Southern District of Iowa
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Victor Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding the IRSRead the Press Release
Des Moines, IA – A Victor, Iowa man pleaded guilty on October 5, 2022, to conspiracy to defraud the United States.
According to court documents, Daniel Shawn DeRycke, age 59, admitted he conspired with one or more other persons to impede and obstruct the Internal Revenue Service in the assessment and collection of income taxes. DeRycke admitted that from April 2017 to March 2019, through his business, DeRycke’s Crop Depot, he engaged in conduct to help customers reduce income tax owed by accepting backdated checks, generating false expense invoices, and exchanging checks to give the appearance of an expense that was not in fact incurred by the customers.
DeRycke is scheduled to be sentenced on February 3, 2023 and faces up to 5 years in prison. DeRycke has agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $189,919. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“This investigation is evidence to criminals that you cannot falsify figures on your own tax returns, let alone aid others with documents to bolster lies to the federal government on their tax returns,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Charles Miller. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents will continue to be on the front lines to defend the American tax system from fraud and deception.”
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa and the Internal Revenue Service made the announcement.
The Internal Revenue Service, United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case.
Micronesian Couple Pleads Guilty to Withholding Passports for Labor TraffickingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Defendants Nesly Mwarecheong, 46, and Bertino Weires, 51, residents of the United States and citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, pleaded guilty in federal court in Des Moines, Iowa, to two counts of unlawful conduct with respect to documents in furtherance of trafficking or forced labor. A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Iowa had previously returned a five-count indictment against the defendants for recruiting two young men from Micronesia to come to the United States for the purpose of coercing their labor in a meat processing plant for the defendants’ financial gain.
According to their plea agreements, the defendants convinced the two victims to leave their homes in Micronesia in December 2019 and travel to the United States by promising them they could work in the United States and send money back to their families. Once in the United States, the defendants confiscated the victims’ passports and obtained jobs for them at a meat processing plant in Ottumwa, Iowa. Each week, the defendants took the victims to cash their paychecks before seizing almost the entire amount and leaving the victims with only $20 each week. The defendants used various means to compel the victims’ labor and services, including confiscating the victims’ passports and social security cards, imposing debts on them, limiting and monitoring their communication with family, physically and socially isolating them and creating a system of total financial dependence on the defendants. In so doing, the defendants created a situation where the victims either had to continue complying with the defendants’ demands or risk being homeless and without a means of supporting themselves in a foreign country where they did not speak the language and had no means of returning home.
“These defendants used the allure of jobs in the United States to entice the victims, and then exploited them and profited off their hard work,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice remains committed to partnering with federal, state and local officials to investigate and prosecute human trafficking offenses, which have no place in our society.”
The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Chief Judge Stephanie M. Rose on Feb. 15. The defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The sentence will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which consider a number of variables. As part of the defendants’ plea, they have agreed to pay nearly $70,000 in restitution to the victims.
Investigator Jeremy Tosh of the Ottumwa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Virginia Bruner and Ryan Leemkuil for the Southern District of Iowa and Trial Attorney Christina Randall-James of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit prosecuted the case.
Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking. Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org.
Washington Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Brian James Bell, age 22 of Mount Vernon, Washington, was sentenced on Friday, September 30, 2022, to 66 months in prison following his plea to a charge of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
In June 2021, Bell was involved in a traffic accident on Interstate 29. Law enforcement arrived on the scene and observed Bell carrying a backpack away from the accident site. A During a probable cause search of the vehicle and backpack, law enforcement located 97 grams of methamphetamine and two loaded firearms.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Pottawattamie Sheriff’s Department and Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force investigated the case.
Pottawattamie County Man Sentenced for a Drug OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Scott Paul Polinski, age 58 of Council Bluffs, was sentenced on Friday, September 30, 2022, to 120 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
In October 2021, Polinski was on parole with the State of Iowa Fourth Judicial District Probation and Parole Department for prior distribution of methamphetamine convictions. Officers received information that Polinski was selling methamphetamine out of his home. Officers went to Polinksi’s address to complete a home visit and speak with Polinski. Officers located 264 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia related to distributing illegal drugs.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department, Fourth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services Probation and Parole Department, and Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.
Des Moines Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Antonio Lashawn Warfield, age 39 of Des Moines, was sentenced on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, to 105 months in prison following his guilty plea to Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
In September 2019, law enforcement was contacted about Warfield driving a silver Chrysler 300 sedan brandishing a pistol and threatening people. About six weeks later, on October 22, 2019, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a silver Chrysler 300 sedan driven by Warfield. A search of the car revealed a loaded semi-automatic pistol concealed in the driver’s seat area of the car. At the time of the stop, Warfield knew he had been previously convicted of a felony and was prohibited by law from possessing a firearm.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Davenport Police Department investigated the case.
Davenport Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Charles Michael Spiker, age 49 of Davenport, was sentenced on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, to 120 months in prison following his guilty pleas to Conspiracy to Distribute 50 Grams and More of Methamphetamine and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
According to court documents, law enforcement identified Spiker as part of a drug conspiracy operating in Colorado, California, and the Davenport area. Investigation revealed that, as part of the conspiracy, Spiker was obtaining methamphetamine and distributing it to other dealers and users. When Spiker was arrested, he had a semiautomatic pistol in his pocket. Spiker knew he had previously been convicted of a felony and was prohibited by law from possessing a firearm.
In August 2022, co-defendant Ricardo Renteria Gutierrez, age 49, a Mexican citizen, was sentenced to 360-months in prison for his plea to Conspiracy to Distribute 50 Grams and More of Methamphetamine. In April 2022, co-defendant Oscar Cruz Guzman, age 28 of Riverside, California, was sentenced to 126-months in prison for his plea to Conspiracy to Distribute 50 Grams and More of Methamphetamine.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bettendorf Police Department investigated the case.
Oxford Junction Woman Sentenced on Federal Tax ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – An Oxford Junction woman, Penny Lane Witt, age 48, was sentenced on September 27, 2022, to 18 months in prison for tax evasion. Witt was also ordered to serve three years on supervised release and pay $75,849 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
According to court documents, in 2015, Witt operated businesses under the names of Ultimate Tree Service and Spruces Tree Service. An employee of this business approached an individual in Iowa City about trimming some trees. After this initial project, in 2016 and 2017, Witt and other employees returned to this residence, and the same individual paid by check for multiple remodeling and landscaping projects. Witt did not keep business records, did not have a business or individual bank account, and conducted all business and payroll expenses in cash. Witt admitted that by receiving checks and cash payments from the individual, her affirmative acts of personally and willfully cashing these checks at the purported customer’s bank and not depositing any of these checks or cash in a bank account, she concealed any usual record of the gross income she received and evaded and attempted to evade the assessment of federal income tax. These payments included work not fully completed. In 2016 and 2017, Witt received approximately $469,000 in payments. Witt admitted that she knew her legal duty to file tax returns for these years, and willfully chose not to file.
“Ms. Witt took advantage of a vulnerable person and cheated them out of hundreds of thousands of dollars,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Charles Miller, “IRS Criminal Investigation recognizes the presence of fraud targeting elder Americans, and we will continue to combat these crimes and hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions.”
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement.
The Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations Division and the Iowa City Police Department investigated this case.
Melbourne man sentenced to 20 years in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – Martin Leon Morales, age 40 of Melboure, was sentenced on Friday, September 23, 2022, to 240 months in prison following his guilty plea to Conspiracy to Distribute 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Leon Morales was under investigation for drug distribution. Investigators from the Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force had information that Leon Morales was traveling to and from California. On June 7, 2020, Leon Morales’ vehicle was stopped by officers with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office. During a search of Leon Morales’ vehicle, approximately 24 pounds of methamphetamine was found. Leon Morales admitted he intended to distribute the methamphetamine.
In January 2022, co-defendant Aimee Kathleen Smith, age 32 of Marshalltown, was sentenced to 120-month in prison following her guilty plea to Conspiracy to Distribute 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force, Tri-County Drug Task Force, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and Cass County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Iowa City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Failure to RegisterRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Stephen Claude Ramond Pickett, age 46 of Iowa City, was sentenced on Monday, September 26, 2022, to 30 months in prison following his guilty plea to a charge of Failure to Register. Pickett was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release following his prison term.
According to court documents, Pickett was convicted of a sex offense in Illinois, which required him to register as a sex offender annually and for life under state law. Pickett knowingly completed his annual registry update with a new address in Cook County, Illinois but was issued an Iowa driver’s license with an Iowa address the next day. Given the Illinois requirement, Pickett was required to register as a sex offender in Iowa, which he never did.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The United States Marshals Service and the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Washington, Iowa Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Kendal Duane Letcher, age 64 of Washington, Iowa, was sentenced on Monday, September 26, 2022, to 180 months in prison following his plea to a charge of Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography. Letcher was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to each of his four victims, totaling $12,000.
According to court documents, an investigation into a peer-to-peer file sharing system identified that Letcher was allowing others to download child pornography that he made available. Letcher admitted to viewing child pornography for the past ten years, as well as utilizing the file sharing system since 2014. The investigation revealed that Letcher had amassed 3,785 images and 485 videos containing child sex abuse materials.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nationwide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.
Shelby County Man Sentenced for Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Kevin Charles Kersten, age 53 of Harlan, was sentenced on September 7, 2022, to seven years in prison following his plea to a charge of Receipt of Child Pornography. Kersten must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
In February 2021, the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force received several cybertips that an IP address uploaded child pornography files. A search warrant was executed at Kersten’s residence, which was linked to the IP address. Electronic devices found at Kersten’s residence were seized and forensically analyzed. While conducting this investigation, officers obtained another cybertip that the IP address linked to Kersten had again uploaded child pornography. A second search warrant was executed at his residence and additional electronic evidence was seized. The forensic examination located images and videos of child pornography on Kersten’s electronic devices.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Harlan Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force investigated the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nationwide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.
Pottawattamie County Man Sentenced for a Drug OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Dustin Michael Adkins, age 39 of Council Bluffs, was sentenced on September 20, 2022 to 132 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
On September 17, 2021, law enforcement stopped Adkins for a traffic violation in Council Bluffs. Adkins initially eluded officers and a bag containing methamphetamine was thrown from the vehicle. Adkins was arrested and the methamphetamine was recovered. Adkins possessed a total of 90.43 grams of methamphetamine.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department, Pottawattamie County Sheriff Department, and Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.
Muscatine Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Jacob Paul Bermel, age 39 of Muscatine, was sentenced on Monday, September 26, 2022, to 300 months in prison following his plea to charges of Production and Possession of Child Pornography. Bermel was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to each of his four victims, totaling $12,000.
The investigation into Bermel began when law enforcement received a report of a hidden camera located in a bathroom of his house. The investigation revealed that Bermel made recordings that contained child pornography. Further, Bermel had been downloading and uploading child pornography from the internet and on social media applications for numerous years. Two cybertips were received by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, indicating that a social media account associated with Bermal uploaded images of teenage girls.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nationwide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.
Iowa City Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy and Distribution of Meth Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Eric Johnathan Hojka, age 50 of Iowa City, was sentenced on Monday, September 26, 2022, to 240 months in prison following his plea to charges of Conspiracy to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine and Distribution of a Mixture or Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Methamphetamine Resulting in Death.
According to court documents, first responders went to Hojka’s Iowa City apartment in reference to an unconscious man. Paramedics were unable to revive the man and he was pronounced dead. An investigation revealed the man had ingested methamphetamine he received from Hojka and had died from methamphetamine intoxication. Hojka had been obtaining methamphetamine for several months and was distributing it.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa City Police Department and the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office investigated the case.
Harlan Man Sentenced for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Stormy Shaye Cole Trucke, age 29 of Harlan, was sentenced on September 7, 2022, to 42 months in prison following his plea to a charge of Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm.
In June 2021, officers responded to a domestic disturbance call at Trucke’s residence and observed drug paraphernalia. Officers obtained a search warrant and located a loaded firearm, assorted ammunition, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. Trucke is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction and as a drug user.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Harlan Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
Eldridge Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Nicholas Robert Walker-Bennett, age 33 of Eldridge, was sentenced on Monday, September 26, 2022, to 180 months in prison following his plea to a charge of Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography. Walker-Bennett was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to each of his fourteen victims, totaling $42,000.
According to court documents, a cybertip received by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children traced back to Walker-Bennett. Walker-Bennett admitted to using a social media application for the exchange of child pornography. Further investigation also revealed that Walker-Bennett engaged in similar conduct for over eleven years, taking many steps to conceal his crime by setting up numerous email addresses.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Scott County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nationwide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.
Council Bluffs Man Sentenced for Child Pornography and Enticement OffensesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Jason Lauran Kinman, age 40 of Council Bluffs, was sentenced on September 20, 2022, to 25 years in prison following his plea to charges of Distribution and Production of Child Pornography and Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Kinman must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
In July 2021, a concerned family member made a police report after finding Kinman in a car with a 13-year-old girl in the backseat with him. Officers obtained Kinman’s social media history and found that Kinman was communicating with several minor females in an inappropriate sexual manner, including requesting naked photos or videos from them, and sending sexual photos and videos of himself and other minor females. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Kinman’s residence in Council Bluffs and seized electronic evidence. A forensic examination identified numerous images of child pornography.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Internet Crimes Against Children, and Council Bluffs Police Department investigated the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nationwide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.
Arizona Woman Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Damage the Dakota Access PipelineRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – An Arizona woman was sentenced today in federal court to six years in prison for Conspiracy to Damage an Energy Facility. Ruby Katherine Montoya, age 32, was ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow her prison term and pay $3,198,512.70 in restitution.
According to court documents, Montoya, and co-defendant Jessica Reznicek, as early as November 8, 2016, and continuing until May 2, 2017, conspired with other individuals to damage the Dakota Access Pipeline at several locations within the Southern District of Iowa, Northern District of Iowa, and the District of South Dakota. Specifically, Montoya admitted to damaging and attempting to damage the pipeline by: (1) using an oxyacetylene cutting torch to burn holes in the pipeline, and (2) setting fire to pipeline instrumentation and equipment in Mahaska, Boone, and Wapello Counties within the Southern District of Iowa.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal stated, “The sentence imposed today demonstrates that any crime of domestic terrorism will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted by the federal government. The seriousness of the defendant’s actions – that occurred multiple times, at different locations, resulting in over $3 million dollars in restitution – warranted the significant prison sentence imposed by the Court and should deter others who think of engaging in such criminal acts.”
Following the sentencing, FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said, “The sentence received by Ruby Montoya sends a clear message that those who commit violence through an act of domestic terrorism will be identified, investigated, and prosecuted. The FBI is committed to protecting the American people. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring domestic terrorists to justice.”
Montoya’s co-defendant, Jessica Reznicek, was sentenced to 96 months imprisonment on June 30, 2021.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Iowa Department of Public Safety, Fusion Center; Iowa State Fire Marshall; Des Moines Police Department; Sheriff’s Departments in Mahaska, Boone, Buena Vista, Cherokee, Jasper, Polk, Sioux, and Wapello Counties in Iowa; Lincoln County in South Dakota; and Minnehaha County in Minnesota. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Nebraska City Woman Sentenced for Methamphetamine OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Tabitha Standley, age 34 of Nebraska City, Nebraska, was sentenced on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, to 120 months in prison following her plea to a charge of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
On October 18, 2021, Standley was arrested at the Horseshoe Casino on an unrelated felony warrant. Officers performed a probable cause search of the Standley’s vehicle and located over 300 grams of methamphetamine which Standley had intended to distribute.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and Division of Narcotics Enforcement investigated the case.
Minden Man Sentenced for Bank Fraud OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Stewart Jerome Messerschmidt, age 60, of Minden, was sentenced on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, to two months in prison followed by five years of Supervised Release following his plea to a charge of bank fraud.
Messerschmidt made false statements to Shelby County State Bank (SCSB) regarding collateral for his farm loans. During 2017 and 2018, Messerschmidt also provided false information on applications for Marketing Assistance Loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) for Messerschmidt’s 2018 farm production. The fraud was discovered during an investigation by SCSB and FSA which showed that Messerschmidt had overstated the grain he produced, had claimed grain belonging to other producers, and falsified the number of cattle he owned.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Man Sentenced for Misuse of Social Security NumberRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Eric Jimenez Del Carmen, age 39, a Mexican citizen who resided in Denison, was sentenced on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, to 21 months in prison following his plea to a charge of misuse of social security number.
In November 2019, Del Carmen applied for employment with Monogram Foods, located in Harlan, by knowingly using a social security number that had not been assigned to him. Del Carmen was able to obtain employment at Monogram Foods as a result of misuse of social security number.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. Homeland Security Investigations and the Social Security Administration investigated the case.
Saint Paul Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Syed Ben Al-Amin, age 34, of Saint Paul, Minnesota, was sentenced on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, to over eight years in prison (100 months) following his plea to a charge of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
On August 7, 2020, Al-Amin was involved in a hit and run accident on Interstate 80. Iowa State Patrol located Al-Amin driving on Interstate 80 and attempted to stop the vehicle. Al-Min refused to stop his car and a chase ensued into Council Bluffs. Al-Amin drove into a hospital parking lot where he lost control of his vehicle. Al-Amin then fled on foot before being arrested. In the center console of Al-Amin’s vehicle, law enforcement located baggies of pills containing methamphetamine, which Al-Amin planned to distribute.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa State Patrol, the Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force investigated the case.
Davenport Man Found Guilty of Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm Related to a 2021 Shooting and Tampering with a WitnessRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – On August 31, 2022, a federal jury found Roylee Richardson, Jr., age 32, of Davenport, guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of tampering with a witness.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, at approximately 11:00 a.m. on February 7, 2021, officers from the Davenport Police Department were dispatched to an apartment complex at 3348 Heatherton Drive, in Davenport, related to shots fired. At the scene, officers located a shell casing, a spent slug, and two bullet fragments. Richardson was identified as the shooter, and officers subsequently located Richardson attempting to scale off a second-story balcony. Officers then located a loaded pistol inside of the apartment that Richardson had fled from. Ballistics testing confirmed that the firearm recovered was used to shoot the shell casing, spent slug, and one of the bullet fragments located. After being arrested, Richardson repeatedly called the victim, in violation of a no contact order, and in an attempt to tamper with the witness.
This is Richardson’s third conviction related to a shooting. In November 2008, Richardson was convicted of Willful Injury Resulting in Bodily Injury and Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon, in the Iowa District Court for Scott County. In July 2016, Richardson was convicted of Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent, Possession of a Firearm or Offensive Weapon by a Felon, Willful Injury Resulting in Bodily Injury, and Going Armed with Intent, in the Iowa District Court for Scott County.
The federal conviction for felon in possession of a firearm is punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed 10 years. The convictions for tampering with a witness are each punishable by terms of imprisonment not to exceed 20 years. Richardson is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court on January 24, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Davenport Police Department. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Federal Search Warrants ExecutedRead the Press Release
ADAIR, Iowa – On Wednesday, August 31, 2022, federal search warrants were executed at the following locations in West Central Iowa:
• 300 block of Audubon Street, Adair
• 300 block of Truman Road, Anita
• 1100 block of 4th Avenue South, Denison
• 2700 block of Highway 59, Denison
• 3000 block of 370th Street, Manning
The searches at these locations were an official law enforcement action involving agents, investigators, and personnel from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).Six Defendants Sentenced to a Total of 1,487 Months in Federal Prison for Gang CrimesRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – On Friday, August 19, 2022, the final three defendants in a 15-count, 6-defendant gang case involving the Only the Brothers (OTB) street gang were sentenced to federal prison. All three were found guilty following a ten-day jury trial in April 2022. Raekwon Malik Patton, a/k/a Kwon a/k/a Nutt, age 24 of Des Moines, was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison after being found guilty of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. Patton had previously pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Austin James Mallory, age 21 of Des Moines, was sentenced to 156 months in federal prison after also being found guilty of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. Yuri Perren Green Jr. a/k/a YG, age 22 of Des Moines, was sentenced to 408 months in federal prison after being found guilty of two counts of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering, two counts of Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence, Felon in Possession of Ammunition, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Witness Tampering.
Previously, three other defendant pled guilty and were sentenced. On January 20, 2022, Braden Craig Shafer, a/k/a Stickup, age 20 of Des Moines, was sentenced to 375 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and two counts of Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. On May 20, 2022, Jordan Marie Wilkerson, age 30 of Knoxville, was sentenced to 83 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. On June 16, 2022, Fabrece Jamar Bower Turner a/k/a Fab a/k/a Vell, age 24 of Des Moines, was sentenced to 165 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and two counts of Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence.
According to evidence presented at the trial and found by the Court at sentencings, during 2020, there was a series of gang-related shootings in Des Moines carried out by members and associates of OTB. These shootings were predicated, in part, to social media interactions between members and associates of rival gangs. Additionally, evidence demonstrated OTB engaged in drug trafficking, firearms acquisitions and sales, and witness intimidation. The gang members and associates collectively operated under a code of conduct that included not cooperating with law enforcement, violence towards opposition gang members, and earning respect through acts of violence and intimidation.
On May 6, 2020, there were two gang-related shootings in Des Moines. During the first, OTB members and associates were shot at, while standing on a front porch on Eighth Street, by rival gang members. OTB members and associates then committed a retaliatory shooting later that day. Specifically, OTB members Shafer and Bower Turner fired guns from a vehicle at rival gang members walking down the sidewalk near 13th and Harrison Streets. One of those rival gang members returned fire. Des Moines Police Officers recovered over 17 shell casings from that shooting scene. Both of the shootings occurred during daylight in residential neighborhoods. Unintended vehicles and residences were hit by the gunfire.
On May 10, 2020, which was Mother’s Day, just before 5:00 p.m., OTB members and associates Shafer, Patton, and Mallory were at the Merle Hay Mall in Des Moines when they encountered a rival gang member. The rival gang member fled the area in a vehicle, and Mallory, at the direction of Patton and Shafer, pursed the rival gang member through the streets of Des Moines. Once the vehicles reached Clark Street, gunshots were exchanged between the two groups, with Patton and Shafer firing guns from Mallory’s vehicle. Shafer was struck in the head by a bullet but survived. Mallory then drove Patton and Shafer away from the scene until they were apprehended by Des Moines Police Officers near Evelyn Davis Park. Officers recovered over 27 shell casings from this shooting, and several residences and vehicles were hit by the gunfire.
Later that same day, May 10, 2020, OTB members and associates who had learned about Shafer’s shooting began driving around looking for rival gang members to shoot in retaliation. Wilkerson drove Green and Bower-Turner to an area near East 17th Court and University in Des Moines. Once there, Green and Bower-Turner saw who they believed to be a rival gang member and began shooting. Wilkerson then drove them away from the scene. The victim of this shooting was not a gang member and was, instead, an innocent person driving home from work. Officers recovered ten shell casings from this shooting, and vehicles and residences were also hit by the gunfire.
On December 16, 2020, Green was driving near 19th and Carpenter Streets in Des Moines when he observed rival gang members driving in another vehicle. Green pursued the vehicle containing rival gang members and fired at least eight shots from the window of his vehicle. One of the rival gang members was grazed in the head by a bullet, and the vehicle was struck multiple times.
Four days later, on December 20, 2020, Green was encountered by Warren County Deputies in Des Moines, after he was in a residential neighborhood waving a gun and threatening a resident. When deputies arrived, Green ran from them. Officers used canines to apprehend him. Green possessed two firearms that day. One of the firearms, a Glock .40 caliber pistol, was ballistically matched to the December 16th shooting. The second was a folding Kel-Tec rifle. Green was arrested and detained on state charges.
While in custody, Green placed a series of phone calls to a witness who had been issued a subpoena to testify before a federal grand jury investigating Green and his gang-related activity. In those calls, Green repeatedly told the witness not to show up to testify and also encouraged her to lie for him.
Eight other members or associates of Heavy Hittas or its subsidiary the OTB Street Gang were previously sentenced for federal drug and firearms violations. In December 2020, Logan James Elmquist, age 21 of Ankeny, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. In February 2021, Marcus De Shawn Ford, age 23 of Des Moines, was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. In April 2021, Javontay Dequan Johnson, age 20 of Des Moines, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and MDMA and drug user in possession of a firearm. In July 2021, Robert John Manuel Jr., age 24 of Des Moines, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a drug user in possession of a firearm. In September 2021, Montreel Marques Robinson, age 20 of Des Moines, was sentenced to 42 months in prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. In November 2021, Dejon Gene Watley, age 22 of Des Moines, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. In February 2022, Catrell Ronald Green, age 25 of Des Moines, was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. In April 2022, Emmitt Kenneth Fraley, age 25 of Des Moines, pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. His sentencing in federal court is set for September 22, 2022.
There is no parole in the federal system. In addition to terms of imprisonment, all defendants were ordered to serve a term of federal supervised release after their prison sentence.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal said “Prosecuting violent crime remains one of our highest priorities. These multiple instances of aggravated gang related shootings in residential areas created a grave risk to the public. Through the hard work of the Des Moines Police Department and our U.S. Attorney’s Office trial team, we were able to hold these individuals accountable, and these significant sentences reflect the seriousness of these crimes and our common interest in community safety.”
The investigation was conducted by the Des Moines Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, with assistance from the Polk County Attorney’s Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Mexican Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Ricardo Renteria Gutierrez, age 49, a Mexican citizen, was sentenced on August 19, 2022, to 30 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Gutierrez was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow his prison term.
Gutierrez was identified as a leader and organizer of a methamphetamine conspiracy operating in Colorado, California, and the Davenport area. Gutierrez, along with others, supplied large quantities of methamphetamine to people in Davenport. On January 10, 2022, Gutierrez pleaded guilty to the charge. Gutierrez’s co-defendant, Oscar Cruz Guzman, age 28 of Riverside, California, was sentenced in April 2022 to 126 months imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This matter was investigated by the Bettendorf Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration, and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Mexican Citizen Illegally Residing in West Liberty Sentenced to Federal Prison for Identity Theft and Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Silvano Marez Rios, age 50, a Mexican citizen who resided in West Liberty, was sentenced on Thursday, August 18, 2022, to 33 months in prison for fraud in connection with immigration documents, aggravated identity theft, misuse of a social security number, and illegal reentry. Marez Rios was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow his prison term.
According to court documents, Marez Rios was found in West Liberty after having been deported or removed by immigration authorities. In Iowa, Marez Rios used the identity of a United States citizen to obtain employment. He also utilized the same identity when incurring medical expenses and for numerous driving offenses. After working under one false identity, Marez Rios used the identity and social security card of another United States citizen to obtain employment. On March 30, 2022, Marez Rios plead guilty to the four charges.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This matter was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Iowa Department of Transportation, West Liberty Police Department, and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Iowa City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Ricky Pulley, age 39, of Iowa City, was sentenced on Friday, August 18, 2022 to 87 months in prison for Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. Following his imprisonment, Pulley was ordered to serve three years of supervised release.
Iowa City police officers were dispatched to a residential neighborhood on a report of shots fired. Surveillance video showed Pulley in a Chevrolet Equinox firing shots toward a dark-colored SUV. Pulley then crashed the Equinox into a snowbank and fled but was located hiding nearby. Officers recovered spent shell casings inside the Equinox and the discarded firearm on a deck of a home. Pulley was under the influence of both alcohol and marijuana at the time and has prior felony convictions, prohibiting him from possessing firearms. Pulley pleaded guilty on February 17, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa City Police Department investigated the case.
Iowa City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Samuel Lee Pelechek, age 25, of Iowa City, was sentenced today to 42 months in prison for Possession of Child Pornography. Following his imprisonment, Pelechek was ordered to serve five years of supervised release.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a cybertip from Dropbox related to the upload of possible child pornography. Law enforcement traced the child pornography to Pelechek. Pelechek admitted to obtaining child pornography from various sites which was uploaded on his Dropbox account. Pelechek pleaded guilty on February 22, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Coralville Police Department and Johnson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nationwide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.
Five Burlington Men Sentenced to Federal Prison on Charges Related to a Drug Conspiracy Involving the Seizure of 362 Pounds of Ice Methamphetamine During an Arizona Traffic StopRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Five Burlington, Iowa men were sentenced to decades in prison for conspiring to distribute drugs in the Burlington area. The conspiracy started by at least December 1, 2019 and continued until November 2, 2021. Those sentenced as part of this drug conspiracy include:
• Rudolph Sinclair Allen, age 37, was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment and five years of supervised release;
• Clyde Macks Stewart, Jr., age 51, was sentenced to 17 years of imprisonment and five years of supervised release;
• Demetrius Antre Goudy, age 42, was sentenced to 18 years of imprisonment and five years of supervised release;
• Gregory Jermain Johnson, age 36, was sentenced to approximately 14 years (169 months) of imprisonment and five years of supervised release;
• Brian Keith Davis, Jr., age 42, was sentenced to 10 1/2 years of imprisonment and five years of supervised release;
According to court documents, Gregory Johnson, Allen, and Marcus Johnson, age 46 of Burlington, were the “middlemen” who received large quantities of ice methamphetamine in Burlington from Kendric Centrall Childs, age 35 of Burlington, who served as the main drug source, along with another individual. Gregory Johnson, Allen, and Marcus Johnson either sold quantities of ice methamphetamine themselves or provided it to lower-level dealers such as Goudy, Stewart, and Davis for distribution. Court documents further show that Julie Mason, age 54 of Burlington, was one of the drug couriers for the group.
On January 24, 2020, Mason was stopped in Arizona while transporting approximately 362 pounds of ice methamphetamine. Mason admitted the ice methamphetamine was bound for Burlington. This traffic stop was the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s largest single seizure of ice methamphetamine at the time.1
Mason, Childs, and Marcus Johnson have all pled guilty to drug conspiracy charges and are scheduled to be sentenced on a later date. Mason was previously found guilty of Possession of Drugs for Sale and Transport Drugs for Sale following a jury trial in Arizona and was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in the Arizona Department of Corrections.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force investigated the case.
1 Trooper’s Traffic Stop Leads to 362 lb. Meth Seizure, Largest in AZDPS History, Arizona Dep’t Public Safety, https://www.azdps.gov/news/releases/933 (Jan. 27, 2020).
Davenport Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Meth and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Robert Stanley Nelson, III, age 42, and Taylor Christopher Graeber, age 24, both of Davenport, were sentenced to federal prison yesterday. Nelson was sentenced to 168 months in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. Following his imprisonment, Nelson was ordered to serve five years of supervised release. Graeber was sentenced to 120 months in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Following his imprisonment, Graeber was ordered to serve four years of supervised release.
In fall 2020, law enforcement identified Nelson and Graeber as part of a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking organization in Davenport. Nelson trafficked methamphetamine between July 2020 and March 2021. In March 2021, the Scott County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Nelson’s residence in Davenport and seized approximately 11.37 grams of ice methamphetamine and more than $4,000, which was drug proceeds. On March 29, 2021, Nelson was arrested transporting methamphetamine from Colorado to the Quad Cities. Nelson pleaded guilty on March 31, 2022.
Graeber trafficked methamphetamine between August and November 2020. When he was arrested in November 2020, Graeber possessed a firearm and methamphetamine, as well as other evidence of drug trafficking. Graeber pleaded on March 30, 2022.
In June 2022, Nelson and Graber’s co-defendant, Chelsey Lira was sentenced to 180 months in prison. Additional co-defendants are scheduled be sentenced at later dates.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Davenport Police Department, Drug Enforcement Agency, and Quad City Metropolitan Enforcement Group investigated the case.
Davenport Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Arnordo Corderrel Turner, age 34 of Davenport, was sentenced on Thursday, August 18, 2022 to 65 months in prison for Bank Robbery. Following his imprisonment, Turner was ordered to serve three years of supervised release.
On June 16, 2021, Davenport police officers were dispatched to the Ascentra Credit Union for a reported bank robbery. Officers identified Turner as the robber. Turner passed a note to a teller requesting that they “put all the money on the counter.” The teller provided Turner with $1,155. Officers located Turner nearby and he admitted robbing the credit union. Turner pleaded guilty to the charge on February 22, 2022.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Davenport Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for False Statements During a Firearms PurchaseRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Brent Stephen Gladwin, age 24 of Davenport, was sentenced on August 17, 2022, to 36 months in prison for three counts of False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm. Following his term of imprisonment, Gladwin was ordered to serve three years of supervised release.
The Scott County Sheriff’s office learned through an interview that Gladwin was a well-known straw purchaser in the Quad Cities who would obtain a firearm for anyone in exchange for payment of $100. During an unrelated investigation, the Bettendorf Police Department located a firearm that Gladwin had purchased in possession of another person. That individual reported having acquired several firearms through Gladwin, three of which had been recovered by law enforcement.
Gladwin purchased at least 10 firearms between January 2020 and October 2021. For each firearm purchase, Gladwin filled out a firearm purchase form and claimed to be the actual buyer of the firearm and denied being an unlawful user of controlled substances, both statements Gladwin knew to be false. Gladwin pleaded guilty on February 28, 2022.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Scott County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Davenport Man Sentenced to 8 years in Federal Prison for a Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Davantres Deshaun Moore, age 35 of Davenport, was sentenced today to 96 months in prison for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Following his prison term, Moore was ordered to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Moore was arrested in possession of a loaded firearm, while in violation of a no contact order. Moore has a history of violence including multiple convictions for assault and domestic abuse assault, as well as numerous no contact order violations. He was most recently convicted for stalking in violation of a protective order and attempted burglary second degree.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This matter was investigated by the Davenport Police Department.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Ka’leck Travonnious Danero Daquan Bolden, age 24 of Cedar Rapids, was sentenced today to 100 months in prison for Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Following his imprisonment, Bolden was ordered to serve three years of supervised release.
On July 24, 2021, Iowa City police officers were dispatched to an apartment complex in response to a report of shots fired. Officers identified Bolden as the shooter. Bolden admitted to possessing the firearm, committing the shooting, and being a felon. In Bolden’s car, law enforcement located the firearm, which had an obliterated serial number. Bolden pleaded guilty on April 4, 2022.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa City Police Department investigated the case.
Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for a Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa –Jeremiah Duwon Snead, age 32 of Cedar Rapids, was sentenced on August 17, 2022, to 120 months in prison for Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Following his imprisonment, Snead was ordered to serve three years of supervised release.
In the early morning hours of November 21, 2020, Iowa City police officers responded to a 911 call about a firearm at a residence. They located a stolen firearm on the driver’s side floorboard of a rental vehicle, later determined to be rented by Snead’s girlfriend. No one at the residence claimed association with the vehicle or the firearm, so law enforcement towed the vehicle to a secure storage bay.
When detectives arrived with a search warrant to seize the firearm two days later, it was missing. Detectives reviewed surveillance video from the tow company and surrounding businesses and saw a vehicle arrive in the area shortly after the tow truck. A male exited the vehicle, broke the window to the storage bay where the vehicle was parked, and sprinted from the building. He appeared to be carrying something in his waistband. Law enforcement located blood underneath the storage bay’s broken window, which was matched to Snead. Additional surveillance video, cell phone records, and location data corroborated the DNA results. A jury found Snead guilty on March 2, 2022.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa City Police Department investigated the case.
Des Moines Man Sentenced to More than 12 years in Prison for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – David Alan Callison, age 56, of Des Moines, was sentenced today to 152 months in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
In April 2019, Callison was the sole back seat passenger of a car stopped by law enforcement. In a bag next to Callison, law enforcement found over 600 grams of methamphetamine, more than $13,000, and a digital scale. The investigation revealed that Callison repeatedly obtained large quantities of methamphetamine for redistribution. Callison was on parole for a state of Iowa drug conviction when he committed this offense.
Last year, Callison’s co-defendants were sentenced. Angel Luis Toledo Castillo, age 37 of Des Moines, received a 162-month sentence, after he was found guilty by a jury in November 2019 of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Demetrio Cortes Montano, age 46 of Des Moines, received a 139-month sentence for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Gustavo Martinez, age 30 of Des Moines, received a 120-month sentence for conspiracy distribute methamphetamine.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Des Moines Police Department investigated the case, assisted by the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Grimes Man Sentenced to 27 years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – Chase Anthony Duncan, age 38, formerly of Grimes, was sentenced on August 11, 2022, to a total of 324 months in prison for Receiving and Possessing Child Pornography. Following completion of his prison term, Duncan will be on supervised release for ten years. There is no parole in the federal system. Duncan pleaded guilty in March 2022 to these offenses.
In July 2021, law enforcement received multiple cybertips alerting them that a Google account associated with Duncan contained suspected child pornography. Des Moines Police detectives obtained a search warrant for the Google account and discovered videos and images of child pornography in Duncan’s Google Photos account. In September 2021, Detectives obtained and executed a search warrant at Duncan’s Grimes residence. From Duncan’s bedroom police seized dozens of printed 8-by-10-inch images of child pornography and several electronic devices. A forensic examination of the devices revealed hundreds of images and videos depicting child pornography that Duncan had downloaded from the internet. In addition, police discovered several videos of Duncan sitting in his car in Des Moines area parking lots while Duncan recorded minor girls walking nearby who were unaware of his presence. Duncan was masturbating and narrating his sexual attraction to the girls. Police also located several videos from a “spy camera” that Duncan placed in the bathroom of a Des Moines area hotel guestroom while Duncan and two middle-school aged girls stayed at the hotel in March 2021. Duncan’s spy camera captured these two minors in various states of undress.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI)’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nationwide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.
Pottawattamie County Man Sentenced for a Drug OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Geno Lee Campos, age 50, was sentenced on Friday, August 5, 2022, to 84 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
On July 4, 2021, Campos was the front seat passenger of a car stopped by the Iowa State Patrol for speeding on Interstate 80 in Council Bluffs. In Campos’ backpack, law enforcement found approximately 17 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Campos was also in possession of a loaded revolver that he placed underneath the passenger’s seat. Campos was prohibited from possessing firearms.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa State Patrol, Council Bluffs Police Department, Pottawattamie County Sheriff Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Jesse Dean Seifert, age 33, was sentenced on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, to 77 months in prison for charges of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm and Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. This sentence is consecutive to any state prison sentence. Seifert must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
In September 2021, police attempted to stop Seifert who was driving stolen dump truck. Seifert eluded officers and abandoned the truck in a residential neighborhood and fled on foot. Seifert dropped a firearm—a loaded sawed off shotgun—as he eluded police. Seifert was apprehended a short distance from the firearm. He was also in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department, Pottawattamie County Sheriff Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Local Fabrication Company Executive Charged for Fraud and Failing to Pay over $440,000 in Employment TaxesRead the Press Release
Des Moines, IA – A Keswick man made his initial appearance today in federal court in Des Moines for tax and bank fraud charges.
Thomas Sieren, age 59, is charged in a 24-count indictment returned on July 19, 2022. According to court documents, Sieren was the Vice President of TCS Fabricating, Inc., a local fabrication company. TCS Fabricating, Inc. was required by law to withhold taxes from employee wages and to pay the withheld amounts to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on a periodic basis. These withheld taxes, sometimes known as “trust fund taxes,” include income taxes and Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes that fund Social Security and Medicare. It is alleged that Sieren failed to pay the IRS over $440,000 from 2016 to 2020. On TCS Fabricating, Inc.’s behalf, Sieren also allegedly submitted two Paycheck Protection Program loan applications in which he falsely represented that the company had employees for which it paid payroll taxes.
“Business owners are required to withhold income taxes for their employees and remit those taxes to the IRS,” said Special Agent in Charge, Tyler Hatcher. “IRS-Criminal Investigation takes these crimes very seriously not only because of the impact on federal revenue, but more importantly because of the way employee benefits are impacted.”
Sieren is charged with twenty counts of Failure to Collect, Account for, and Pay Over Trust Fund Taxes, two counts of Bank Fraud, and two counts of False Statements to a Financial Institution. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa and made the announcement. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Essley is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Settles $1.66 Million Healthcare Fraud Claim Against Iowa DermatologistRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – Eastern Iowa Dermatology, PLC, located in Bettendorf, and Dr. Manish Kumar have agreed to pay $1.66 million to resolve allegations for violations of the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to Medicare for dermatology office visits and the destruction or removal of skin tags and lesions. The False Claims Act considers “up-coding”—the practice of exaggerating the amount or complexity of medical services rendered in order to achieve a higher level of reimbursement—a form a fraud.
Dr. Kumar and Eastern Iowa Dermatology, PLC also agreed to an Integrity Agreement and will submit to ongoing monitoring by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
“Health care providers that try to boost their profits by submitting fraudulent claims to Federal health care programs threaten the integrity of those programs and drive up prices for everyone,” said Tamala E. Miles, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “We work tirelessly alongside our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of Federal health care programs and to ensure the appropriate use of taxpayer dollars.”
The resolutions obtained in this matter were the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). False Claims Act cases can also be brought under the qui tam provisions of the Act, which encourage whistleblowers to bring suit on behalf of the United States and share in any financial recovery.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Faith and Investigative Analyst Connie Benton.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Omaha Woman Sentenced for a Methamphetamine OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – An Omaha, Nebraska woman, Anisha Ilene Luna, age 33, was sentenced on August 3, 2022, to eight years in prison, following her plea to a charge of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
In March 2021, the Mills County Sheriff’s Department received information that Luna and her co-defendant, Ronald Wayne Reed II, were planning to deliver an ounce of methamphetamine to a confidential source at a McDonald’s parking lot in Glenwood, Iowa. Deputies surveilled the McDonald’s and saw Luna and Reed arrive in a car. After a probable cause search, deputies found over five grams of methamphetamine in possession of Luna and Reed, which they intended to distribute. Investigation showed that Luna and Reed had distributed over a pound of methamphetamine.
Ronald Reed is scheduled to be sentenced October 5, 2022 in Council Bluffs.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Mills County Sheriff’s Department, Iowa State Patrol, and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Wapello Man Sentenced to Six Months in Federal Prison for Failing to File Income Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – Bradley Earl Ewart, age 51, of Wapello, was sentenced Monday, August 1, 2022, to 6 months in prison for failing to file income tax returns. Ewart pleaded guilty on March 24, 2022, to two counts of failure to file income tax returns, one for each of the calendar years 2016 and 2018. The Court imposed a three-month prison sentence on each count, to be served consecutively. Following completion of his prison term, Ewart will be on supervised release for one year. The Court imposed a $20,000 fine.
Since approximately 2004, Ewart has owned and operated Louisa County Millwright, LLC, a business that specializes in grain elevator work, material handling, steel building installation, and fabrication. Ewart failed to file federal income tax returns for the years 2004 to 2014. As part of his plea, Ewart admitted that he knowingly and willfully failed to file tax returns for the years 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Ewart remains responsible for paying his tax liability in full.
“Mr. Ewart admitted that he repeatedly failed to file his federal income tax returns the majority of the time his business was in operation,” said Tyler Hatcher, Special Agent in Charge for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) – Criminal Investigations. “Earning prison time and a $20,000 fine for this offense sends a clear message that we all have the responsibility to file accurate returns on time and pay our fair share of taxes.”
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigations investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Kerndt.
Savage Life Boys Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Racketeering ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – On July 25, 2022, a Davenport man, Darion Daquan Gardner, age 27, pleaded guilty to Assault With a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering, Causing Death Through Use of a Firearm, and Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering.
In 2016 and 2017, as a member of Savage Life Boys (SLB), a Davenport-based street gang, Gardner was involved in multiple shootings, including at a dice game in December 2016, and at the Hotel Davenport in February 2017. On December 16, 2016, Gardner and other SLB members robbed and physically assaulted another male, including pistol-whipping him. SLB members also shot at the male’s vehicle as the male and an associate fled the area.
On February 12, 2017, at a concert at the Hotel Davenport, Gardner and several other SLB members started a physical altercation with an individual they believed had disrespected their gang. During the altercation, Gardner fired several shots, striking and killing one male and striking and injuring another.
Gardner committed these acts with the intent to maintain or increase his position in the gang.
Gardner is scheduled to be sentenced on November 29, 2022. As part of the plea agreement, the government and Gardner have agreed to recommend a sentence of 450 months in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal stated “This plea was the result of a dedicated and long-term investigation that highlights our commitment with local law enforcement to combatting violent crime. The families and friends of the victims in this investigation continue to feel the pain that acts of gun violence can inflict. We will continue to pursue every available law enforcement tool and partnership towards the common goal of community safety.”
Davenport Police Chief Paul Sikorski said “Investigators from the Davenport Police Department have been diligently working on this case for several years with the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Iowa and other collaborative partners. Their persistence and dedication to bringing justice and accountability in the 2017 homicide at the Hotel Davenport and several other shootings and violent encounters this subject was involved in is admirable. I am incredibly proud of the dedication to public safety that is demonstrated in this case and every day by officers and investigators at the Davenport Police Department. This case is a great example of the incredible partnership we have with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and their commitment to justice for our community and the victims of violent crime.” Peoria, Illinois Police Department assisted in the investigation.
Former Chicago Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Federal Prison for Heroin and Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IOWA – On July 18, 2022, Pierre Fontain Black, age 31, originally of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced to 192 months in prison for his role in a large-scale heroin and fentanyl conspiracy.
Black was charged in July 2021 along with 27 individuals as the result of a months’ long investigation into heroin and fentanyl distribution within Des Moines that included the use of court-authorized wiretaps. According to court documents, Black had a large drug distribution network, which he helped run and control. Black prepared and stored the drugs containing heroin and fentanyl, controlled how and to whom drugs were delivered, and monitored drug proceeds. Black and his co-conspirators utilized several phones to communicate solely with drug customers. Black would travel to and from Chicago with large quantities of drugs containing heroin and fentanyl for redistribution in Des Moines. Black and several individuals involved in the drug conspiracy are members of the Black P. Stone Nation criminal street gang. Black pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl in February 2022.
At sentencing, Chief United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose found that Black maintained his Des Moines residence for drug trafficking and that he was an organizer or leader of the drug trafficking organization.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Omaha, the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force (MINE), and the Central Iowa Gang Task Force (CIGTF).
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
West Des Moines Man Charged for Sexually Exploiting and Enticing Numerous MinorsRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IOWA – A federal grand jury in Des Moines returned an indictment on July 20, 2022, charging a West Des Moines man with exploiting minors to produce child pornography and attempting to entice and persuade other minors to do the same thing.
According to court documents, Jonathan Francis Speidel, age 30, used the social media application Snapchat to manipulate and entice numerous children to produce child pornography for him. Speidel had multiple Snapchat usernames, including “Letssbang” and “SD_Backupacct.”
Speidel is charged with twenty-eight crimes, including seven counts of Sexual Exploitation and Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, eight counts of Enticement and Attempted Enticement of a Minor, four counts of Transportation of Child Pornography, five counts of Receipt of Child Pornography, one count of Possession of Child Pornography, and three counts of Transfer and Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor.
Speidel has been ordered to remain in custody until his trial or sentencing. If convicted, Speidel faces a mandatory minimum fifteen-year prison sentence and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
If you have information relevant to this investigation, please contact [email protected], an email account dedicated to identifying possible victims.
The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the North Olmsted (Ohio) Police Department, and the Gladstone (Oregon) Police Department. The investigation remains ongoing.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Essley is prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Lost Nation Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – On July 19, 2022, a Lost Nation, Iowa man, Gary Dale Smith, age 50, was sentenced to 126 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine and Felon in Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition. Following his prison term, Smith was ordered to serve five years of supervised release. Smith pleaded guilty in February 2022.
In June 2021, Clinton County Sheriff’s deputies observed stolen items on Smith’s property. Deputies obtained a search warrant and recovered the stolen property. Upon their arrival, deputies observed Smith run into an outbuilding and found Smith in possession of a knife, a firearm, and methamphetamine. Deputies obtained an additional search warrant for an RV on the property, in which Smith resided, and located approximately 100 grams of methamphetamine, ammunition, a money counter, a video surveillance system, and other evidence of drug trafficking. Defendant had prior drug trafficking-related convictions in Arizona and Illinois, which prohibited him from possessing a firearm.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement.
The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case.
Iowa City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – Kevin Emmett Toomey, age 70, of Iowa City, was sentenced Tuesday, July 19, 2022, to 180 months in prison for Receiving Child Pornography. Toomey was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release following his prison sentence and was assessed a special assessment immediately payable to the Crime Victims Fund. Toomey pleaded guilty in February 2022 to this offense.
Law enforcement received a cybertip in March 2020 alerting them to an email address that had uploaded suspected child pornography. Detectives obtained and executed a search warrant at Toomey’s residence and seized several electronic devices. A forensic examination of those devices revealed over 4,000 images and nearly 300 videos depicting child pornography. Toomey began accessing child pornography shortly after his release from prison for a prior federal child pornography conviction and continued until the time of his arrest in 2020.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Iowa City Police Department and the Joint Forensic Analysis Cyber Team.This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nation-wide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.
Iowa City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – Brett Thomas Kriz, age 32, was sentenced on July 19, 2022, to 260 months in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine and Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine. Kriz was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow his prison term. Kriz pleaded to the charges in December 2021.
According to court documents, law enforcement in Washington County, Iowa initiated a traffic stop on Kriz’s car, which resulted in a search of the vehicle. Officers discovered two backpacks containing ice methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia. In post-Miranda statements, Kriz admitted to regularly purchasing methamphetamine, which he distributed in various places in eastern Iowa.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This matter was investigated by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Johnson County Drug Task Force and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.