Northern District of Iowa
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Clarence Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Entice a MinorRead the Press Release
A man who attempted to entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Jason Koontz, age 34, from Clarence, Iowa, was convicted of one count of attempted enticement of a minor. At the plea hearing, Koontz admitted that, in July 2017, he attempted to persuade, induce, or entice a person who he believed to be a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Koontz remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Koontz faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life 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 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 19-48.
Nurse Charged with Drug Theft and TamperingRead the Press Release
Katie Louise Boll, age 31, from Manchester, Iowa, has been charged with thirteen counts of acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception and subterfuge during 2018 and one count of tampering with a consumer product, specifically morphine, on December 24, 2018. The charges are contained in an Indictment filed on July 7, 2019, in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.
The Indictment alleges that, between September 2018 and January 2019, Boll acquired controlled substances including hydrocodone, morphine, oxycodone, codeine, and tramadol, from at least fourteen patients in her care at a nursing home by acquiring the pills by misrepresentation, fraud, deception and subterfuge. Boll is also charged with one count of tampering with a consumer product by diluting liquid morphine with mouthwash, resulting in injury to a patient.
If convicted on all charges, Boll faces a possible maximum sentence of 62 years’ imprisonment, a $3,500,000 fine, and 42 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
Boll appeared on July 16, 2019, in federal court in Cedar Rapids and was released on bond. Boll’s next appearance for trial is set for September 16, 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 Reinert and was investigated by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals and the United States Food and Drug Administration.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-2044. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Waterloo Felon and Drug User Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing GunsRead the Press Release
A man who previously spent time in state prison for burglary and robbery offenses was sentenced July 11, 2019, to five years in federal prison.
Jacob Mervin Gary, age 29, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 14, 2019, guilty plea to being a felon and drug user in possession of a firearm.
At his guilty plea, Gary admitted he knowingly possessed multiple guns after having been convicted of the felony offenses of conspiracy to commit robbery and attempted burglary and while being an unlawful user of marijuana. On September 26, 2018, Waterloo police officers searched Gary’s residence and found a rifle with a high capacity magazine attached, another rifle, a pistol, and multiple types of ammunition. Gary was on parole at the time.
Gary was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Gary was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.
Gary is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the Waterloo Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-cr-2069.
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Conspiring to Distribute 15 Pounds of Ice Methamphetamine Lands Cedar Rapids Man in Federal Prison for 14 YearsRead the Press Release
A man who obtained more than 15 pounds of ice methamphetamine for redistribution in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, area was sentenced July 11, 2019, to 14 years in federal prison.
Jonathan James Toomer, age 44, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 2, 2018, guilty plea to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine near a school and playground and possessing a firearm as an unlawful drug user.
Evidence at a prior hearing showed that, beginning in 2016, Toomer sold methamphetamine in the Cedar Rapids area. In the fall of 2017, Toomer acquired a California source for methamphetamine. Over the next approximately nine months, Toomer and his co-conspirators took multiple trips to California to obtain pounds of ice methamphetamine for resale in Cedar Rapids. In January 2018, officers executed a warrant at defendant’s house and camper in Hiawatha, Iowa. Inside defendant’s camper, the officers found approximately 80 grams of ice methamphetamine, drug ledgers, and a loaded handgun. Officers also seized over $44,000 in cash proceeds of Toomer’s prior methamphetamine sales inside a safe in the house.
Toomer also involved his minor child in the drug scheme, including taking him on trips to California to obtain methamphetamine. After Toomer was arrested on the federal drug charge, he spoke to his son from jail, directing him to pick up a package of methamphetamine that had been delivered to his trailer, and to contact his drug source in California and “stop all calls.”
Toomer was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Toomer was sentenced to 168 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to forfeit a handgun and $78,947 in drug proceeds. He must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Toomer 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 Special Assistant United States Attorney Drew Inman and Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-00050-LTS-MAR.
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Mason City Drug User Sentenced to Federal Prison for Lying About Drug Use to Buy an AK-47-Style RifleRead the Press Release
A man who falsely claimed he was not a drug user when buying an AK-47-style rifle in 2018 was sentenced July 11, 2019, to nearly three years in federal prison.
Braiden Robert William Despenas, age 22, from Mason City, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 4, 2019 guilty plea to being an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm and making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.
In a plea agreement, Despenas admitted that he was an unlawful marijuana user between at least October 2017 and March 2018. Court records show that in October 2017 Despenas was involved in an injury collision while he was driving under the influence of marijuana. In March 2018, Despenas purchased an AK‑47‑style rifle with a high‑capacity magazine from a federal firearms licensee in Dubuque. Despenas admitted that while completing ATF forms during the purchase of the rifle he falsely denied that he as a drug user.
Court records further show that Despenas purchased at least five firearms between October 2017 and May 2018. He falsely claimed he was not a drug user on each form. In October 2017, Despenas bought two pistols in Mason City. Less than two months later, Mason City police recovered one of those pistols after it was found lying, loaded with four rounds, in a yard in Mason City.
During a search of Despenas’s home in June 2018, officers recovered manuals, boxes, and ammunition for some of the firearms, but no firearms. Despenas claimed the pistols he purchased in October 2017 were stolen, but that he had not reported the theft. He also initially stated he “believed” he purchased the AK-47-style rifle, but denied, or claimed he could not recall, purchasing other firearms. When confronted with the fact that officers had purchase paperwork for all of the firearms, Despenas admitted to purchasing them. He claimed he had thrown one of them in a river because it did not work correctly, and that two others were at a relative’s house. Police recovered two of the firearms at another apartment associated with Despenas in Mason City later that day. Two firearms Despenas illegally purchased have never been recovered by law enforcement.
Despenas was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Despenas was sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment on each charge, to be served concurrently. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Despenas 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Mason City Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-03001-CJW-MAR.
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Man Previously Committed to a Mental Institution Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Guns and Receiving Drugs in JailRead the Press Release
A man who possessed guns illegally and received drugs in the mail while in jail was sentenced July 10, 2019, to more than a year in federal prison.
John Conrad Walgren, age 25, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after pleading guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and possession of contraband while in prison.
Walgren had previously been the subject of state proceedings regarding his mental health that made it illegal for him to possess firearms. His girlfriend obtained multiple guns which he then accessed and possessed. After being arrested and while in custody for possessing the guns, a family member mailed cards to the jail for Walgren. Concealed within those cards was alprazolam, commonly called Xanax.
Walgren was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Walgren was sentenced to a total of 14 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.
Walgren is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Dubuque Police Department, the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, and the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file numbers are 18-cr-1041 and 19-cr-0052.
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Waterloo Couple, Both Convicted Felons, Sentenced to Prison for Unlawfully Possessing a GunRead the Press Release
A Waterloo couple who threatened the woman’s ex-boyfriend with a gun were sentenced today to federal prison.
John Joseph Sanford, Jr., age 43, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 6, 2019, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Laika Latrece Burt, age 43, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 1, 2019, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
At their guilty pleas, Sanford and Burt both admitted that they knowingly possessed a firearm on January 1, 2018, after having been previously convicted of a felony offense. Evidence shows that on January 1, 2018, Burt retrieved a gun from her house and she and Sanford drove to her ex-boyfriend’s home where they threatened him with the loaded handgun. Police responded to the residence and found the loaded handgun in Burt’s car. Sanford and Burt were later married in April 2018.
Sanford had previously been convicted in the Iowa District Court in Black Hawk County of (1) burglary, second degree, in 1994; (2) distribution of a controlled substance to a person under age eighteen in 1998; (3) possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver in 1998; and (4) possession of cocaine base, third offense, in 2007. Sanford is currently serving a five year sentence for a conviction on January 25, 2019, in Black Hawk County for possession of methamphetamine, third offense, and possession of cocaine, third offense.
Burt had previously been convicted in the Iowa District Court in Black Hawk County in 2001 of (1) possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver; and (2) a drug tax stamp violation. Burt is currently serving a five year sentence for a conviction on November 26, 2018, in Black Hawk County for possession of marijuana, third offense.
Sanford and Burt were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade. Sanford was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Burt was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Sanford and Burt are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to an Iowa state prison to complete their state sentences.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-2009.
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Driving Force in Conspiracy to Distribute Meth Brought to Iowa in Car Part Boxes Sentenced to 30 Years’ in PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who conspired with others to distribute ice methamphetamine was sentenced yesterday to 30 years’ in federal prison.
Robert Lewis, age 44, from Janesville, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 22, 2018, jury verdict finding him guilty of conspiracy to distribute at least 500 grams of a mixture of methamphetamine and 50 grams of actual methamphetamine.
The evidence at trial showed that in the summer of 2013, Lewis began working with various individuals to distribute ice methamphetamine throughout the Waterloo area. Lewis and his associates obtained methamphetamine from an out-of-state source of supply who shipped the methamphetamine via FedEx concealed in car part boxes. Each shipment contained multiple pounds of methamphetamine which Lewis and others would break down into smaller quantities for redistribution once it arrived in Iowa. Lewis also used his daughter to register a car for the head of the drug organization and allowed other members of the conspiracy access to his home, referred to at trial as the “clubhouse,” for the purpose of repackaging and distributing methamphetamine. Lewis left Iowa in the fall of 2013, but continued to receive methamphetamine from his co-conspirators. In January 2014, one co-conspirator attempted to send Lewis methamphetamine hidden in a Hamburger Skillet prepared meal box. FedEx employees flagged the package as suspicious and investigators ultimately seized ¼ ounce of methamphetamine from the inside of the box.
The evidence at sentencing showed that after trial, Lewis obstructed justice by threatening and intimidating multiple individuals who testified as witnesses at the trial. This included telling one witness that he “was a dead man.”
Lewis was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Lewis was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Lewis is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams and 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force (Waterloo Police Department; Cedar Falls Police Department; Waverly Police Department; Bremer County Sheriff’s Office; Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office; LaPorte City Police Department; Evansdale Police Department; Hudson Police Department).
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 17-CR-2084.
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Cedar Rapids Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A man who possessed child pornography pled guilty on July 8, 2019, in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Troy French, age 29, from Cedar Rapids, was convicted of one count of possession of child pornography. At the plea hearing, French admitted that, between 2012 and 2017, he knowingly possessed child pornography, including one or more depictions of prepubescent children.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. French was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the guilty plea and will remain in custody pending sentencing. French faces 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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 19-5.
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Webster City Doctor Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements about Medicare ClaimsRead the Press Release
A Webster City doctor who made false statements to the United States Attorney’s Office about Medicare claims that the doctor had billed for his nursing home patients pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Dr. Joseph X. Latella, age 76, from Webster City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of making false statements relating to health care matters. At the time of the offense, Dr. Latella operated a private practice in Webster City, and he also was the Hamilton County Coroner and the medical director for multiple nursing homes in the Webster City area.
Dr. Latella admitted in a plea agreement that, in June 2018, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa was conducting a civil investigation about concerns that Dr. Latella was “upcoding” claims submitted to Medicare and Medicaid and billing for more intensive visits with patients at Webster City area nursing homes than he had performed. The United States Attorney’s investigation indicated that Dr. Latella was billing over 93% of his nursing home visits to Medicare under the most intensive and expensive claim code. For these claims to be valid, a doctor typically must spend 35 minutes at the patient’s bedside and on the patient’s facility floor or unit. Medicare paid more than $94 for these claims, but would only have paid no more than $32 if the least expensive claim code, for routine ten minute visits, had been billed. In July 2016, a Medicare contractor sent Dr. Latella a letter warning him that his billing patterns were significantly more expensive than other doctors.
In July 2018, Dr. Latella submitted sworn written answers to the United States Attorney, in which Dr. Latella falsely declared that, with respect to certain Medicare claims in 2017 and 2018, he had spent approximately 35 minutes for each of 12 patients’ care at two nursing homes. With respect to one particular date in October 2017, Dr. Latella falsely swore he “started visiting the nursing home patients at 7:30 a.m. and completed my visits with each patient at approximately 5:30 p.m.” In truth, a federal agent had conducted in-person surveillance of Dr. Latella on that date, and Dr. Latella only was on site at the first nursing home for a total of 47 minutes and did not visit the second nursing home at all on that date. The administrator of the first nursing home estimated that Dr. Latella spent approximately five minutes with each nursing home patient during his visits to that nursing home.
Dr. Latella made further false statements about claims in January and February 2018, which the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit discovered through videotaped surveillance. For example, Dr. Latella billed nine claims for services allegedly provided to nine Medicare patients, on February 2, 2018, at a nursing home, but the surveillance showed that Dr. Latella was only on site at the nursing home for a total of 14 minutes.
In total, Dr. Latella admitted that, between January 1, 2014, and November 30, 2018, he submitted 1,140 false claims to Medicare, which were not justified, and he was paid $107,980.59 by Medicare for those claims. Dr. Latella also admitted that he caused Medicaid to make unjustified payments in the total amount of $9,218.73 for these claims. As a part of his plea agreement, Dr. Latella has agreed to pay no less than $107,980.59 to Medicare and $9,218.73 to Medicaid for economic losses caused by his commission of the offense.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Dr. Latella remains free on bond pending sentencing. Dr. Latella faces a possible maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Vavricek and was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, and the Iowa Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-3030.
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Honduran Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Three Prior DeportationsRead the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported three times was sentenced today to almost three months in federal prison.
Joel Martinez-Reyes, age 34, a citizen of Honduras illegally present in the United States and residing in Iowa City, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 15, 2019, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States.
At the guilty plea, Martinez-Reyes admitted he had previously been deported from the United States in October 2009, February 2010, and October 2013 and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Martinez-Reyes was found by immigration agents in April 2019 illegally working in Cedar Rapids.
In September 2009, Martinez-Reyes was convicted in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas of illegal entry into the United States from Mexico by crossing by Rio Grande River.
Martinez-Reyes was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Martinez-Reyes was sentenced to 89 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.
Martinez-Reyes 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-40.
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Sioux City Man to Federal Prison for Meth and Gun ConvictionsRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and possessed guns was sentenced June 28, 2019, to 19 years in federal prison.
Travis Wayne Mattson, age 35, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 26, 2018, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
At the guilty plea, Mattson admitted his involvement in a conspiracy that from January, 2017, through approximately May 11, 2018, distributed nearly 10 pounds of methamphetamine mixture in the Sioux City, Iowa area. Mattson kept his methamphetamine and drug proceeds in safes inside his home. Evidence also showed that on one occasion Mattson fired multiple rounds at a drug customer’s residence. During a search warrant of Mattson’s residence, law enforcement located methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, a digital scale, 9mm rounds of ammunition, a bullet proof vest, and two guns. Evidence at the sentencing further showed that Mattson installed metal and wood barricades to fortify his residence as well as security cameras to monitor entrances to the residence.
Mattson was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Mattson was sentenced to 228 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 4-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Mattson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mikala Steenholdt and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa Department of Criminalistics Investigation, Spencer Police Department, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-4043. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Minnesota Man Charged with Child Sexual Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Terrance Nordwall, age 50, of Faribault, Minnesota, has been charged with attempted sex trafficking of children, attempted enticement of minors, and travel for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct. The charges are contained in an Indictment unsealed on June 19, 2019, in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.
The Indictment alleges that, between March 2019 and April 2019, Nordwall attempted to solicit and entice two persons he believed to be under 18 to engage in commercial sex acts and acts constituting sexual abuse under Iowa law. The Indictment also alleges that, in April 2019, Nordwall traveled across a state line for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct. The Indictment also alleges that, in two different counties in Minnesota in 2004, Nordwall was convicted of three counts of criminal sexual conduct and one count of possession of pornographic work involving minors.
If convicted, Nordwall faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $750,000 fine, and at least five years and up to life on supervised release following any imprisonment.
Nordwall appeared on June 25, 2019, in federal court in Cedar Rapids and was held without bond. Nordwall’s next appearance for trial is set for August 26, 2019.
As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and is being investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation 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 19-57.
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Gun Violence Sends Man to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man with a history of violence who possessed a firearm and ammunition was sentenced today, to more than five years in federal prison.
Keith Taylor, age 37, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person on November 19, 2018.
Evidence at the detention, change of plea, and sentencing hearings revealed on May 1, 2018, Taylor unlawfully entered the apartment of a former girlfriend, terrorized her, her friends, and her child who were with in the apartment with her; and got into a physical altercation with another person in the apartment. During the altercation Taylor pulled out a gun, pointed it at the other person, and threatened him. A struggle ensued and the weapon was discharged into the ceiling of the apartment. Taylor fled the scene, but Taylor’s vehicle was located nearby, police found a revolver with five live rounds and one spent round in the cylinder of the revolver in the trunk of the vehicle.
Before May 1, 2018, Taylor had been convicted of numerous crimes, including convictions for offenses involving assault, drugs and guns.
Taylor was sentenced in Sioux City by Chief United States District Court Judge. Taylor was sentenced to 75 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.
Taylor is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigation 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 18-CR-4071.
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Man Who Knowingly Gave Felon A Gun Pleads Guilty Shortly Before Scheduled TrialRead the Press Release
Troy Cooke, 46, from Sioux City, Iowa, was charged with 1 Count of transferring a firearm and ammunition to a felon, the charges are contained in an indictment filed February 20, 2019 in United States District Court in Sioux City.
The allegations against Cooke were, in essence, that he gave a gun (an IAC Billerica, Model 1911-A1, handgun) and ammunition to Ronald Warner knowing and having reason to know Ronald Warner had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding a year.
Trial was scheduled to begin July 1, 2019. Just days before trial, Cooke entered a guilty plea, without a plea agreement, and fully admitted to the crime for which he was charged. Cooke faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $100 fine, and 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being 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 19-CR-4010.
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Repeat Drug Trafficker Sentenced to over 15 Years in Prison for Possessing Heroin and Fentanyl Near a SchoolRead the Press Release
A repeat drug trafficker was sentenced June 20, 2019, to more than 15 years in federal prison for possessing heroin laced with fentanyl.
Deandre Joseph Warren, age 33, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after a November 20, 2018, guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute heroin within 1,000 feet of a school.
In a plea agreement, Warren admitted he possessed heroin he planned to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Warren was found with the heroin when officers responded to a home in Cedar Rapids due to a noise complaint, where they encountered Warren. Warren dropped multiple bags of heroin and marijuana in an attempt to hide them from officers. Testing later revealed the heroin also contained fentanyl. Warren’s criminal history includes numerous previous drug trafficking offenses and two convictions in 2018 for domestic abuse offenses, including one involving strangulation.
Warren was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court C.J. Williams. Warren was sentenced to 188 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 6-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Warren 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 Drug Enforcement Agency 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-00082.
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Anamosa Felon Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Helping to Fence Stolen GunsRead the Press Release
An Anamosa man who helped fence stolen firearms was sentenced on June 20, 2019, to seven years in federal prison.
David A. Miller, age 48, from Anamosa, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 14, 2019, guilty plea to one count of possessing a firearm as a felon.
At the guilty plea and other court hearings, evidence established that, in March 2017, Miller received seven guns from another felon in rural Anamosa. Miller agreed to take the seven guns to a third man’s home in Olin in order to facilitate a trade of the guns for a stolen four-wheeler. Officers later found the guns during a search of the Olin man’s home. Then, in January 2018, officers found an eighth firearm during a search of a shop at Miller’s home. Miller was storing the eighth firearm for his son, after his son’s mother kicked the son out of her house.
Miller has an extensive criminal history, which includes more than 30 adult criminal convictions, including five drunk driving convictions and a conviction for manufacturing methamphetamine in Benton County. Miller was on pretrial release in state court in Jones County for a felony theft charge when he received the seven stolen firearms.
Miller was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Miller was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Miller 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 Jones County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-99-CJW.
Eight People Who Worked Together to Distribute Ice Methamphetamine in Dubuque Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Eight people who, among other crimes, conspired to sell over three kilograms of ice methamphetamine in the Dubuque area have been sentenced cumulatively to more than 97 years in federal prison.
Keith Richard Ellis, age 36, from Dubuque, Iowa, was sentenced to 160 months’ imprisonment and 8 years’ supervised release following his May 25, 2018 guilty plea to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.
Joshua Allen Carter, age 33, from Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced to 124 month’s imprisonment and 5 years’ supervised release following his May 21, 2018 guilty plea to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.
Michael Scott Boen, age 26, from Potosi, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment and 4 years’ supervised release following his July 11, 2018 guilty plea to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.
Melissa Marie Petesch, age 30, from Hazel Green, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 132 months’ imprisonment and 3 years’ supervised release following her June 12, 2018 guilty plea to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, conspiring to commit money laundering, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Brenda Lynn Harker, age 40, from Dubuque, Iowa, was sentenced to 78 months’ imprisonment and 4 years’ supervised release following her August 2, 2018 guilty plea to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and conspiring to commit money laundering.
Jose Juan Ceja, age 25, from Bell Gardens, California, was sentenced to 156 months’ imprisonment and 5 years’ supervised release following his June 28, 2018 guilty plea to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.
Mauricio Bayardo Chan, age 21, from Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, was sentenced to 300 months’ imprisonment and 5 years’ supervised release following his August 1, 2018 guilty plea to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and conspiring to commit money laundering.
Samuel Oliver Taylor, III, age 41, from Dubuque, Iowa, was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment and 5 years’ supervised release following his August 6, 2018 guilty plea to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, conspiring to commit money laundering, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
All eight defendants admitted they had conspired to distribute ice methamphetamine in the Dubuque area. Evidence presented at two of the sentencing hearings showed that Chan and Ceja, who represented themselves to be affiliated with the Sinaloa drug cartel, supplied ice methamphetamine from Mexico. Taylor acted as the primary local intermediary for the methamphetamine in Dubuque. At one point, Taylor provided Chan with a loaded firearm so Chan could “resolve a drug debt” with another individual. Shortly thereafter, Chan returned the firearm unloaded.
In October 2017, Ceja appeared at one of his co-conspirators’ residences looking to retrieve something from a prior shipment of methamphetamine. When the customer did not tell him the location of the methamphetamine, Ceja showed the customer videos of cartel members cutting off peoples’ hands and heads, and made threats against another member of the conspiracy. Chan had made similar threats in the past, showing a co-conspirator similar videos and stating that the only way out of dealing with him was “death or prison.”
All eight defendants were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Drew Inman and Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-1002-LTS-MAR.
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Deputy Attorney General Recognizes District Branch ChiefRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Duax, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Iowa’s Sioux City brank office, was one of 172 members of the Department of Justice recognized by Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen, and Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) Director James Crowell, IV at the 35th Director’s Awards Ceremony today in Washington D.C.
The Northern District of Iowa was one of 31 districts represented at the ceremony which was held in the Great Hall at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building.
In addressing the award recipients and guests, Deputy Attorney General Rosen told the awardees, “Today’s honorees have earned the esteem of their colleagues. But most importantly, you have earned the gratitude of your fellow citizens — whose communities you have made safer, whose lives you have improved, and whose trust you have rewarded.”
In his remarks, EOUSA Director James Crowell told the recipients, “The Department of Justice is in truth a deployed force. Your work isn’t easy, but it is vital to the functioning and enduring nature of our democracy. As federal prosecutors, we are held to a higher standard, a standard that requires us to ensure that we uphold the rule of law and the fundamental rules of fairness in every trial, every settlement, every plea, and every legal argument in which we are involved.”
AUSA Duax was recognized for his superior performance in a managerial or supervisory role. Over the past several years, Duax overcame difficult circumstances, including limited resources and a disruptive construction project, to greatly enhance the leadership, productivity, and morale in the Sioux City office. At the same time, he prosecuted some of the office’s most difficult human trafficking and sexual exploitation cases while serving in a number of district-wide roles for the Northern District of Iowa.
“AUSA Duax demonstrated outstanding dedication and hard work, leading the Sioux City office by setting the example every day,” said United States Attorney Peter E. Deegan, Jr. “Through difficult times and trying circumstances,
AUSA Duax’s leadership, good humor, passion, and work ethic never wavered. My entire office is grateful for his continued commitment to doing everything he can to help protect the people of Iowa.”
EOUSA provides oversight, general executive assistance, and direction to the 94 United States Attorneys’ offices around the country. For more information on EOUSA and its mission, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao.
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California Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
A man who sexually exploited a child pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
David Vogelpohl, age 21, from Vista, California, was convicted of one count of sexual exploitation of a child. At the plea hearing, Vogelpohl admitted that, in 2018, he persuaded, induced, or enticed a female under 18 years old to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Vogelpohl remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Vogelpohl faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 30 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 Mason City Police Department, the North Platte, Nebraska, 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 18-3053.
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Illegal Alien Who Used Another Person’s Social Security Number Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who used another person’s Social Security number to get a job was sentenced today to two months in federal prison.
Efrain Alvarez-Victoriano, age 44, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 12, 2019, guilty plea to one count of misuse of a social security number.
At the guilty plea, Alvarez-Victoriano admitted that on September 11, 2012, he used someone else’s name and social security number on employment forms and state and federal tax forms when applying for work in Waukon, Iowa. Alvarez-Victoriano was convicted in 2016 of possession of methamphetamine and introducing a controlled substance into a jail and placed on probation. Alvarez-Victoriano’s whereabouts were unknown to immigration officials until his arrest and sentencing in February 2019 for violating his state probation.
Alvarez-Victoriano was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Alvarez-Victoriano was sentenced to two 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. Alvarez-Victoriano is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be returned to state prison where he is serving a five-year sentence on an Iowa drug felony conviction.
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 17-CR-2003. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Convicted Felon Who Discharged a Gun Sentenced to a Decade in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who possessed and discharged a hand gun was sentenced today to ten years in federal prison.
Montecarlos Marteze Gant, age 36, from Chicago, Illinoi, received the prison term after a February 6, 2019, guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence during the case established that in April 2018, Gant possessed a Smith and Wesson .380 caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number. Gant shot one round from the gun while involved in an incident with another individual. The following day, Gant attempted to sell the gun at a pawn shop in Dubuque, but was unable to because of the gun’s obliterated serial number. The next day, police responded to a call for service at a residence in Dubuque, and attempted to speak with Gant. Gant fled from officers, and eventually officers caught him and the pistol was recovered in his pocket, loaded with one round in the chamber.
Gant’s criminal history included felony convictions for aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Gant had been released from prison less than four months before the events giving rise to his federal conviction.
Gant was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Gant was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment, the statutory maximum sentence. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
During the sentencing hearing, the Chief Judge Strand noted that in light of his criminal history, Gant “should not have been, frankly, within the same zip code of a firearm.”
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.
Gant is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms 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-1019.
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More Than Thirty Charged Across Eastern Iowa with Federal Gun Law ViolationsRead the Press Release
Law enforcement agencies across the state continue to make communities safer by partnering to reduce gun related crimes and violence. United States Attorney Peter E. Deegan, Jr. announced charges and arrests in thirty-two recent federal gun cases at a press conference held at the United States Attorney’s Office. Deegan was joined by Donald Dockendorf, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Thomas Reinwart, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Deputy Chief Thomas Jonker, Cedar Rapids Police Department, Assistant Chief of Police Jeremy Jensen and Investigator Nicholas Schlosser, Dubuque Police Department, Deputy Marshal Nick Bonifazi, United States Marshal’s Service, Special Agent Mike Fischels, Homeland Security Investigations, and Chief Deputy John Stuelke, Captain Greg McGivern, Lieutenant Matt Pavelka, and Sergeant Dave Beuter, all of the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.
“The charges in these cases demonstrate the Department of Justice’s continued commitment to prosecuting the most dangerous offenders in our communities,” said United States Attorney Peter E. Deegan, Jr. “We will continue to work with all of our outstanding local, state, and federal law partners to investigate and prosecute those who use guns to commit crimes and those unlawfully possess guns and ammunition. Convicted felons, drug users, and those who have committed domestic violence are simply not allowed to possess guns or ammunition. Those who do violate federal law and will be held accountable.”
In the past few months, the work of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies has resulted in the following matters in federal court in Cedar Rapids:
Jesus David Jimenez, age 33, Karondius Martea Kelly, age 20, Jamaal Baker, age 40, Charles John Cizek, age 41, Alberto Quinto-Pascual, age 36, Shevin Darnell Caston, age 28, Diamond Meshan Duckings, age 34, Jumoni Dontez Wilson, age 18, Levi Farren Miller, age 28, Rajih Rafee Donley, age 31, all of Waterloo, Iowa; John David Orr III, age 19, Johnnie Eugene Raymond, age 22, Charles Dwayne Carter, age 27, all of Dubuque, Iowa; Dustin Blake Herubin, age 23, Daytrell Washington-Roby, age 21, Raven Damien Meader Burkhow, age 24, Drew Blahnik, age 32. Fernaris Braggs, age 31, Andrew Shaw, age 31, Jontreyvius Richmond, age 21, Darnell Henderson, age 23, Mathew John Wharton, age 28, Zachary Francis Hogan, age 28, Paul Hoff, age 40, Untario McGhee, age 18, all of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Clint Hospodarksy, age 44, of Iowa City, Iowa; Randolph High, age 62, of Stanwood, Iowa; Justin Allen Bryce Gulian, age 28, of Clarksville, Iowa; Richard Dale Olge II, age 30, of Cresco, Iowa; Gilbert Lopez, Jr., age 33, of West Union, Iowa; Edinton Grugbay Wright, age 22, of Marion, Iowa; and Brett Scott Meana, age 43, of Peosta, Iowa, have all been charged with various violations of federal law including being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. The charges are contained in complaints and indictments filed within the last few months in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.
The complaint and indictment against Burkhow alleges that in March and April 2019, Burkhow sold cocaine to a confidential informant on five separate occasions. On April 29, 2019, investigators executed a search warrant at Burkhow’s residence in Cedar Rapids and located fourteen guns, eight silencers, thousands of rounds of ammunition, a money counting machine, cash, and cocaine. Burkhow admitted to investigators that he uses controlled substances. The case file is 19-mj-149 and 19-cr-59.
The complaint and indictment against Washington-Roby alleges that in September 2018, Washington-Roby posted a photo of himself on Facebook holding a Glock 9mm handgun. The firearm was later seized from one of Washington-Roby’s friends while Roby and the friend were together. Washington-Roby admitted to officers that he uses marijuana and had been doing so since a young age. Also, on April 5, of this year, Washington-Roby was in a vehicle involved in a shots-fired investigation. A pistol was found in that vehicle. The case file is 19-mj-117 and 19-cr-47.
The complaint against Quinto-Pascual alleges that on May 10, 2019, Waterloo Police officers responded to a call for a man with a gunshot wound. The unresponsive male was taken to a nearby hospital. Officers later located a .32 caliber revolver that was involved in the shooting. Quinto-Pascual was identified as someone who was with the male earlier that evening. Quinto-Pascual was located and admitted to being with the male that night and that the firearm belonged to him. Quinto is alleged to have possessed a firearm with an obliterated serial number and possessed a firearm while being a drug user. This case file is 19-mj-168.
The complaints and indictments filed against McGhee, Kelly, Cizek, Braggs, High, Raymond, Caston, Henderson, Richmond, Carter, Donley, allege that these defendants were felons who were unlawfully in possession of a firearm or ammunition.
The charges filed against Orr Blahnik, Shaw, Wharton, Hogan, and Hospodarsky allege that these defendants were in possession of a firearm as a drug user.
Miller was charged in May with possessing a firearm as a felon and possessing an unregistered firearm.
The indictment against Herubin alleges that this defendant possessed with the intent to distribute marijuana near a protected location, two counts of false statement during the purchase of a firearm, and possession of a firearm as a drug user.
Jimenez, Baker, Duckings, and Gulian were each charged with possessing a firearm as a felon. Each has since pled guilty.
In March of this year, Wright and Wilson were both charged with being a drug user in possession of a firearm. Both have since pled guilty.
Meana was charged in April with possessing an unregistered firearm. He pled guilty on May 28, 2019.
Hoff was charged with possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. He pled guilty on June 13, 2019.
Lopez pled guilty in June to two counts of being an unlawful user of marijuana and methamphetamine and one count of selling a stolen firearm.
If convicted on these charges, all defendants face at least a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, $100 in special assessments, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The cases were brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force (composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshal Service, and the Cedar Rapids Police Department), the Waterloo Federal Task Force (composed of the Waterloo Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department), the Dubuque Police Department, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Charles City Police Department, and the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office.
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More Than Twenty Charged with Federal Gun Law ViolationsRead the Press Release
Law enforcement throughout Northwest Iowa, and the United States Attorney’s Office are helping to make Iowa safer by addressing the problems of gun crime and violence. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy T. Duax announced charges in twenty-six recent federal gun-related cases at a press conference held today at the United States Attorney’s Office. Duax was joined by Sioux City Police Chief Rex Mueller, who stated:
“We in municipal law enforcement realize the danger that violent offenders can pose to our citizens. Identifying criminals within a community who display increasingly violent tendencies and who use firearms to support their crimes, is a priority for the Sioux City Police Department. Our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s office is key to the successful detection and prosecution of these major offenders. I am very proud of how this partnership has impacted local community safety by incarcerating these dangerous individuals.”
“There are federal laws that prohibit certain people from possessing firearms and ammunition, and public safety demands those laws be vigorously enforced,” said U.S. Attorney Peter Deegan. I want to thank all of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners for working with the United States Attorney’s Office to bring these cases to federal court. Together we are making our local communities safer for everyone.”
Individuals involved in violent crimes, and individuals involved in the illegal theft, possession or use of guns are the focus of the anti-violent crime initiative. One such individual, Matthew Lynam, a convicted felon who used a firearm to rob two men, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison today. In addition, over the past three months, the work of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies has resulted in the following individuals being charged with gun-related crimes.
Oscar Garcia; Andrew Nissen; Jessica Rose Ott; Tanner Earl Lowe; Marcus Swan; Kenneth Petersen; Lucas Osborne; Cole Allen Rongved; Logan Bergenske; Moses Strickland; Anthony Holeyfield; Antwon Holeyfield; Isaac McDonald; Matthew Derrick Guthrie; Traci Lynn Guthrie; Robinson Nguyen; Aaron Michael Hermen; Michael Marshall-Limoges; Hector Andrade; Matthew Lee Fowler; Charles Gail Westfall Jr.; Donald Eugene Rundall III; Jami Lynn Stupka; and Leah Hanson have all been charged with various violations of federal firearms law. The charges are contained in indictments filed recently in United States District Court in Sioux City.
As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The cases were brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The cases were investigated by the following law enforcement agencies: Sioux City Police Department; Fort Dodge Police Department; Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement; North Central Iowa Drug Task Force; Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office; and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.
Guatemalan 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 more than two months in federal prison.
Gumersindo Ventura-Diaz, age 31, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Charles City, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 22, 2019, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States.
At the guilty plea, Ventura-Diaz admitted he had previously been deported from the United States in November 2012 and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Ventura-Diaz was found by immigration agents in March 2019 after he was charged in Floyd County, Iowa, with driving without a license.
Ventura-Diaz was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court C.J. Williams. Ventura-Diaz was sentenced to 71 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.
Ventura-Diaz 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-2019.
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Four Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Gun ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Daniel Powell, age 25, from Lake City, Iowa, Tylor Boyd, age 26, from Homer, Nebraska, Colton Novak, age 27 from Dakota City, Nebraska, and Matthew Lynam, age 32 from Sioux City, Iowa, received prison terms, ranging from just over four years to 15 years for their roles in a conspiracy to steal and possess guns.
Daniel Powell, Tylor Boyd, Colton Novak, and Matthew Lynam were each convicted of one count of conspiracy to possess and sell stolen firearms, one count of possession of a stolen firearm and one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Evidence presented by the United States in court revealed Boyd, Powell, Novak and Lynam were all unlawful users of controlled substances, and that Boyd and Lynam were convicted felons. Additionally, the evidence revealed Boyd, Powell, Novak traveled to Greene County, Iowa broke into a shop there, and stole five guns, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and other valuables. The men tried to dispose of the guns, trading some for methamphetamine.
Lynam joined the conspiracy after the break-in and participated in the crime by, among other things, attempting to protect to conspiracy by, on or about February 5, 2018 firing a round with one of the stolen guns to scare people who were in a dispute with his codefendants in Dakota County Nebraska.
Even after the conspiracy, Lynam continued his dangerous behavior. On or about February 14, 2018, defendant robbed two men just moments apart. He fired the handgun to terrorize his victims and bystanders. Defendant also shouted the name of his gang while engaging in the robberies and while fleeing the crime scenes.
Powell, Boyd, and Novak were sentenced on March 11, 2019, and Lynam was sentenced on June 17, 2019, in United States District Court in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Powell was sentenced to 99 month’s imprisonment, Boyd was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment, Novak was sentenced to 50 months imprisonment, and Lynam was sentenced to 180 months imprisonment. Powell, Boyd, Novak and Lynam were ordered to make restitution of $87,713.86. Powell, Boyd, Novak and Lynam each must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
All are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a cooperative local, state, and federal program aimed at the enhanced prosecution of gun and violent crimes. The case was investigated by the United States Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department, the Dakota County (Nebraska) Attorney’s and Sherriff’s Offices, the Woodbury County (Iowa) Attorney’s and Sherriff’s Offices, the Greene County (Iowa) Attorney’s and Sheriff’s Offices. 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 numbers are 18-4045 and 18-4051.
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Five Men Connected to Coggon Shooting Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Five men who were involved in an attempted robbery of marijuana that left one man dead were each sentenced today to more than six years in federal prison.
Chase Daniel Zerba, age 21, Cameron Lee Klouda, age 22, both from Coggon, Iowa, and Tyler Michael Clemens, age 24, from Alburnett, Iowa, received prison terms after each had previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute marijuana and using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Dillon Craig Beener, age 22, and Kordell Maurice Jones, age 20, both from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received prison terms after each had previously pled guilty to attempted robbery and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
Evidence during the case established that on February 1, 2017, law enforcement officers responded to an address in Coggon after receiving a 911 call regarding a shooting. When officers arrived, they located an individual deceased in the front yard of the residence. This individual had been shot at close range with a shotgun.
Prior to the shooting, the victim of the shooting along with Beener, Jones, and another individual, left Cedar Rapids to travel to Coggon. These four individuals intended to meet with Zerba and rob him of marijuana. The four brought a .40 caliber Hi-Point pistol with them to use during the robbery. When they arrived at Zerba’s residence, Clemens, Klouda, and Zerba were all seated in a minivan parked in the driveway. Zerba, Clemens, and Klouda had brought approximately a half-pound of marijuana with them, as well as a loaded shotgun.
Beener approached the minivan and spoke with the three people in it. Beener then returned to his car, and the victim, Beener, and Jones approached the minivan to meet with Zerba, Clemens, and Klouda. The victim was in possession of the pistol and spoke briefly to the occupants of the minivan. He then raised his pistol and demanded that Zerba give them the marijuana. As the group attempted the robbery, one of the men inside the vehicle raised the shotgun and fired one round from the shotgun out the passenger side window into the victim’s head.
During a search of the scene, police located $60 in the victim’s pocket. The .40 caliber Hi-Point pistol was located near his body. The pistol was loaded, with a round in the chamber and the safety off. In the minivan, police located marijuana in a backpack in the left rear seat “stow and go” compartment. The marijuana was packaged in six separate containers and totaled 386.91 grams of marijuana. Police also located multiple jars of marijuana wax in this same backpack.
All five men were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Zerba was sentenced to 91 months’ imprisonment, Clemens was sentenced to 78 months’ imprisonment, and Klouda was sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment. Klouda was fined $1,000 and all three men were ordered to pay $5,611.56 in restitution. Beener was sentenced to 80 months’ imprisonment and Jones was sentenced to 82 months’ imprisonment. All five men must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The combination of drugs and guns poses a serious threat to public safety,” said United States Attorney Peter Deegan. “Not only is it a federal crime to possess a gun during a drug deal, it’s a federal crime for a drug user to possess a gun. These sentences hold accountable five men who did both. As a result, a young man’s life was lost to gun violence. Our office is committed to vigorously prosecuting anyone who poses a threat to public safety by mixing guns with drugs.”
During the sentencing hearings, Judge Williams noted that this “was an avoidable accident” where there was “enough fault to go around for everybody.” Judge Williams also noted that this was a “horrible, preventable, tragedy.”
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.
Zerba, Clemens, Klouda, Beener, and Jones are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams and investigated by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file numbers are 18-cr-0059 and 18-cr-0072.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office to Hold Press Conference Regarding Recent Efforts to Combat Gun Crimes and Violence in Northwest Iowa.Read the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office in Sioux City will hold a press conference Monday, June 17, 2019, at 3:30 p.m. where Branch Chief Timothy Duax and other members of law enforcement will discuss recent efforts to confront gun crimes and violence in Northwest Iowa, including the recent charging of 26 defendants for federal gun-related crimes. The press conference will be held at the United States Attorney’s Office located at 600 Fourth St. Suite 670, Sioux City, IA.
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Media AdvisoryRead the Press Release
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – On June 17, 2019, five men will be sentenced in federal district court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, following their convictions for drug, robbery, and gun crimes related to the fatal shooting of an individual in Coggon, Iowa, in February 2017. On June 18, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. the United States Attorney’s Office and the Linn County Sheriff’s Office will hold a press conference at the United States Attorney’s Office in the federal courthouse, 111 Seventh Avenue SE, in Cedar Rapids to announce the results of those sentencing hearings.
Additionally, United States Attorney Peter E. Deegan, Jr. will announce recent Project Safe Neighborhood gun charges in Eastern Iowa at the press conference. Representatives from federal and local law enforcement will be present.
Event Details
When: June 18, 2019
Where: Cedar Rapids Federal Courthouse (United States Attorney’s Office), 111 Seventh Avenue SE
Time: 11:00 a.m.
A press release will be provided and interview opportunities will be available.
Please RSVP to Tony Morfitt at [email protected] if you plan to attend.
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Former Bank Vice President Who Aided the Obstruction of an FDIC Investigation Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who aided the obstruction of an FDIC examination was sentenced on June 13, 2019, to one year and one day in federal prison.
Martin Smith, age 39, from Center Point, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 27, 2018 guilty plea to aiding and abetting the obstruction of an FDIC investigation.
Smith worked as a bank vice president from 2009 to 2012. Information at sentencing showed that, during a December 2011 FDIC examination, Smith made it appear as though a borrower’s delinquent loans had been refinanced several months prior, which kept regulators from scrutinizing those loans as part of the exam. Information at sentencing also showed that Smith changed due dates and allowed unauthorized advances on other loans, ultimately causing the bank to incur more than $1 million in losses on loans that the bank never formally authorized and, in some circumstances, never even memorialized.
Smith was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Smith was sentenced to 12 months’ and one day imprisonment. He was ordered to make $1,270,132.97 in restitution. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Smith was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacob Schunk and investigated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General and the United States Secret Service.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-00076.
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Cedar Rapids Man Who Sold Heroin Near a School Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids man who sold heroin near an intermediate school in Cedar Rapids was sentenced today to 41 months in prison.
Andre Daniel Wilks, age 45, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison sentence after a November 19, 2018 guilty plea to distribution of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school.
Information disclosed at sentencing and at his plea hearing showed that Wilks was sentenced to federal prison in 2002 for his involvement in an offense involving over 3,000 grams of cocaine. Wilks was discharged from his federal sentence in 2015. In mid-2016 Wilks started selling heroin. On March 30, 2017, Wilks sold heroin within 1,000 feet of a school in Cedar Rapids. In total, Wilks was responsible for selling about 95 grams of heroin around the Cedar Rapids area. Wilks has 24 prior criminal convictions dating back to the age of 18.
Wilks was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Wilks was sentenced to 41 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make payment of $100 to the special assessment fund. He must also serve a 6-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery and investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Cedar Rapids Police Department’s Narcotics and uniform division.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-00084.
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Woman Sentenced to Prison for Giving Opioids Causing Overdose and Death to Her CousinRead the Press Release
A woman who provided heroin that contained fentanyl to her cousin and another person causing her cousin’s death was sentenced June 10, 2019, to more than three years in federal prison.
Marvita Roxanna Causey, age 39, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 20, 2018 guilty plea to distribution of controlled substances.
Court filings show that Causey gave what she believed to be heroin to two individuals, her cousin and another woman. Residue from the leftover heroin showed that the heroin also contained fentanyl. Causey’s cousin was later found dead and Causey agreed that the proximate cause of her cousin’s death was her distribution of heroin and fentanyl.
Causey was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Causey was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Causey 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 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-2061.
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Webster City Man to Federal Prison for Meth ConvictionRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced June 10, 2019, to more than eleven years in federal prison.
Ty Wildt, 30, from Webster City, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 8, 2019, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. In 2016, Wildt was previously convicted of two felony drug offenses in Iowa.
Evidence at the plea hearing and sentencing showed Wildt was involved in a conspiracy from April 2018 through September 2018 that distributed more than 150 grams of pure methamphetamine. On three occasions in August 2018, Wildt distributed more than 24 grams of pure methamphetamine to individuals cooperating with law enforcement.
Wildt was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Wildt was sentenced to 141 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. Wildt 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 Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Wright County Sheriff’s Office, Webster City 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 18-3038. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Three Time Drug Dealer with History of Violence Sentenced to 15 Years’ Federal ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
A man with a history of criminal convictions who possessed methamphetamine for distribution was sentenced June 11, 2019, to more than 15 years in federal prison.
Clyde Allen Lincoln, age 37 from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 26, 2018, guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine within a protected location.
Evidence at the change of plea and sentencing revealed Lincoln attempted to flee from the scene of a traffic stop in Sioux City, Iowa on May 22, 2018. During the foot pursuit, Lincoln discarded a package later determined to contain over 82 grams of pure methamphetamine. The police caught and subdued Lincoln (who resisted arrest) near the protected areas of Rose Hill Park and Heelan High School in Sioux City, Iowa.
Lincoln’s criminal history included two operating while intoxicated offenses, four assault convictions, a burglary conviction, and two previous convictions for possession with intent to distribute drugs. He was also on probation when he committed the instant federal offense.
Lincoln was sentenced in Sioux City by Chief United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Lincoln was sentenced to 188 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve an 8-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Lincoln is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigation 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 18-CR-4075.
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Sioux City Woman Pleads Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty June 11, 2019, in federal court in Sioux City.
Winona Freemont, 35, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine within a protected location.
At the plea hearing, Freemont admitted that from about July 2017 through April 2018 she participated in the distribution of more than 500 grams of pure methamphetamine in Sioux City. Freemont distributed methamphetamine at a residence that was within 1000 feet of Cook Park. Freemont admitted that she and others involved in the conspiracy would travel to Omaha, NE to obtain up to pounds of methamphetamine to bring back to Sioux City to distribute to others.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Freemont remains in custody of the United States Marshal and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Freemont 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.
Iowa Man to Federal Prison for Meth and Gun ConvictionsRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessed firearms was sentenced June 10, 2019, to more than 15 years in federal prison.
Heath Cahill, 44, from Webster City, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 19, 2018, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and illegal possession of a firearm. Cahill was previously convicted of two prior felony drug convictions in the state of Iowa in 1997 and 2005.
Evidence at the plea hearing and sentencing showed Cahill participated in a conspiracy that distributed more than 16 pounds of methamphetamine in the Webster City area from March 2018 through August 2018. Evidence further showed that Cahill had methamphetamine shipped to his residence via Federal Express for another co-conspirator from a California source. In August 2018, law enforcement, at Cahill’s residence, seized approximately 4 pounds of methamphetamine, over $2,000 in cash, a digital scale and a firearm. In October 2018, law enforcement seized two more firearms, and more cash from Cahill’s residence.
Cahill was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Cahill was sentenced to 183 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. Cahill 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 Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster City Police Department, Story County Sheriff’s Office, Ames Police Department, 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 18-3040. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Sale of Stolen Firearm Results in Federal ConvictionRead the Press Release
A West Union man who sold a stolen firearm and was an unlawful user of marijuana and methamphetamine pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Gilbert Lopez, Jr., age 33, from West Union, Iowa, was convicted of two counts of being an unlawful drug user in possession of firearms and one count of selling a stolen firearm.
At the plea hearing, Lopez admitted that on April 15, 2019, he was an unlawful user of marijuana and methamphetamine. On that date he knowingly sold a stolen .40 caliber handgun to another. On April 16, 2019, when law enforcement officials executed a search warrant, Lopez admitted he had a .380 caliber handgun.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Lopez remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. For each of the three counts, Lopez faces a possible maximum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Reinert and was investigated by the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-2026-CJW.
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Illegal Alien Who Used Another Person’s Social Security Number Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who used another person’s Social Security number to get a job was sentenced today to more than three months in federal prison.
Juan Gabriel Xiquita-Aju, age 30, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Postville, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 12, 2019, guilty plea to one count of misuse of a social security number.
At the guilty plea, Xiquita-Aju admitted that on July 12, 2016, he used someone else’s social security number on employment forms when applying for work in Independence, Iowa. He also used a fraudulent permanent resident card, also known as a “green card,” when he completed the employment forms. Xiquita-Aju first came to the attention of immigration officials in March 2017 after his arrest for operating while intoxicated in Allamakee County, Iowa.
Xiquita-Aju was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Xiquita-Aju was sentenced to 106 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.
Xiquita-Aju 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-2006. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Honduran Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Three Prior DeportationsRead the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced today to 18 months in federal prison.
Jorge Matute-Banegas, age 28, a citizen of Honduras illegally present in the United States and residing in Belmond, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 6, 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, Matute-Banegas admitted he had previously been deported from the United States in June 2011, April 2013 and October 2014 and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Matute-Banegas was found by immigration agents in December 2018 after he was charged in Wright County, Iowa, with driving without a license.
Matute-Banegas has prior convictions in Pinal County, Arizona, in July 2012 for possession of marijuana for sale, an aggravated felony, and in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas in October 2014 for illegal reentry into the United States after having been convicted of an aggravated felony.
Matute-Banegas was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Matute-Banegas was sentenced to 18 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.
Matute-Banegas 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-3002.
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Escape from Federal Custody Results in ConvictionRead the Press Release
A man who escaped from custody while serving a federal sentence in the Gerald R. Hinzman Center pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Ramius Hardiman, age 26, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was convicted of one count of escape from federal custody.
In a plea agreement, Hardiman admitted that he was in federal custody at the Gerald R. Hinzman Center pursuant to a federal court order issued in a 2013 federal firearm case beginning on October 23, 2018. On November 15, 2018, Hardiman escaped from custody by signing out of the facility and failing to return. Hardiman was ultimately arrested by the North Liberty Police Department on January 9, 2019.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Hardiman remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Hardiman faces a possible maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Reinert and was investigated by the United States Marshals Service, the Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force, with the assistance of the North Liberty, Iowa, Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-00050.
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Man Who Stole Nearly $80,000 in Social Security Disability Benefits Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who stole $78,734 in Social Security disability benefits over a nearly four year period was sentenced today to six months in federal prison. Larry Joe Hanson, Sr., age 58, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 30, 2018 guilty plea to theft of government property.
According to a plea agreement and information disclosed at sentencing, Hanson received Social Security disability benefits from April 2013 through March 2017 because he told the Social Security Administration he was not able to work. However, Hanson was working at a company in Cedar Rapids during this time. Hanson lied and said all of the money he was making was from renting his tools to the company and not from working. However, Hanson later asked his employer to put the wages he was making in his wife’s name because, according to Hanson, he wanted to work but could not get paid. Between April 2013 and March 2017, Hanson received $78,734 in disability benefits to which he was not entitled.
Hanson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Hanson was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $78,509.40 in restitution to the Social Security Administration. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Hanson 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 Jacob Schunk and Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 18-cr-73.
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Mexican Man Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
A man who entered the United States illegally from Mexico was sentenced on May 31, 2019, to four months in federal prison.
Miguel Angel Prieto-Soto, age 33, from Mexico, received the sentence after an April 12, 2019, guilty plea to one count of unlawful use of identification documents.
At the guilty plea, Prieto-Soto admitted he had purchased a counterfeit permanent resident alien card and counterfeit social security card from an individual in Omaha for $200. Prieto-Soto admitted he had used his real name on both cards. He further admitted that he presented the counterfeit documents to Bliek’s Custom Fab in Hull, Iowa, for the purposes of obtaining employment.
Prieto-Soto was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Prieto-Soto was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 1-year term of supervised release.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher and investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Enforcement and Removal Office of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-04016.
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Cedar Rapids Felon Sentenced to More than 12 Years in Federal Prison after Possessing Stolen Firearms during Fiery High Speed Car Chase on Election Day in 2016Read the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids man who tried to run over a deputized federal officer three times and struck a canine officer was sentenced May 30, 2019, to more than 12 years in federal prison.
Kelsey Leroy Beckett, age 24, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 7, 2019 guilty plea to one count of possessing a firearm as a felon, one count of escape, and one count of assault with a dangerous and deadly weapon.
In November 2016, Beckett led law enforcement officers on a high-speed car chase through highly populated parts of Cedar Rapids and Hiawatha, Iowa. Beckett drove through the lawns of residences and the parking lot of a daycare center, and struck a skid loader and a parked car. The car Beckett was driving—not his own car—caught on fire in the process. During the fiery chase, Beckett totaled a United States Marshal’s Service (USMS) vehicle and tried three times to run over a USMS task force officer. The officer had his service firearm drawn and his badge displayed. Another officer was so afraid for the officer’s life that he was yelling at the officer to shoot Beckett.
After unsuccessfully attempting to run over the federal officer, Beckett then tried to flee on foot. A K-9 officer’s dog temporarily stopped Beckett, but Beckett struck the dog multiple times. The dog bit Beckett in self-defense. It was the first time the dog had to bite a suspect to preserve the dog’s own life.
Beckett had previously served 30 months in federal prison after possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number in 2013. At the time he fled, Beckett was a fugitive from a residential reentry center, and he had two loaded, stolen firearms in his car. One of the firearms, a Glock .40 caliber pistol, was in plain view on the driver’s side floorboard of the car. It had an extended, 22-round Glock magazine that was full, including one round in the chamber.
Court documents show that Beckett has a long history of assaultive behavior. From as far back as 2009, Beckett beat up a female college student for no apparent reason—attacking her from behind and kicking her while she lay on the ground screaming for help. Just weeks later, Beckett struck a shelter staff member in the head several times with his elbow and put her in a head lock. In 2012, Beckett was convicted of assault causing bodily injury after he fought with loss prevention officers in the course of stealing items from a department store. Beckett also has a history of unlawfully possessing firearms. In 2013, Beckett was convicted in federal court for possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. After Beckett was released from federal prison in 2015, he had his supervised release revoked twice, including for the November 2016 incident.
Beckett was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Beckett was sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make over $8,000 in restitution to the USMS, because he totaled a USMS vehicle in the chase. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Beckett’s 151‑month sentence follows a 24‑month sentence he began serving in 2016 for violating his supervised release in his 2013 federal firearms case. Earlier this month, a local woman, Saudia Raquel Watkins, who provided Beckett a car ride and smoked marijuana with him while he was on the lam, was sentenced to 3 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to one count of misprision of a felony.
Beckett is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported back to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and investigated by the United States Marshal’s Service.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-94.
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California Man Pleads Guilty to Iowa Meth and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessed a gun pled guilty June 3, 2019, in federal court in Sioux City.
Robinson Nguyen, 38, from Selma, California, was convicted of one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine; one count of possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and one count of illegally possessing a firearm. Nguyen was previously convicted of at least four felony offenses in California, ranging from thefts to possession of a controlled substance to possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.
At the plea hearing, Nguyen admitted that from about September 2017 through July 2018, he was involved in a conspiracy that distributed over a pound of methamphetamine. Evidence at the hearing showed that Nguyen arranged for co-conspirator Jocelyn Mendoza to travel by bus from Fresno, California to Sioux City, Iowa with approximately ¼ pound of methamphetamine hidden inside a neck rest. Nguyen and others in the conspiracy intended to distribute this methamphetamine. Law enforcement later seized a 9mm pistol from a search of the house where Nguyen resided. Nguyen admitted he possessed the gun for protection from robbery.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Nguyen remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Nguyen faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and four years up to life 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 18-4089. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to Prison for Theft of U.S. Government FundsRead the Press Release
A woman who failed to disclose her husband’s income when applying for welfare benefits was sentenced today to two months in federal prison.
Cleotilde Puac-Gomez, age 46, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Clarion, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 6, 2019, guilty plea to one count of theft of U.S. government funds.
In a plea agreement, Puac-Gomez, an illegal alien, admitted she failed to report her husband’s income when applying for, and receiving, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid benefits between June 2012 and November 2017. During that time period, her husband Melvin Rodriguez-Barrios, also an illegal alien, was working under an alias and used someone else’s social security number to obtain work. By failing to accurately report the family’s income, Puac-Gomez received $19,908.30 in overpayment of food stamps and other welfare benefits in funds belonging to the United States and distributed by the State of Iowa.
Rodriguez-Barrios, age 44, was sentenced on March 27, 2019, to six months’ imprisonment following a January 2, 2019, bench trial finding him guilty of three counts of unlawful use of an identification document and four counts of misuse of a social security number.
Puac-Gomez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Puac-Gomez was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment. She was ordered to make $19,908.30 in restitution to the State of Iowa. She must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Puac-Gomez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, and the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals Investigation Division - Economic Fraud Control Bureau.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 18-CR-3044.
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Convicted Robber Sentenced to Almost Four Years in Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing a GunRead the Press Release
A man previously convicted of robbery who possessed a gun with an obliterated serial number while under the influence of marijuana was sentenced today to almost four years in federal prison.
Joseph Bogovich, age 34, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 7, 2019 guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Information disclosed at sentencing and in a written plea agreement showed that shortly after 1:00 a.m. on September 8, 2018, Bogovich was driving in Dubuque when he hit a parked car. Bogovich’s driver’s license was suspended at the time. He drove away from the scene, but a witness to the accident reported it to the police.
Officers from the Dubuque Police Department found Bogovich a short time later outside his home. Bogovich admitted to hitting the parked car because he lost control while scratching off a lottery ticket. An officer saw a handgun in Bogovich’s car. The serial number had been obliterated from the gun. Bogovich had previously been convicted of a felony robbery offense. Officers also found marijuana in the car and Bogovich admitted to having used marijuana earlier that night.
Bogovich was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Bogovich was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Bogovich 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 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 18-CR-1048.
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Cedar Rapids Man Who Fired Several Shots at People Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids man who returned fire at a drive-by shooter was sentenced today to 24 months in prison.
Treysean Adair Burnside, age 23, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison sentence after a January 14, 2019 guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a drug user.
Information disclosed at sentencing and in a written plea agreement showed that on July 22 of last year, Burnside got into an argument over a fake $100 bill at a local bar in Cedar Rapids. After the argument, Burnside went home and received a call from an unknown man asking where he was. Burnside then retrieved a loaded 9mm gun from his residence and waited on the front porch. A short time later, a vehicle drove by and someone inside the vehicle fired a shot at Burnside’s residence. Burnside fired back six or seven times. No one was hurt in the shooting but a nearby residence was struck by some of the shots and sustained damage to the interior of the residence. Burnside was high on cocaine at the time. Burnside also admitted to police that he used marijuana every day.
Burnside was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Burnside was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
Burnside was ordered to self-surrender to United States Marshal’s custody on June 14, 2019 to begin serving his prison term.
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 Ashley Corkery and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 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-2068.
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Three Time Convicted Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Heroin ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A man who distributed heroin was sentenced May 29, 2019, to 25 years in federal prison.
Shelton Oliver, a/k/a Sinbad, 48, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 14, 2018, jury verdict finding him guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and four counts of distribution of heroin, all within 1000 feet of a protected location. Prior to being found guilty in Sioux City, Oliver had been convicted of two serious felony drug offenses in Illinois.
Evidence at trial showed that Oliver distributed heroin on February 7, 14, and 27, 2018, and March 13, 2018, to a confidential informant utilized by law enforcement. Evidence also showed that Oliver was involved in a conspiracy to distribute heroin in the Sioux City area from 2016 through approximately March 27, 2018. Evidence proved that the conspiracy and the four separate distributions all occurred within 1000 feet of protected locations, namely: Dale Street Park, Grandview Park, Alfred Thompson Children’s Park, Dinosaur Park, and Hunt Elementary School, in Sioux City, Iowa.
Evidence at trial also showed that on October 6, 2017, Oliver distributed heroin to Ty Olsen, who later died on this same date from a heroin overdose. The evidence at trial further showed that on March 13, 2018, Oliver, dealing heroin out of a car, sold heroin to a confidential informant while another person was overdosing in the passenger seat. Fortunately, the other person was later revived by medical personnel.
Oliver was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Oliver was sentenced to 300 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. Oliver is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jack Lammers and Mikala Steenholdt 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 18-4038. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Shooting Neighbor’s House Results in Federal ConvictionRead the Press Release
A Cedar County man who shot his neighbor’s house numerous times pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids to being a felon in possession of ammunition.
Randolph High, age 62, from Stanwood, Iowa, was convicted of being a felon in possession of ammunition.
In a plea agreement, High admitted that on January 27, 2019, he shot his neighbor’s house numerous times. The neighbor’s house, cars, and a camper sustained dozens of bullet impacts. The Cedar County Sheriff’s Office searched High’s home and found magazines for firearms, numerous .22 caliber rounds of ammunition, and 71 expended shell casings for a .22 caliber firearm.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge CJ Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. High remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. High faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Reinert and was investigated by Cedar County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, and the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement effort on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 19-CR-00033.
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Mason City Car Dealer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
A Mason City car dealer who laundered what he believed to be drug proceeds by selling a car for cash and not reporting the sale as he was required to do was sentenced today to more than a year in federal prison.
Jerry Flaherty, age 54, from Mason City, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 25, 2018 guilty plea to money laundering.
Information disclosed at sentencing and in a written plea agreement showed that in the spring of 2014, an undercover law enforcement officer met Flaherty at his car dealership, Wheel Man Auto, LLC in Mason City. During one meeting, the law enforcement officer purported to be a drug dealer and told Flaherty, among other things, that “I just don’t want the government forms to file” and “I just don’t want anything in my name.” During a second meeting, the undercover officer agreed to buy a car for $20,500 in cash, but Flaherty agreed to record the sale as a $15,000 credit card sale. During the meeting, the undercover officer told Flaherty “You know my deal. You know I sell cocaine and my thing is I just don’t need no, them government forms.” After the sale was completed, Flaherty never filed a form he was required to file under federal law documenting the sale.
Flaherty was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Flaherty was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment. He was also fined $25,000. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Flaherty was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt 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-3016.
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