search warrant under the mattress in Hernandez-Lopez’s bedroom.
Hernandez-Lopez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Hernandez-Lopez was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Hernandez-Lopez 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-39.
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Fort Dodge Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Meth and Gun ConvictionRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and possessed firearms illegally was sentenced August 23, 2019, to more than 17 years in federal prison.
Tate Owen Steburg, 48, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 6, 2019, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessing a firearm. Steburg had previously been convicted of two felony drug trafficking convictions in the Iowa District Court.
At the plea hearing, Steburg admitted that from about 2017 through February 2018, he was involved in a conspiracy that distributed more than 11 pounds of methamphetamine in the Fort Dodge area. Evidence at the plea hearing also showed that in two separate transactions in January 2018, Steburg sold about four ounces of methamphetamine; and on another occasion sold a firearm to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. It was later determined that the firearm had been stolen in a Calhoun County, Iowa, burglary/arson case.
Steburg was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Steburg was sentenced to 208 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. Steburg 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 Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol and Iowa Division of Criminalistics Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-3013. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Fort Dodge Man Convicted of Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was convicted by a jury today after a three-day trial in federal court in Sioux City.
Timothy Wunder, age 44, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The verdict was returned this morning following about 3 hours of jury deliberations. Wunder was previously convicted of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, in 2002.
The evidence at trial showed that from about February 2017 through March 2018, Wunder and others conspired to distribute more than 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine. A number of witnesses testified at trial as to their involvement in obtaining methamphetamine from Wunder for personal use as well as further distribution. Also evidence at trial showed that during the time period for the conspiracy, Wunder sold small quantities of methamphetamine to several workers at Liguria Foods in Humboldt, Iowa, where Wunder worked.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Wunder remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Wunder faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, and at least ten years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, Wright County Sheriff’s Office, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Dodge Police Department, Eagle Grove Police Department, and Iowa Division of Criminalistics Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-3026. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Arizona Man to Federal Prison for Iowa Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced August 23, 2019, to four years in federal prison.
Henock Castillo, 33, from Mesa, Arizona, received the prison term after a March 18, 2019, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
At the guilty plea, Castillo admitted he participated in a conspiracy that distributed at least 13 kilograms of methamphetamine. Castillo arranged for the delivery of methamphetamine to Sioux City. Castillo obtained the meth from his source in Mexico and traveled from Phoenix to Sioux City with the methamphetamine for distribution in Sioux City.
Castillo was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Castillo was sentenced to 48 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. Castillo 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 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 18-4069. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Former Medical Student Sentenced to over Seven Years in Federal Prison for Selling Guns to a FelonRead the Press Release
A former medical student who sold two guns to a felon and tried to pay for a murder with a machine gun was sentenced today to more than seven years in federal prison.
Steven Arce, age 36, from Waterloo, Iowa, previously from Florida, received the prison term after a March 20, 2019, guilty plea to one count of selling a firearm to a felon.
In a plea agreement, Arce admitted that, on December 21, 2018, he sold an AR-15 rifle to another person whom he knew to be a felon. During the exchange, Arce asked the felon if the felon could murder one of Arce’s medical school professors. The felon told Arce he would need to talk to someone more qualified.
On January 2, 2019, Arce sold a second gun to the same convicted felon. During this meeting, Arce and the felon arranged to meet with a hitman the next day. Arce told the felon that he might want to delay killing the professor because Arce was pursuing an appeal regarding his expulsion from medical school. Arce said he might want someone to give the professor a beating instead. During this same meeting, Arce told the felon that Arce had two automatic weapons, or machineguns, that he could assemble.
On January 3, 2019, Arce met with the hitman, who was actually an undercover law enforcement officer. During the meeting, Arce told the officer posing as a hitman that Arce now wanted his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend killed but might want the professor killed at a later time. Arce offered to give the hitman a machinegun as a down payment on the murder.
Law enforcement later arrested Arce and searched his apartment in Waterloo. During the search, officers found two additional guns in full working order. Officers also found a box of gun parts. These parts were examined by an expert, who concluded that the parts could be assembled into a machinegun. Such a gun would have been able to fire in either semiautomatic or fully automatic modes.
Arce was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Arce was sentenced to 90 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.
Arce is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Waterloo Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-cr-2005.
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Attorney General’s Advisory Subcommittee on Native American Issues to Convene in New MexicoRead the Press Release
Cedar Rapids, IA – U.S. Attorney Peter. E. Deegan, Jr. will meet with fellow members of the Attorney General’s Advisory Subcommittee on Native American Issues (NAIS) in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico, in order to discuss public safety and law enforcement issues that impact Native American and Alaska Native communities.
The annual meeting will begin Aug. 28 and run through Aug. 30. During this time, the NAIS will engage with tribal leaders and develop strategies and best practices to address missing and murdered indigenous people, drug trafficking, needed law enforcement resources, and safeguarding children from sexual abuse in Indian country.
The most common crimes investigated in Indian country include child sexual abuse, violent assaults, and adult sexual assaults, followed by homicide, other forms of child abuse, drug, and property crimes. According to a 2016 study funded by the National Institute of Justice, more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native adults have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime, and more than half of all American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence from an intimate partner. Native women and girls suffer a high rate of violence, including murder.
“United States Attorneys nationwide are committed to improving public safety in Indian country and rural Alaska. The work of Attorney General Barr’s Native American Issues Subcommittee is focused on reducing violent crime, improving law enforcement resources, and combating the distribution of methamphetamine and opioids,” said U.S. Attorney Shores, Chair of the NAIS. “The disproportionate rates of violence affecting Native American and Alaska Native women is particularly troubling to me. With Attorney General Barr’s leadership, we will continue working with tribal leaders to find solutions to the epidemic of violence against indigenous women.”
“Our office’s mission is to protect the public,” said United States Attorney Deegan. “This includes working with tribal authorities and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to safeguard the Native American communities in this district.”
Panel discussions will also focus on the Indian Arts and Crafts Act and preserving Native American cultural patrimony. The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 is a truth-in-advertising law that prohibits misrepresentation in the marketing of Indian arts and crafts products within the United States. It is illegal to offer or display for sale, or sell any art or craft product in a manner that falsely suggests it is Indian produced, an Indian product, or the product of a particular Indian or Indian tribe or Indian arts and crafts organization, resident within the United States.
U.S. Attorney John Anderson of the District of New Mexico will host the three-day conference.
The NAIS consists of 53 U.S. Attorneys serving in districts that include Indian Country or one or more federally recognized tribes and makes policy recommendations to the Attorney General. The NAIS has identified four priority areas: 1) Violent crime 2) Law enforcement resources 3) Drug trafficking and substance abuse, and 4) White collar crime. It is the longest standing subcommittee to the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee and helps develop, shape, and otherwise implement justice policies affecting Native Americans and Alaska Natives. U.S. Attorney Trent Shores of the Northern District of Oklahoma is the subcommittee Chair. U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme of the District of Montana is the Vice Chair.
In fiscal year 2018, the Department of Justice awarded $113 million in grant awards to improve public safety, serve victims of crime, combat violence against women, and support youth programs, to 134 Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages. In addition, the Department awarded a total of 154 grants totaling $88 million as part of the first-ever Tribal Victim Service Set-Aside program; these awards were supported by the Crime Victims Fund, a repository of federal criminal fines, fees, and special assessments. The awards will help tribes develop, expand and improve services to victims of crime by providing funding, programming and technical assistance. Even more funding will be available – up to $168 million – under the set-aside this year.
In July 2019, the Department announced a new tool giving tribal governments the ability to input data directly and gain access to the FBI’s National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) using the Tribe and Territory Sex Offender Registry System (TTSORS). TTSORS is a fully functioning registry system that complies with Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act requirements. The system connection will be available to all tribal governments already participating in the Tribal Access Program (TAP), which allows information sharing between tribal and federal government criminal information systems. TAP has been instrumental in assisting tribes with ongoing implementation of SORNA. In fiscal year 2019, the department expanded TAP to 25 more tribes, for a total of more than 70 participating tribes across the country.
Escape from Federal Custody Results in Longer SentenceRead the Press Release
A man who escaped from custody while serving a federal sentence in the Gerald R. Hinzman Center was sentenced August 26, 2019, to serve an additional four months in federal prison.
Shaquandis Thurmond, age 25, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 10, 2019 guilty plea to escape from federal custody.
In a plea agreement, Thurmond admitted he was in the Gerald R. Hinzman Center in Cedar Rapids pursuant to an August 3, 2018, federal court order issued for a supervised release violation following his previous conviction in a firearms case. On August 26, 2018, Thurmond left the facility claiming he was going to a local church. Thurmond remained a fugitive until his arrest on March 18, 2019, when he was found by the University of Northern Iowa Police Department.
Thurmond was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Thurmond was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment to be served consecutively with the 12 month sentence Thurmond received for his supervised release revocation. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Thurmond is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Reinert and investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force, with the assistance of the University of Northern Iowa Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-00035.
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California Man Sentenced to over 25 Years in Prison for Trafficking Meth from California to IowaRead the Press Release
A man who admitted trafficking meth from California to Iowa was sentenced August 26, 2019, to more than 25 years in federal prison.
Thomas Edward Clutts, Jr., age 45, from Riverside, California, received the prison term after a January 4, 2019, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
In a plea agreement, Clutts admitted he arranged for another man to purchase a total of seven pounds of methamphetamine from a California source for distribution in Iowa. Clutts also admitted possessing a gun while in Iowa that he carried in connection with and furtherance of the drug conspiracy. Clutts has a long criminal history, including prior convictions for multiple drug-related crimes and robbery in California
Clutts was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Clutts was sentenced to 323 months’ and 25 days imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Clutts is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle and was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA; the Linn County Sheriff's Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 1:18-cr-00070-CJW-MAR.
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Webster City Man Sentenced for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced August 23, 2019, to 10 years in federal prison.
Jeremy Alan Frye, age 35, from Webster City, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 18, 2019, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
At the guilty plea, Frye admitted his involvement in a conspiracy that distributed methamphetamine from July 2017 through August 2018 in Webster City, Iowa. Frye also admitted that on four occasions in 2018 he distributed more than 53 grams of pure meth to law enforcement within a public park zone in undercover drug operations. During a search warrant at Frye’s residence, located within 1000 feet of Nokomis Park and East Twin Park, law enforcement seized over 37 grams of pure meth. Frye further admitted that he intended to distribute this methamphetamine.
Frye was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Frye was sentenced to 120 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. Frye 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 Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster City Police Department, 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 18-3035. 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 August 22, 2019, to four months in federal prison.
Bonifacio Martin-Martin, age 20, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Iowa City, Iowa, received the prison term after a June 10, 2019, guilty plea to one count of misuse of a social security number.
At the guilty plea, Martin-Martin admitted that on July 12, 2018, he used someone else’s name and social security number on employment forms and state and federal tax forms when applying for work in Lime Springs, Iowa. Martin-Martin worked under that person’s name until he was arrested by immigration officials after he was charged with public intoxication in Postville, Iowa, on April 6, 2019. The public intoxication charge was later dismissed after federal charges were filed.
Martin-Martin was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Martin-Martin was sentenced to 120 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.
Martin-Martin 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-2021. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl Resulting in Two Near Fatal Overdoses Leads to 25 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who sold opioids that resulted in two near-fatal overdoses was sentenced August 22, 2019, to 25 years in federal prison.
Jason Bates, age 44, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after guilty pleas on August 6, 2018, to possessing heroin with intent to distribute it near a protected location and being a felon in possession of a firearm, and a guilty plea on March 21, 2019, to distributing heroin resulting in serious bodily injury.
In a plea agreement, Bates admitted he distributed at least 110 grams of heroin during two months in 2018. He further admitted that, on March 16, 2018, he sold a customer approximately a quarter gram of heroin for $40. The customer used the heroin and lost consciousness. When first responders arrived at the scene, they found the customer unconscious, with pale, cool skin, and breathing only four to six times per minute. First responders administered Narcan to the customer, who regained consciousness and breathing function.
In April 2018, federal officers executed a warrant at Bates’s home. When the officers arrived, Bates threw a baggie containing 32.66 grams of a mixture of heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl out of a window. Officers also found nearly $2000 in cash, a loaded .40 caliber pistol, digital scales, an empty box for another handgun, and 33 rounds of ammunition. The .40 caliber pistol had been reported stolen after a 2016 home burglary.
Evidence at the sentencing hearing demonstrated that in September 2015, Bates sold another customer approximately a half gram of a mixture containing heroin and fentanyl. The customer injected himself and his girlfriend with defendant’s drugs, and both lost consciousness. The girlfriend remained unconscious for a period of hours and eventually her lips began to turn blue and her skin turned pale. The customer drove his girlfriend to a park in Cedar Rapids, propped her up against a tree, called 911, and then waited in the area until first responders arrived before leaving. The girlfriend was admitted to a hospital, and during her hospital stay she suffered multiple seizures and a stroke, which caused potentially permanent problems with her balance and vision.
Bates was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Bates was sentenced to 300 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.
Bates 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 18-CR-00052-LTS-MAR.
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Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to More Than a Decade in Prison for Role in Robbery and CarjackingRead the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids man who participated in an armed carjacking of a young woman near Kirkwood College on October 22, 2017, and planned and participated in a robbery of a Sprint phone store in Cedar Rapids using the stolen car the following day, was sentenced August 22, 2019, to serve twelve years in federal prison.
Gage Rupp, age 25, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after pleading guilty to one count of interference and attempted interference with commerce by threats and violence (Hobbs Act robbery), one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to, and in furtherance of, Hobbs Act robbery.
Evidence at sentencing showed Rupp had a long history of criminal activity in Cedar Rapids. His criminal history included prior convictions for drug possession, attempted burglary, twice assaulting a pregnant girlfriend, and interference with official acts. Other evidence showed Rupp had been implicated in, or present at, at least thirteen incidents where gunshots had been fired in the five years prior to the crimes in this case. Evidence also showed that Rupp was an active dealer of marijuana in the fall of 2017, and was involved in a fraudulent scheme to pay outstanding bills of his friends and associates, in exchange for being paid half the cost of the bill. The scheme involved the apparent use of stolen credit cards or unauthorized access to bank accounts belonging to others.
Rupp was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. In sentencing Rupp, Judge Strand found that the nature and circumstances of the offenses were “hugely aggravating.” Further, Judge Strand noted Rupp has been a “menace,” a “drain on society,” and has been a “thug.” Judge Strand noted Rupp had many chances in the past to conform his conduct to the law. He rejected Rupp’s plea for a “second chance,” noting it would be more like a “fifth chance.” Judge Stand told Rupp there was “no excuse” for his conduct and said, “it’s time to pay the price.”
Rupp was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Rupp 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 Richard Murphy 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 18-cr-00015-LTS.
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Woman Sentenced to a Decade in Federal Prison for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A woman who had more than a pound of methamphetamine in her home with three minor children was sentenced on August 21, 2019, to ten years in prison.
Dara Briann Redmond, age 38, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 25, 2019 guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
In a plea agreement, Redmond admitted she sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant on two occasions. Police later searched Redmond’s home, where her three minor children also lived. During the search, officers located over pound of methamphetamine.
Redmond was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Redmond was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Redmond 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 Emily K. Nydle and investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Linn County Sheriff’s Department, 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-14.
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Two Mexican Men Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being DeportedRead the Press Release
Two men who illegally returned to the United States after being deported were sentenced today to federal prison. Both men were arrested by immigration agents following a traffic stop for speeding in Bremer County, Iowa.
Alfredo Noe Puente-Chavez, age 34, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States, pled guilty on June 18, 2019, to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported. At the guilty plea, Puente-Chavez admitted he had previously been deported from the United States in March 2013, July 2017, and August 2017 and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Evidence in the cases shows that Puente-Chavez was arrested by the United States Border Patrol on July 13, 2017, and was deported on July 14, 2017. Puente-Chavez was again arrested by the United States Border Patrol on July 16, 2017, and was deported again on August 15, 2017. Puente-Chavez has prior misdemeanor convictions in March 2013 and July 2017 for illegal entry into the United States. Puente-Chavez was also deported to Mexico in October 2010.
Mauricio Rodriguez-Hernandez, age 27, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States, pled guilty on June 27, 2019, to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported. At the guilty plea, Rodriguez-Hernandez admitted he had previously been deported from the United States on April 28, 2019, and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Rodriguez-Hernandez illegally reentered the United States on May 10, 2019, and was arrested five days later on May 15, 2019, by immigration agents in Bremer County.
Both men were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.
Puente-Chavez was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Puente-Chavez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
Rodriguez-Hernandez was sentenced to 87 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Rodriguez-Hernandez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.
There is no parole in the federal system.
The cases were 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 numbers are 19-CR-2039 and 19-CR-2040.
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Mexican Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being DeportedRead the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced today to 15 months in federal prison.
Jesus Felipe-Urbano, age 25, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in West Dundee, Illinois, received the prison term after an April 11, 2019, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States.
At the guilty plea, Felipe-Urbano admitted he had previously been deported from the United States in January 2011 and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Felipe-Urbano was deported after being convicted in Tama County, Iowa, in December 2010 of Operating While Intoxicated (OWI).
Felipe-Urbano also has an OWI conviction in Black Hawk County, Iowa, in February 2019 based on an arrest in January 2015. Felipe-Urbano was convicted in Cook County, Illinois in May 2016 on traffic charges and driving without a license where he provided law enforcement a false name upon his arrest. The Cook County arrest and conviction occurred while Felipe-Urbano was a fugitive from justice after being released on the January 2015 Black Hawk County OWI charge and then failed to appear for court. Felipe-Urbano was found by immigration agents in January 2019 at the Black Hawk County Jail after he was arrested for failing to appear for court on the 2015 OWI charge.
Felipe-Urbano sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Felipe-Urbano was sentenced to 15 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.
Felipe-Urbano 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-2012.
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Mexican Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced today to ten months in federal prison.
Pablo Romero-Mata, age 27, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 9, 2019, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States.
At the guilty plea, Romero-Mata admitted he had previously been deported from the United States in November 2015 and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Ventura-Diaz was found by immigration agents after he was charged in Black Hawk County, Iowa, with assault causing bodily injury, operating a motor vehicle without owner’s consent, and eluding. On the eluding conviction, defendant led law enforcement on a high speed chase by driving 70 miles per hour in a 30 mile per hour zone and lost control of the vehicle causing it to spin, roll and collide with a house on December 30, 2018. Romero-Mata was convicted of these offenses in Iowa District Court in March 2019.
Romero-Mata also has a conviction in Black Hawk County, Iowa, in March 2019 for providing false identification information to police in February 2018, and a conviction in Jasper County, Iowa, in March 2019 for possession of drug paraphernalia in August 2018. Romero-Mata was also convicted in Texas for possession of a controlled substance in August 2014 and possession of marijuana in April 2015.
Romero-Mata was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court C.J. Williams. Ventura-Diaz was sentenced to ten 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.
Romero-Mata 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-2020.
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Bringing Man’s Best Friend to the Scene of the Crime Leads to Federal Prison Sentence for Nashua ManRead the Press Release
A convicted felon who possessed a gun was sentenced August 15, 2019, to one year in federal prison.
Bradley Dean Mohring, age 56, from Nashua, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 5, 2019 guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence at a previous hearing showed that in October 2018, officers were investigating a burglary at a co-op in Nashua, Iowa. During the investigation, officers reviewed video footage from the burglary. They were able to see a dog present at the time of the burglary. Police identified the dog as Mohring’s. Officers then searched Mohring’s home and recovered some of the property stolen in the burglary. Officers also found a rifle and ammunition. Mohring was previously convicted of a felony drug trafficking offense in Colorado.
Mohring was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Mohring was sentenced to 12 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.
Mohring is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle and investigated by the Nashua Police Department and the Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-02002.
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Waterloo Marijuana User Sentenced to a Year in Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing a Loaded HandgunRead the Press Release
An unlawful user of controlled substances who possessed a loaded handgun was sentenced today a year in federal prison.
Rodonus Echols, age 19, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 27, 2019 guilty plea to one count of being a drug user in possession of a firearm.
Information at sentencing showed that Echols was in a car in Waterloo in the early morning hours of October 21, 2018. The Waterloo Police stopped the car for speeding. During the traffic stop, Echols initially refused to get out of the car when officers asked him to do so. After Echols got out, officers found a loaded revolver in the waistband of his pants. At the time Echols possessed the gun, he was an unlawful user of marijuana.
Echols was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by Chief United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Echols was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison. He must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Echols is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt 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 19-cr-2008.
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Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty August 20, 2019, in federal court in Sioux City.
Billy Soule, 37, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing, Soule admitted that from about October 2018 through January 2019 he was involved in a conspiracy that distributed more than 300 grams of pure methamphetamine in the Sioux City, area. In November/December 2018, in four separate transactions, Soule distributed a total of approximately 9 ounces of pure methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement in both Nebraska and Iowa. During a traffic stop in January 2019, Soule was found in possession of over more than 4 ounces of pure methamphetamine, which he intended to distribute to other persons.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Soule remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Soule 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 19-4004. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty August 19, 2019, in federal court in Sioux City.
Bradley McPeek, Sr., 60, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine within a protected location.
At the plea hearing, McPeek admitted that from about July 2017 through December 2018 he participated in the distribution of more than 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in Sioux City. McPeek distributed methamphetamine at his residence that was within 1000 feet of Cook Park. McPeek admitted that he and others involved in the conspiracy would regularly travel to Omaha, NE to obtain multiple ounces up to pounds of methamphetamine to bring back to Sioux City to split up and distribute to others.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. McPeek remains in custody of the United States Marshal and will remain in custody pending sentencing. McPeek faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, and at least ten 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 19-4018. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Schleswig, IA Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A man who was a member of a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced Tuesday, August 20, 2019, to more than 10 years in federal prison.
Charles Lee Segebart, age 27, from Schleswig, IA, received the prison term after a February 15, 2019 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
In a plea agreement, Segebart admitted that he voluntarily and intentionally distributed methamphetamine from December of 2016 to July 23, 2018. On July 23, 2018, Segebart was stopped by law enforcement. Law enforcement seized a quarter-pound of methamphetamine in the search of the vehicle. Segebart admitted to law enforcement that he had been receiving an estimated two to three pounds a week of methamphetamine to distribute from another source.
Segebart was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Segebart was sentenced to 124 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.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jack Lammers and investigated by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Department of Narcotics enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-4074.
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Michigan Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Heroin ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man traveling from Detroit, Michigan to Mason City, IA to deliver heroin was sentenced Tuesday, August 20, 2019 to more than 10 years in federal prison.
Keith Bernard Tucker, age 51, from Detroit, Michigan received the prison term after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a drug user.
At his plea hearing held on March 20, 2019 before United States Magistrate Judge Mark A. Roberts, Tucker admitted he was traveling from Detroit, MI to Mason City, IA in a rental car on December 31, 2018 when he was stopped by law enforcement. He admitted at the time of the traffic stop to having a firearm in the vehicle. Law enforcement located approximately 297.9 grams of heroin in a backpack in the trunk of Tucker’s rental car. Tucker admitted to owning the heroin and admitted his intention to deliver the heroin to Mason City residents. After being arrested, law enforcement discovered a tissue with marijuana in Tucker’s sock. Tucker admitted to being under the influence of marijuana while possessing a firearm.
Tucker was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Tucker was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment and fined $400. He must also serve a 4-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 Jack Lammers and investigated by the Floyd County Sheriff’s Department, the Mason City Police Department, Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, and the North Central Iowa Drug Task Force.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-2003.
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Fort Dodge Man Pleads Guilty to Meth and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and possessed firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking pled guilty August 15, 2019, in federal court in Sioux City.
Matthew Guthrie, age 34, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
At the plea hearing, Guthrie admitted that from January 2019 through April 16, 2019 he and others distributed more than 500 grams of methamphetamine in the Fort Dodge area. On three separate occasions Guthrie distributed a total of more than 100 grams of pure methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. During a later search of Guthrie’s residence, law enforcement seized four firearms (two of which were loaded), methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, scales, a drug ledger, and other items indicative of drug distribution.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Guthrie remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. On the conspiracy conviction, Guthrie 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 firearm conviction, Guthrie faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment which must be served consecutive to any term of imprisonment imposed on the conspiracy conviction, and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and no more than five years of supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster County Drug Task Force, Carroll County, Iowa Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa Division of Criminalistics Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-3019. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Field of Schemes Fraud Results in over a Decade in Federal Prison for Leader of Largest Organic Fraud Case in U.S. HistoryRead the Press Release
A Missouri man who fraudulently sold millions of dollars’ worth of non-organic grain as though it was organic was sentenced on August 16, 2019, to more than ten years in prison in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Three farmers from Nebraska who supplied him with non-organic grain were also sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a scheme to defraud customers across the United States.
Randy Constant, age 61, from Chillicothe, Missouri, received the prison term after a December 20, 2018, guilty plea to one count of wire fraud. Constant admitted the fraudulent scheme involved at least $142,433,475 in grain sales, and the vast majority of those sales were fraudulent. At his plea hearing, he admitted that, from 2010 to 2017, he misled customers into thinking they were buying certified organic grain when the grain he was selling was not organic. Constant admitted falsely telling customers the grain he sold was grown on his certified organic fields in Nebraska and Missouri when the grain was not organic either because he purchased the grain from other growers, the certified organic fields were sprayed with unauthorized chemicals, or organic grain was mixed with non-organic grain. Constant made many of the sales through a brokerage he owned that operated in Ossian, Iowa, known as Jericho Solutions. As part of the plea, Constant also agreed to forfeit $128,190,128 in proceeds from the fraudulent scheme.
Evidence at Constant’s sentencing showed that, for 2016, his sales equaled approximately 7% of all comparable organic corn grown and 8% of all organic soybeans grown in the United States. Overall, from 2010 to 2017, Constant sold more than 11,500,000 bushels of grain, over 90% of which was falsely marketed as organic. That amount of grain would fill approximately 3,600 rail cars or 14,375 semi-trailers.
Constant’s grain was mostly used as animal feed, primarily for chickens and cattle. That livestock was then sold as organic meat or products from the livestock were sold as organic products. Because of Constant’s fraud, most of the livestock that was fed his grain was not organic, causing thousands of consumers to purchase what they thought was organic meat for a premium price across the country.
Further evidence at sentencing showed that, during the time Constant was fraudulently selling grain as organic, he was spending money on gambling trips to Las Vegas with at least one other person involved in the scheme. Between 2010 and 2017, Constant went to Las Vegas more than 20 times, paying for flights, hotels, gambling, and escorts. Evidence further showed he had sexual relationships with three women who lived in Las Vegas. Over the course of the seven year scheme, Constant gave over $225,000 to two of these women as payment for services, purportedly for their work with his companies. In reality, the women did very little of value for Constant’s companies in exchange for the money. Constant’s banking records also showed more than $360,000 in additional Las Vegas-related expenses during the course of the scheme -- $110,000 of that total was charged to a bank account Constant shared with one of the women and included payments for an automobile, insurance, foreign travel, and breast augmentation surgery.
In related matters, three farmers from Nebraska that previously pled guilty to fraud involving sales of grain to Constant they grew that was fraudulently marketed as organic were also sentenced. Tom Brennan, age 71, James Brennan, age 41, and Mike Potter, age 42, all from near Overton, Nebraska, were each sentenced to federal prison after having pled guilty to one count of wire fraud.
At their respective plea hearings, each man admitted to growing grain between 2010 and 2017 that was not organic, often because they had sprayed the grain with chemicals. Each further admitted that they knew the grain was being marketed and sold as organic, even though it was not in fact organically grown. Evidence at sentencing showed the three farmers worked together to produce and sell the grain to Constant. Evidence further showed that, between the three farmers, they received more than $10,000,000 from Constant in connection with the scheme and that the majority of the grain they sold to Constant was not organic.
All four men were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Constant was sentenced to 122 months’ imprisonment. He was also ordered to forfeit over $120 million in proceeds from his crime. In sentencing Constant, Judge Williams called the scheme a “massive fraud, perpetrated on consumers over a long period of time” and said that Constant “caused incalculable damage.”
James Brennan was sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment. Potter was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment. Tom Brennan, whom the sentencing judge referred to as a “legitimate war hero” for his service in Vietnam, was sentenced to 3 months’ imprisonment. Each of the Nebraska farmers was also ordered to forfeit $1 million in proceeds from their crimes.
“Randy Constant and his co-conspirators lied to the American public and cheated thousands of consumers,” said United States Attorney Peter E. Deegan, Jr. “For years, Constant put personal greed and self-interest above all else. In doing so, he and his cohorts victimized thousands of people who were deceived into paying more for a product that they ultimately did not get. They also diluted the organic grain market to the financial disadvantage of organic farmers who were following the law. I want to commend the USDA Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their work in bringing this matter to light. They demonstrated hard work and dedication to protecting the organic food market and American consumers.”
“This prosecution places would-be fraudsters on notice. The government has zero tolerance for individuals who might seek to defraud American consumers by criminally manipulating National Organic Program standards,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Mohatt of the US Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General. “It should also serve as a warning to everyone growing, certifying, distributing, and selling organically certified products. Fraud will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted by the USDA Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and all its federal, state, and local partners. USDA's Office of Inspector General is committed to ensuring fraud is eliminated from the National Organic Program so that consumers can have confidence in the USDA organic products they put on the table. The USDA Office of Inspector General applauds the steadfastness and resolution of the U.S. Attorney's Office in prosecuting this matter. We also appreciate the investigative assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service.”
“Organic agriculture is a fast growing sector in U.S. agriculture, creating jobs and promoting economic growth. This rapid growth has increased the complexity of supply chains that carry organic products from farm to table,” said National Organic Program Deputy Administrator Jennifer Tucker. Organic farmers and consumers are the foundation of this $52 billion sector. We are committed to helping good producers meet the standards, and to enforcing against those who break the law. The work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in this case, and others, has a profound and lasting impact.”
“We are proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners to bring to justice individuals who have so blatantly betrayed the trust of consumers,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Mark Green of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Anyone with information about others involved in the scheme should contact our office, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General, or the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jacob Schunk and Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number are 18-CR-2034, 18-CR-2058, 18-CR-2059, and 18-CR-2060. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Dubuque Man Sentenced to 22 Years for Sexually Exploiting a Child and Conspiring to Distribute Ice MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A man who sexually exploited a child, conspired to distribute ice methamphetamine, and distributed ice methamphetamine was sentenced today to 22 years in federal prison.
Christopher Frommelt, age 43, of Dubuque, Iowa, received the sentence after a February 22, 2019, jury verdict finding him guilty of one count of sexual exploitation of a child, one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of distribution of a controlled substance to a person under 21 and near a protected location, and one count of distribution of methamphetamine on premises where a person under 18 was present.
The evidence at trial showed that, in January 2018, Frommelt provided ice methamphetamine to a 16-year-old girl and videotaped himself having sex with her. The evidence also showed that Frommelt conspired with others to distribute ice methamphetamine. He provided a rental car and over $2,600 for others to obtain ice methamphetamine in Texas.
Frommelt was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Frommelt was sentenced to 264 months’ imprisonment. A special assessment of $5,400 was imposed, and Frommelt must also serve a 6-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 Dubuque Police Department, the Dubuque Drug Task Force, the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa State Patrol, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cascade Police Department, and the Dyersville Police Department.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR 18-1037.
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Storm Lake Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A man who received child pornography was sentenced August 9, 2019, to 6 years in federal prison.
James Gailey, 49, from Storm Lake, Iowa, received the prison term after pleading guilty to one count of child pornography on March 4, 2019.
At the plea hearing, Gailey admitted that in October 2017 he utilized a Dropbox account to receive child pornography. Gailey further admitted that in January 2018 he utilized a second Dropbox account to receive additional child pornography. Gailey also admitted that he received images and videos of sexual abuse or exploitation of victims as young as infants or toddlers. Evidence at sentencing further showed that Gailey’s offense involved over 600 images of child pornography.
Gailey was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Gailey was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $18,000 in restitution. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Gailey is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mikala M. Steenholdt and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-4065. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Mexican Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being Deported Twice in 2017Read the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison.
Sergio Sanchez-Juarez, age 32, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Hiawatha, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 19, 2019, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been convicted of a felony.
At the guilty plea, Sanchez-Juarez admitted he had previously been deported from the United States in September 2017 and November 2017 and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Sanchez-Juarez has illegally entered the United States at least six times. Sanchez-Juarez was deported after being convicted in September 2017 of Operating While Intoxicated (OWI), third offense, a felony. Sanchez-Juarez also has prior convictions in Linn County, Iowa, in January 2011 and June 2014 for OWI. Sanchez-Juarez was found by immigration agents in November 2018 after he was charged in Linn County, Iowa, with OWI. He was convicted of this fourth OWI offense in February 2019. Sanchez-Juarez was also deported to Mexico in February 2007 and July 2014.
Sanchez-Juarez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Sanchez-Juarez was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Sanchez-Juarez 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-25.
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Two Georgia Residents Sentenced to Federal Prison for Participating in Fraud that Scammed Iowa VictimRead the Press Release
Two Georgia residents who participated as “money mules” in a scheme to defraud victims across the country out of more than $300,000 were each sentenced today to federal prison.
Ikenna Orakwelu, age 33, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Nigeria, and Schylundye Thomas, age 27, both currently living in Atlanta, Georgia, received the prison terms after previous guilty pleas to wire fraud.
In a plea agreement, Orakwelu admitted that from August 2015 through June 2016, he participated in a scheme to defraud businesses and individuals across the country. Orakwelu admitted that he or his wife, who he admitted he recruited and directed in the scheme, controlled multiple bank accounts and that other participates of the scheme lied to businesses and individuals to get the victims to transfer money to these bank accounts. In total, more than $150,000 in fraudulent money was wired into Orakwelu’s bank accounts, though some of the money was recovered by authorities.
Thomas did not know Orakwelu but participated in the same scheme to defraud by also controlling bank accounts into which victims of fraud wired money. Victims from Iowa, Utah, Idaho, and other states all wired money into Thomas’s bank accounts. Overall, more than $290,000 was wired into Thomas’s accounts.
Orakwelu and Thomas were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Orakwelu was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $25,000 in restitution the victims of the scheme. He must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Thomas was sentenced to 9 months’ imprisonment. She was ordered to make $237,388.12 in restitution the victims of the scheme. She must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Orakwelu was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be. Thomas remains in the custody of the United States Marshall.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Dubuque Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-cr-1033.
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Crack Dealer Sentenced to More than Fifteen Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who sold crack cocaine near a park and an elementary school was sentenced August 12, 2019, to more than fifteen years in federal prison.
Mohamed Andrew Haidar, age 31, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 8, 2019 guilty plea to distribution of a controlled substance near a protected location.
In a plea agreement, Haidar admitted he sold crack cocaine to a confidential informant on three separate occasions with one sale taking place near a park and an elementary school. Haidar also admitted that he possessed a pistol with an obliterated serial number in connection with his drug dealing. Haidar had previously been convicted of multiple felony drug offenses.
Haidar was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Haidar was sentenced to 188 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 Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-1002.
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Felon Who Possessed Stolen Handgun Sentenced to More Than Two Years’ in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who possessed a stolen gun after being convicted of a felony drug offense was sentenced today to more than two years in federal prison.
Matthew Robert Primmer, age 20, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 21, 2019 guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
At the guilty plea, Primmer admitted that he possessed a firearm in Cedar Rapids on December 8, 2018. On that day, police received a report of a disturbance and a witness stated that he had observed a gun fall from Primmer’s pocket. When officers approached Primmer, he ran from them. Police eventually located Primmer hiding between two cars in a nearby parking lot. While speaking with Primmer, a Glock 19 Gen4 9mm pistol fell from Primmer’s person onto the ground. Police later learned the firearm was previously reported stolen.
Primmer was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Primmer was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.
Primmer 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 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-0011.
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California Drug Dealer to Federal Prison for Iowa Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced August 8, 2019, to 14 years in federal prison.
Michael Halstead, 32, originally from the Sacramento, California area, but most recently residing in Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 28, 2019, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and illegal possession of ammunition. Halstead was previously convicted in California of felony transport of marijuana in 2006 and felony burglary in 2010.
At the plea hearing, Halstead admitted that from about August 2016 through November 2018, he was involved in a conspiracy that distributed more than seven pounds of methamphetamine in the Fort Dodge and Webster County areas. Halstead arranged for his mother, other family members and friends to transport methamphetamine, marijuana and cocaine from California to Iowa by car and train. In 2017, law enforcement made three one ounce buys of methamphetamine from Halstead. In 2018, law enforcement seized over 30 grams of methamphetamine, 30 grams of cocaine, ecstasy pills, $6,981, and well over 100 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Halstead was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Halstead was sentenced to 168 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. Halstead remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Dodge Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminalistics Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-3046. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Sioux City Man Sentenced for Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
A man from Sioux City, IA was sentenced August 9, 2019, to more than 9 years in federal prison.
Jesus Giron, age 22, from Sioux City, IA received the prison term after a pleading guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Evidence at his detention, change of plea, and sentencing hearings revealed on or about May 20, 2018, was stopped by law enforcement after burglarizing a motor vehicle in Sioux City, Iowa. Upon his arrest officers located 15 one-gram baggies of cocaine and $1,041.00 on his person.
Once at the Woodbury County Jail officers located 15 more baggies, each containing a half-gram of cocaine, in Giron’s waistband. A search warrant at his home revealed drug packaging materials, marijuana, and ammunition. In his living room more marijuana and five baggies of cocaine were discovered. In his basement, officers located a large duffel bag with a large quantity of marijuana and cocaine inside. Also in this bag was a handgun, digital scales, and drug packaging materials. Almost directly above where this bag was located, on top of an air duct, was a plastic shopping bag containing $5,000.
Giron was already a state felon, on state probation, and awaiting resolution of other state felony charges when these discoveries were made.
Giron was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Giron was sentenced to 117 months’ imprisonment and he must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the Sioux City Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-4048.
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Sioux City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
A man from Sioux City, IA was sentenced August 7, 2019 to more than 4 years in federal prison.
Victor Chavarria, age 21, from Sioux City, IA received the prison term after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Evidence presented at his detention, change of plea, and sentencing hearings revealed Chavarria was an unlawful user and distributor of marijuana who knowing possessed firearms and ammunition in furtherance of his drug trafficking. In fact, when this activity was discovered, one of the handguns had been stored under a mattress upon which a 3-year old child was sleeping. Evidence also revealed Chavarria has a history of domestic violence. On one occasion, he and another male handcuffed a victim, causing her pain and physical injury, held her against her will and used an electric trimmer to shave her head.
Chavarria was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 50 months’ imprisonment. Chavarria must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the Sioux City Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-4090.
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Newhall Man Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Weapon after Felony OWI ConvictionRead the Press Release
A convicted felon who unlawfully possessed a firearm was sentenced August 6, 2019, to more than two years in federal prison.
Travis Seeman, age 36, from Newhall, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Seeman was previously convicted of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, subsequent offense, a Class D felony in Iowa. Documents and statements at sentencing showed that Seeman possessed multiple firearms, including a handgun that he had in his hand when he grabbed and pushed his then-girlfriend during a domestic assault incident.
Seeman was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Newell was sentenced to an imprisonment term of 26 months and 20 days. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacob Schunk and investigated by the Benton County Sheriff’s Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-123.
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Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty August 6, 2019, in federal court in Sioux City.
Julio Cesar Salais, age 45, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distributing methamphetamine within 1000 feet of a protected location. Salais was twice previously convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the Northern District of Iowa District Court in 1996 and 2002.
At the plea hearing, Salais admitted that from May 2018 through March 2019, he and others conspired to distribute more than 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Sioux City, Iowa area. Salais further admitted that on two occasions he distributed more than 300 grams of pure methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. These distributions occurred within the protected locations of Irving Elementary School, Sioux City Alternative School and Opportunities School at the Boys and Girls home in Sioux City.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Salais remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Salais faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, and at least ten years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-4024. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Lyon County, Iowa Man to Federal Prison for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced August 8, 2019, to four years in federal prison.
Jose Ignacio Leanos, age 29, from Inwood, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 18, 2019, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
At the guilty plea, Leanos admitted that from about 2017 through April 2018, he and others distributed more than 50 pounds of methamphetamine in the Lyon County, Iowa area. In April 2018, Leanos distributed nearly a pound of pure methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement, and at the time possessed more than five pounds. Evidence at the sentencing further showed that Leanos and others imported methamphetamine from Mexico to distribute in Iowa.
Leanos was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Leanos was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Leanos is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-4034. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Evansdale Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A man who received child pornography pled guilty on August 5, 2019, in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Derek Clemens, age 31, from Evansdale, Iowa, was convicted of one count of receipt of child pornography. At the plea hearing, Clemens admitted that, between March 2018 and October 2018, he knowingly received child pornography.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Clemens remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Clemens faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, $5,100 in special assessments, and supervised release for 5 years to life following any imprisonment.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Evansdale Police Department, the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, 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 and click on the tab “resources.”
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR 19-2030.
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Eastern Iowa Heroin Initiative Recognized for InnovationRead the Press Release
Today, in a ceremony held at the Embassy Club in Des Moines, the Eastern Iowa Heroin Initiative was recognized for developing innovative solutions to combat the opioid epidemic. The Eastern Iowa Heroin Initiative is funded by the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area and is a joint venture of the United States Attorney’s Office and the Cedar Rapids Police Department. The Initiative was formed in 2015 to combat the rise of opioid overdose and death in Iowa by using a three‑part strategy of enforcement, prevention, and treatment.
The award was given by the Addiction Policy Forum, which is a nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating addiction as a major health problem. The Addiction Policy Forum is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with resources and services in every state. The Addiction Policy Forum’s Innovation Now forum at https://www.addictionpolicy.org/innovation-now contains numerous state studies of innovative programs developed to address the opioid crisis.
“Through innovative strategies like the Eastern Iowa Heroin Initiative, we can reduce overdose injuries and deaths in Iowa while bringing drug dealers to justice,” said United States Attorney Peter Deegan. “I credit the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the members of my office whose hard work has made this Initiative successful.”
Cedar Rapids Police Chief Wayne Jerman said, “Deaths from opioid-related symptoms reached a 10-year low last year in Iowa. The innovative efforts of the Cedar Rapids Police Department, United States Attorney’s Office for Northern District of Iowa, and Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area to develop one of only two comprehensive opioid awareness and outreach programs in the country is impactful. By continuing to work with other organizations in the community, we hope to see the number of victims of overdose continue to decline.”
Since 2015, the Eastern Iowa Heroin Initiative has conducted numerous town hall events to raise community awareness, training events for first responders to correctly handle an overdose scene and conduct a responsive investigation, naloxone (Narcan) administration training, training to medical professionals, and training to drug treatment and prevention specialists. As part of the enforcement efforts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has prosecuted over 100 defendants for various felony-level opioid charges since October 2015 throughout the district. These prosecutions involved trafficking in opioids, including heroin, fentanyl and other dangerous drugs. Many of the cases involved drug distributions that resulted in overdose death or injury.
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Waterloo Man Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Federal Prison for Carrying a Weapon after Domestic Violence ConvictionRead the Press Release
A man who unlawfully possessed a firearm after committing a crime of domestic violence was sentenced on July 30, 2019, to more than 3 years in federal prison.
Sunni Askari Newell, age 33, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea to one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Person Convicted of Domestic Violence. The domestic violence conviction was entered on June 11, 2009, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Documents at sentencing showed that, in the early morning hours of June 4, 2017, Newell saw officers approaching two people involved in a verbal dispute. Newell walked over to one of the people involved in the dispute, appeared to take something from that person, and tried to leave the scene. Officers later found a loaded handgun in the defendant’s pant leg. In September 2018, Dazarris Shemeek Wilkerson received a 33 month imprisonment term for possessing the same firearm on the same date as Newell. Wilkerson was charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.
Newell was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Newell was sentenced to an imprisonment term of 42 months and 1 day. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. The defendant’s sentence runs consecutively to the sentences imposed in state court for two additional offenses the defendant committed after the June 4, 2017 incident.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacob Schunk and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-2070. The case file number for Dazarris Wilkerson’s case is 17-CR-2082.
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Man Deported from China Arraigned on 2011 Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
Levi Wallace, age 32, from Long Grove, Iowa, has been charged with one count of importation of an analogue controlled substance, one count of use of the United States mail to facilitate a drug crime, and one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing 4- Methymethcathinone (commonly called mephedrone or 4-MMC), an analogue of methcathinone, a Schedule I controlled substance.
The charges are contained in an Indictment filed on January 12, 2011, and unsealed on June 25, 2019. On June 25, Wallace was arrested in the Central District of California when he arrived by plane from China, where he had been living since 2010. Chinese authorities deported Wallace on June 24, 2019. Wallace had hearings in federal court in California, which resulted in his detention.
If convicted on all charges, Wallace faces a possible maximum sentence of 44 years’ imprisonment, a $2,250,000 fine, and 9 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
Wallace appeared today in federal court in Cedar Rapids and was continued to be held without bond. Wallace’s next appearance for trial is set for September 23, 2019.
As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Reinert and was investigated by Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force comprised of the DEA; the Linn County Sheriff's Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 11-CR-2004. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Waterloo Man Sent to Federal Prison After Carrying Assault Rifle During Altercation in 2016Read the Press Release
A man who possessed a firearm in 2016, after the Black Hawk County Sheriff denied him a gun permit in 2014, was sentenced yesterday to more than three years in federal prison. Michael Thomas Buttermore, age 38, from Waterloo, Iowa, originally from Beaver County, Pennsylvania, received the prison term after a January 2, 2019, guilty plea to possessing a firearm as a prohibited person.
Evidence presented in court showed that, in 2005, Buttermore was committed to a mental institution in Pennsylvania. In 2014, after moving to Iowa, Buttermore applied to the Black Hawk County Sheriff for a permit to acquire a firearm. The Sheriff denied Buttermore’s application and reminded Buttermore that it was illegal for him to possess firearms under federal law on account of his 2005 commitment. In 2016, the Waterloo Police Department began receiving reports about Buttermore acting erratically. In September 2016, Buttermore was involved in an altercation at his residence with another man; during the incident, Buttermore was carrying a Colt M4 assault rifle and the other man had a knife. A woman later reported that Buttermore had chased her down the street with the assault rifle. Ultimately, officers approached Buttermore and he agreed to surrender the firearm along with ammunition he illegally possessed, including two high-capacity magazines. After surrendering the firearm, however, Buttermore unsuccessfully attempted to regain possession of the firearm from the Waterloo Police Department. In addition to his prior commitment, Buttermore, who has a criminal history in both Pennsylvania and Iowa, now admits he was an unlawful user of methamphetamine and heroin, which also made it unlawful for Buttermore to possess firearms.
Buttermore was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Buttermore was sentenced to 41 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.
Buttermore is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Vavricek and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-2063.
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Dubuque Meth User Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Federal Prison after Brandishing and Racking a Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
A man who brandished and racked a stolen firearm during a disturbance outside an apartment complex in Dubuque, Iowa, in August 2018, was sentenced July 25, 2019, to over two years in federal prison.
Matthew Raymond Bills, age 35, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 12, 2019, guilty plea to one count of possessing a firearm as a drug user.
In a plea agreement, Bills admitted he was in an argument with two other people outside an apartment complex in Dubuque on August 10, 2018. During the argument, Bills displayed a handgun and racked it in a threatening manner, causing a round to eject. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a live .380 round outside the apartment complex and confronted Bills. Bills told the officers he had hidden the firearm in a closet in a room in the apartment building, and officers later found a loaded Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard .380 ACP pistol in that location. The firearm was stolen in Platteville, Wisconsin, less than a month before the argument. Bills admitted he knew the firearm was stolen. Bills knew he was a methamphetamine user at the time of the incident, which made it illegal under federal law for him to possess a firearm. Bills had used marijuana on a daily basis since the age of 14 and had more recently begun using methamphetamine in an attempt to stop using marijuana. Bills has prior convictions for driving under the influence of marijuana and for possessing marijuana while fishing.
Bills was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Bills 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.
Bills is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Vavricek and investigated by the Dubuque Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-1003.
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Tax Preparer Sentenced for Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A self-employed tax preparer who filed fraudulent tax returns for his customers was sentenced July 23, 2019, to one year in federal prison.
Serge Cibuyi, age 49, a naturalized United States citizen originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, currently residing in Moline, Illinois, received the prison term after an October 25, 2018, guilty plea to one count of preparing and filing a false and fraudulent tax return, in violation of Title 26 U.S.C. § 7206.
In a plea agreement, Cibuyi admitted that, while living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, he received an online certificate in tax-return preparation. Cibuyi admitted that when preparing returns for customers, he prepared fraudulent tax returns by claiming false deductions and credits or by inflating legitimate deductions and credits. As part of the scheme, Cibuyi paid individuals to allow Cibuyi to use their dependents on other taxpayers’ returns to boost refunds. Between 2014 and 2015, Cibuyi prepared and filed at least 36 false tax returns with a tax loss to the United States in excess of $100,000.
Cibuyi was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Defendant was sentenced to twelve months and one day imprisonment. He must also serve a one year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Cibuyi was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Justin Lightfoot and Matthew J. Cole and investigated by the Internal Revenue Service.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-81.
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Sex Offender Sentenced to over Two Years in Prison for Failing to Register in IowaRead the Press Release
A convicted sex offender who lived and worked in Iowa for approximately a year without registering was sentenced today to more than two years in federal prison.
Shawn Hutson, age 38, from Gays Mills, Wisconsin, received the prison term after a November 13, 2018, guilty plea to failing to register as a sex offender.
Information from the sentencing hearing showed that Hutson was required to register as a sex offender because he was previously convicted of sexual assault in Wisconsin. In 2011 and 2012, he was twice convicted of failing to register as a sex offender in Allamakee County, Iowa. While still on probation following the 2012 conviction, Hutson was convicted of failing to notify a school of his sex offender status. He also started living and working in Iowa in the summer of 2017, while still on probation. He continued to live and work in Iowa until May 2018, without ever registering as a sex offender.
Hutson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Hutson was sentenced to 27 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. Hutson 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 United States Marshal’s Service and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 18-CR-1039.
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Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting a Child and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A man who sexually exploited a child and possessed child pornography was sentenced on July 23, 2019, to 40 years in federal prison.
John Hunt, age 35, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the sentence after an October 18, 2018, guilty plea to one count of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possession of child pornography. In a plea agreement, Hunt admitted that, between 2015 and 2017, he used, persuaded, induced, and enticed a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce visual depictions, and that he threatened to distribute depictions of the minor. In the plea agreement, Hunt also admitted to possessing child pornography, including depictions of prepubescent children.
Hunt was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Hunt was sentenced to 480 months’ imprisonment. A special assessment of $200 was imposed, and Hunt 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 Cedar Rapids Police Department.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR 18-69.
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Federal Prisoner Who Tried to Hire a Hitman to Kill Two People Sentenced to 20 More Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who was serving a fifteen-year federal prison sentence when he tried to hire a “hitman” to murder two people in Northeast Iowa was sentenced today to 20 years in federal prison.
Jason Harriman, age 45, formerly of Traer and Independence, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 29, 2019, jury verdict finding him guilty of two counts of murder-for-hire.
The evidence at trial showed that in 2011, Harriman was sentenced to serve fifteen years in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a gun and ammunition. While in federal prison in Arkansas, Harriman made multiple phone calls and sent multiple emails to an individual he thought was a hired killer, but was actually an undercover agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. After meeting with the “hitman” in person in the prison, Harriman signed a contract calling for the murders of two people who were living in Northeast Iowa. Harriman agreed to pay the “hitman” $21,000 and had already given the “hitman” a 1969 Dodge Charger as a down payment. During a later phone conversation with the undercover agent, Harriman asked the agent to photograph and record the murders, so that Harriman could watch the recordings after he got out of prison.
Harriman was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Harriman was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment, which was ordered to run consecutively to his prior federal sentence. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Harriman 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 Anthony Morfitt and Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR_2033.
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