Southern District of Iowa
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Davenport Man Sentenced to Thirty Years in Prison After Federal Drug ConvictionRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA - On May 17, 2013, Roscoe Chambers, age 41, from Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced by United States District Court Stephanie M. Rose to 360 months imprisonment, after a jury found him guilty of two counts of distribution of crack cocaine and one count of possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Chambers was also ordered to serve eight years of supervised release after release from prison, and to pay $100 towards the Crime Victims Fund.
On June 23, 2012 and June 24, 2012, law enforcement officers conducted two controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Chambers in a Davenport, Iowa, parking lot. On June 23rd, Chambers also expressed interest in purchasing two handguns. Based on these controlled purchases and other investigations, the Davenport, Iowa, Police Department conducted a search of Chambers’ Davenport apartment. From this apartment, officers seized over 70 additional grams of crack cocaine, cash and other items consistent with drug distribution. On January 10, 2013, a jury found Chambers guilty of two counts of distribution of crack cocaine and one count of possession with the intent to distribute. At sentencing, Chambers was found to be a career offender based on two prior convictions for crimes of violence.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Iowa State Patrol, Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Davenport Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Villisca, Iowa, Resident Sentenced to 14 Years for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA - On May 7, 2013, Scott Allen Gibbons, a 23 year-old resident of Villisca Iowa, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for receipt of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Gibbons previously pled guilty on January 10, 2013, to the charge of receipt of child pornography.
The charge against Gibbons was the result of an investigation conducted by law enforcement agencies in Iowa and Florida after a complaint by a Florida mother of an eleven year-old boy regarding inappropriate “chats” between the eleven year-old and an adult in Iowa. Investigation showed that Gibbons had established an online relationship with the eleven year-old using a “chat room” component of an on-line game. During the communication, Gibbons convinced the eleven year-old to send to Gibbons a picture of himself constituting child pornography via a text message. The child pornography was located on Gibbons’ cellular telephone by law enforcement, along with similar pictures from unknown prepubescent males.
The investigation was conducted by the Hillsborough County Sheriff Office, Tampa, Florida, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Spirit Lake, Iowa Resident Sentenced to 7 Years for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA - On May 8, 2013, Edward S. Robertson, a 26 year-old resident of Spirit Lake, Iowa, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge John A. Jarvey to 7 years in prison for receipt of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. In addition, Judge Jarvey ordered that upon release from prison, Robertson will be placed on ten years of supervised release. During supervised release, Robertson will be monitored by the United States Probation Office for compliance with conditions of release set by the Court at the time of sentencing.
Robertson was found guilty by a jury of receiving child pornography on January 15, 2013. The guilty verdict was returned after the jury heard evidence showing that Robertson, while residing in Neola, Iowa, was obtaining images along with videos of prepubescent and adolescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct over the internet from October of 2008, until March 24, 2009.
The investigation was conducted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations, Cyber Crimes Unit; the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office, and Department of Homeland Security. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Mt. Pleasant Area Man Sentenced to 100 Months Imprisonment for Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – On May 9, 2013, Ferlin Patrick Edgington, age 55, of New London, Iowa, was sentenced to 100 months imprisonment for distribution of methamphetamine and for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Chief United States District Judge James E. Gritzner also sentenced Edgington to four years supervised release, and Edgington forfeited $9370.00 in drug proceeds.
Beginning in 2007 Edgington bought methamphetamine and marijuana from his source in Chicago, Carlos Alvarado. On June 8, 2012, Edgington consented to a search of his residence and agents seized 130 grams of methamphetamine, seven pounds of marijuana, and $9,370 in cash. Alvarado has pled guilty on related charges and his sentencing date is to be determined.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Essex, Iowa, Resident Sentenced to 6 Months in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA - On May 9, 2013, Danny Joel Hummel, a 59 year-old resident of Essex, Iowa, was sentenced by United States Senior District Court Judge Robert Pratt to six months in prison followed by ten years of supervised release for possession of child pornography, announced Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Hummel pled guilty to the charge of possession of child pornography on February 15, 2013.
The charge was the result of an investigation conducted by law enforcement agencies who were advised by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an Essex, Iowa, resident was in possession of child pornography. Based on the information provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, law enforcement located several computers in Hummel’s residence upon which numerous images and videos containing child pornography were found.
While on supervised release, Hummel’s activities will be monitored by officers of the United States Probation Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
The investigation was conducted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Cyber Crimes Unit, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Des Moines Man Sentenced to 15 Months for Theft of Walnut Trees from the Army Corps of EngineersRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – On May 9, 2013, Randall Todd Walker, a 50 year old resident of Des Moines, Iowa, was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment for cutting and removing 32 black walnut trees from property under the control of the Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. United States District Judge John A. Jarvey also ordered Walker to serve three years of supervised release following incarceration. Judge Jarvey also ordered Walker to pay restitution in the amount of $56,225 and to pay a $100.00 special assessment for the Crime Victims Fund.
Walker had previously pleaded guilty to removing the walnut trees from the Neal Smith National Wildlife Reserve, which is under the control of the Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, as well as from other property under the control of the Army Corps of Engineers at the following locations: the downtown Riverside area in Des Moines, Iowa; the Sycamore area, in Polk County, Iowa; and the Lake Red Rock area in Marion County, Iowa.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Fish and Wildlife, State of Iowa Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Bureau, and the Army Corps of Engineers. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Council Bluffs, Iowa, Resident Sentenced to Prison for Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA - On May 7, 2013, Jason Lee Garza, a 32 year-old resident of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Garza pled guilty to the charge of a felon in possession of a firearm on February 8, 2013.
The charge was the result of an investigation conducted by the Council Bluffs, Iowa, Police Department, after the officers heard gun shots being fired in the area of 1200 block of Sixth Avenue and responded to that area on October 24, 2012. Officers located several people who reported being shot at by Garza before he had fled the scene. A short time later, officers located Garza in a nearby residence, and the firearm used by Garza was found hidden in a wall of the residence.
The investigation was conducted by the Council Bluffs, Iowa, Police Department, the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Council Bluffs Man Sentenced on Methamphetamine ChargeRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – On May 9, 2013, John Theodore Beaman, Sr., age 50, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was sentenced in United States District Court in Council Bluffs on a charge of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Senior United States District Court Judge Robert W. Pratt sentenced Beaman to 120 months in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release.
Beaman was also ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment for the Crime Victim Fund. Beaman remained in the custody by the United States Marshal’s Service pending designation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons facility at which he will serve his sentence. Beaman was sentenced based upon his plea of guilty, which was entered on February 8, 2013. Beaman was sentenced for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in and around Council Bluffs, Iowa, from late 2009 to July of 2011. During the course of the conspiracy, approximately eleven pounds of methamphetamine were distributed. As a part of the conspiracy, Beaman frequently distributed methamphetamine from his residence, which was only about 84 feet from the property of an elementary school.
Previously sentenced in association with this investigation were: David Lynn Fisher, who was sentenced to 117 months imprisonment, plus 5 years of supervised release; Steven Lacey Etherington, who was sentenced to 150 months in prison, plus 5 years of supervised release; Nicholas Joseph Franks, who was sentenced to 133 months imprisonment, plus 5 years of supervised release for the drug trafficking conspiracy, and 120 months imprisonment, plus 3 years of supervised release for a firearms conviction, with the sentences to run concurrently; and Lisa Marie Barrett, who was sentenced to 60 months in prison, plus 5 years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the SouthWest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Rural Pisgah Man Sentenced on Firearm and Explosives ChargesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – On May 8, 2013, Rodney Lee Crosby, age 31, of rural Pisgah, Iowa, was sentenced in United States District Court in Council Bluffs on charges of felon in possession of a firearm and felon in possession of explosive devices, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. United States District Court Judge John A. Jarvey sentenced Crosby to 46 months in prison on each charge, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release on each charge, with the imprisonment and supervised release on both charges to be served concurrently. Crosby was also ordered to pay a $10,000.00 fine. The Court also ordered Crosby to forfeit a Remington Arms, Model 870, 12 gauge shotgun; a Mossberg, Model 835 Ulti-Mag, 12 gauge shotgun; a savage, Model 116, 338 caliber rifle; a Remington Arms, Model 710, 30-06 caliber rifle; a Marlin Firearms, Model 39A, .22 caliber rifle; a Savage, Model 11, 243 caliber rifle; a Hipoint, Model 995, 9mm rifle; a Taurus .357 caliber revolver; 357 caliber ammunition; 30-06 caliber ammunition; .25 caliber ammunition; .22 caliber ammunition; 12 gauge shotgun shells; 16 gauge shotgun shells; and 9mm ammunition; all “improvised explosive bombs”, towit, containers, including “snuff cans” with metal lids, containing a per chlorate explosive mixture, and with functional pyrotechnic fuses, including among any others those seized from Crosby’s premises on July 2, 2011; and explosives, that is, commercial aerial display fireworks, including among others, cardboard tubing with plastic end plugs seized from Crosby’s premises on July 2, 2011. Crosby was also ordered to pay a $200.00 special assessment for the Crime Victim Fund. Crosby was taken into custody by the United States Marshal’s Service to be detained pending designation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons facility at which he will serve his sentence.
Crosby was sentenced upon his pleas of guilty to the two charges entered on September 6, 2012. The firearm and explosives charges against Crosby arose from a July 2, 2011, domestic disturbance call to Crosby’s residence. During the call, Harrison County Sheriff’s Deputies and Iowa State Patrolmen observed several firearms and ammunition in the residence. In a subsequent search of the premises, officers found additional firearms, ammunition, explosive devices and commercial aerial display fireworks. Crosby was prohibited from possessing these, having previously been convicted of felony fraud and theft charges.
During the search, the State of Iowa Fire Marshal and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives were called, and joined the investigation. During the investigation, Crosby gave a statement regarding the fireworks manufacturing operation in which he stated that he made and sold fireworks, and that he made substantial money from the sale of the fireworks. Some of the explosives were deemed potentially dangerous, and were promptly destroyed by law enforcement personnel on the premises in which they were found.
This investigation was conducted by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, the Iowa State Patrol, the State of Iowa Fire Marshal, and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Griswold, Iowa, Resident Sentenced to 180 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA- On May 8, 2013, Katrina Sue Bates, a 46 year old resident of Griswold Iowa, was sentenced to 180 months imprisonment for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine in and around Cass County, Iowa, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. United States District Judge John Jarvey also ordered Bates to serve a ten-year term of supervised release following incarceration. Bates pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) on September 30, 2012. The conviction was the result of a three year investigation into methamphetamine trafficking in and around Atlantic, Iowa. At the time of her guilty plea, Bates admitted that from July of 2009, until May of 2010, she agreed to distribute methamphetamine obtained from a South Omaha, Nebraska source to customers in the area of Atlantic, Iowa.
The investigation was conducted by the Cass County, Iowa, Sheriff's Office, Audubon County, Iowa, Sheriff's Office, Cass County, Iowa, County Attorney's Office, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Rural Oakland Man Sentenced on Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – On May 7, 2013, Shannon James Keiffer-Rose, age 38, of rural Oakland, Iowa, was sentenced in United States District Court in Council Bluffs on the charge of felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. United States District Court Judge John A. Jarvey sentenced Keiffer-Rose to twelve months and one day in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. The Court also ordered Keiffer-Rose to forfeit whatever interest he has in a rifle, a shotgun, a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition found in his possession, and to pay a $100.00 special assessment for the Crime Victim Fund. Keiffer-Rose was allowed to remain under supervision by the United States Probation Office pending designation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons facility at which he will serve his sentence.
Keiffer-Rose was sentenced to the twelve months and one day imprisonment following his plea of guilty on December 5, 2012, to being a felon in possession of a firearm. The firearm charge against Keiffer-Rose arose from a June 8, 2012, vehicle fire at his residence, during which responders discovered a marijuana grow, marijuana use paraphernalia, a.22 caliber rifle, a 12 gauge shotgun, a loaded .45 caliber handgun, and over 2,000 rounds of ammunition.
This investigation was conducted by the SouthWest Iowa Narcotics Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Omaha, Nebraska Resident Sentenced to 48 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute MarijuanaRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA - On April 18, 2013, David L. Lopez, Jr., a 40 year old resident of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge James E. Gritzner to 48 months imprisonment for Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Chief Judge Gritzner also ordered Lopez to serve a three year term of supervised release following incarceration.
On February 8, 2013, Lopez, Jr. pled guilty to a charge of conspiring to distribute marijuana in Omaha, and Council Bluffs, Iowa. The charge was the result of an investigation conducted by several law enforcement agencies into the importation and distribution of marijuana by a known drug trafficking group. On December 5, 2011, Lopez was being observed by law enforcement as he traveled between Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa. Lopez was found to be transporting over 60 pounds of marijuana to a known drug house in Council Bluffs, Iowa, for the drug trafficking group.
The investigation was conducted by the Council Bluffs, Iowa, Police Department, the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Omaha Police Department, Iowa Division of Narcotic Enforcement, the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Mills County, Iowa Resident Sentenced to 135 Months for Manufacturing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA - On April 18, 2013, Adam Michael Blackman, a 40 year old resident of Mills County, Iowa, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge James E. Gritzner to 135 months imprisonment for Manufacturing Methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Chief Judge Gritzner also ordered Blackman to serve an eight year term of supervised release following incarceration.
On January 9, 2013, Blackman pled guilty to a charge of manufacturing at least five grams of methamphetamine in Hamburg, Iowa. The charge was the result of an investigation conducted by several law enforcement agencies into the manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine by Blackman. On May 1, 2012, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office located an active methamphetamine manufacturing operation in an apartment building in Hamburg, Iowa. Blackman, along with several other people were found at the location of the manufacturing operation. Blackman admitted he was manufacturing methamphetamine when the Fremont County Sheriff’s investigators arrived.
The investigation was conducted by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, the Mills County, Iowa, Sheriff's Office, Iowa State Patrol, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Hastings Man Sentenced on Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – On April 18, 2013, Jeffrey Bruce Carrigan, age 44, of Hastings, Iowa, was sentenced in United States District Court in Council Bluffs on the charge of felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Chief United States District Court Judge James E. Gritzner sentenced Carrigan to 37 months in prison, to be followed by 2 years of supervised release. The Court also ordered Montgomery to forfeit three rifles and ammunition found in his possession, and to pay a $100.00 special assessment for the Crime Victim Fund. Carrigan remains in the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons facility at he will serve his sentence.
Carrigan was sentenced to the 37 months imprisonment following his plea of guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. The firearm charge against Carrigan arose from a September 4, 2012, visit to Carrigan’s residence by a State of Iowa probation officer. Carrigan was at the time on probation for his conviction in the District Court of the State of Iowa for Montgomery County for possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, in which he had been given a suspended sentence and placed on two years probation. The State of Iowa probation officer and Mills County deputy sheriffs found three rifles and several boxes of ammunition in Carrigan’s residence.
This investigation was conducted by the Mills County Sheriff’s Department, the State of Iowa Fourth Judicial District Parole and Probation Office, and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Council Bluffs, Iowa Resident Sentenced to 24 Months for Possession of A Firearm by A Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA - On April 18, 2013, Michael Fredrick Harrison, a 36 year old resident of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge James E. Gritzner to 24 months in prison for possessing firearms after a felony conviction, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Chief Judge Gritzner also ordered Harrison to serve two years of supervised release when he completes his imprisonment. On October 4, 2012, Harrison pled guilty to being in possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The charge was the result of a home inspection done by the Iowa Fourth Judicial District Probation Office on November 3, 2011, at which time they located several firearms in the basement area of Harrison’s home.
The investigation was conducted by the Fourth Judicial District Probation Office, the Council Bluffs, Iowa, Police Department, the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Council Bluffs Man Sentenced on Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – On April 18, 2013, Jacob Lloyd Montgomery, age 33, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was sentenced in United States District Court in Council Bluffs on the charge of felon in possession of a firearm and revocation of a term of supervised release, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Chief United States District Court Judge James E. Gritzner sentenced Montgomery to 30 months in prison, to be followed by 2 years of supervised release. The Court also ordered Montgomery to forfeit the firearm and ammunition found in his possession, and to pay a $100.00 special assessment for the Crime Victim Fund. Montgomery remains in the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons facility at he will serve his sentence.
Montgomery was sentenced to the 30 months imprisonment as a joint resolution of two pending federal judicial proceedings. He was sentenced upon his plea of guilty to the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Montgomery was also sentenced upon his admission that he had violated the terms of the supervised release he was serving at the time. The violations included misrepresentations to the United States Probation Office and the felon in possession of a firearm charge. The federal criminal justice system no longer has parole. However, after serving the defendant’s full sentence, less any good time awarded to the defendant, the defendant is, upon being discharged from prison, placed under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for an amount of time determined by the sentencing court and under such conditions as the court orders. If the defendant violates the conditions of this supervision, the defendant can be sentenced to a further term of imprisonment for the violation.
The firearm charge against Montgomery arose from a stop by a Council Bluffs, Iowa police officer of the vehicle Montgomery was driving on January 29, 2012. Montgomery fled on foot from the scene, but was caught and arrested by the officer. Council Bluffs police officers subsequently found a loaded .45 caliber pistol in the vehicle from which defendant fled. Among various crimes for which Montgomery has been convicted, he was convicted in 2001, in the District Court of the State of Iowa for Pottawattamie County, of felony forgery and felony theft, and was convicted in 2007, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa of a prior charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
This investigation was conducted by the Council Bluffs, Iowa, Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Pella Woman Sentenced to 48 Months for FraudRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA - Beverly Joan DeRonde, age 61, was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 48 months for mail fraud. The Honorable James E. Gritzner, Chief United States District Court Judge, also sentenced DeRonde to pay restitution to her victims in the amount of $680,376.93, a $100 special assessment to the crime victims fund, and also ordered her to serve a three year period of supervised release after imprisonment.
DeRonde, from Pella, Iowa, operated a Ponzi scheme between 2003 and 2010, involving over 70 individuals. DeRonde would solicit loans from her victims, claiming she needed to borrow the money to buy her husband a birthday or anniversary present, or to help him start his boat repair business. DeRonde promised huge amounts of interest to entice her victims to lend her the money. DeRonde used the money from new victims to pay off the older loans. She wrote numerous letters to her victims, asking them to keep the loans a secret and giving various excuses as to why she was unable to repay them on the date previously promised.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Quad Cities Man Sentenced to 30 Years Imprisonment for Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – Des Moines area real estate developer John C. Kline was sentenced to 30 months in prison for his participation in a bank fraud scheme, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Chief Judge James E. Gritzner also ordered Kline to serve a term of 5 years of supervised release following release from prison, pay $1,169,490.72 restitution and directed Kline to pay a $200 special assessment to the crime victims fund.
Kline pleaded guilty to committing bank fraud on January 11, 2013, in connection with a condominium development project on the south side of Des Moines, known as the Meadow Cove project, and a residential development project in Dallas County, known as the Heritage Hills project. Kline had been charged with diverting funds borrowed for those projects to pay for a variety of other items and projects. A consortium of at least twelve Iowa and Missouri banks participated in loans to the projects. Kline’s co-defendant, Randal L. Walters, was sentenced by Chief Judge Gritzner in February of 2013.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Four Des Moines Area Defendants Plead Guilty in Connection with Mortgage FraudRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt announced today that four individuals have plead guilty to offenses relating to mortgage fraud schemes.
On April 10, 2013, Jamie Bowers-Danielson, age 35, and Matthew Danielson, age 35, both of Ankeny, pled guilty to bank fraud, in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme to obtain a “free house” in Ankeny, Iowa.
According to the written plea agreement, Matthew Danielson provided false information, including misrepresenting his marital status as single, to the mortgage lender. The purpose of providing the false information was to obtain a mortgage despite his lack of credit worthiness and to deceive the lender into failing to obtain his wife, Jamie Bowers- Danielson’s, signature on the mortgage, which resulted in the mortgage being voided. Jamie Bowers-Danielson admitted that she submitted false documentation to the loan originator as part of the scheme.
Jamie Bowers-Danielson also pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Bowers- Danielson used her position as a loan originator to help herself, and others qualify for mortgage loans through fraudulent means. This included submitting false and misleading statements and documents to mortgage lenders and banks for the purpose of obtaining loans for herself and other borrowers for which they should have not qualified.
On April 12, 2013, Bobbi Jo Wojewoda, age 43, of Grimes, pled guilty to the same conspiracy to commit bank fraud count. Bobbi Jo Wojewoda used her position as an apprentice appraiser to prepare appraisals with inflated values to help herself, and others qualify for mortgage loans. Bobbi Jo Wojewoda also failed to disclose material conflicts of interest to the mortgage lender when she performed appraisals on her own home and homes where she was the real estate agent.
Wade Charles Wojewoda, age 45, of Grimes, pled guilty on April 12, 2013, to receipt of proceeds obtained under false pretenses, related to the purchase of his and his wife, Bobbi Jo Wojewoda’s, home in 2003.
All four individuals entered their pleas before Chief Judge James E. Gritzner of the United States District Court. Judge Gritzner scheduled a sentencing date of July 26, 2013, for Jamie Bowers-Danielson and Matt Danielson; and a sentencing date of July 31, 2013, for Bobbi Jo Wojewoda and Wade Charles Wojewoda. All four defendants remain released on conditions pending sentencing.
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud are punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 30 years and a fine of up to $1 million. Receipt of proceeds obtained under false pretenses is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to one year and a fine of up to $100,000.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Davenport Man Sentenced to 61 Months in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and CocaineRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – On April 4, 2013, Gerardo Salinas, Jr., age 31, of Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced to 61 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana and five kilograms or more of cocaine, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. United States District Judge John A. Jarvey also sentenced Salinas to five years supervised release following imprisonment.
Beginning in approximately 2005, and continuing until 2010, Salinas conspired with others to distribute large amounts of marijuana and cocaine. Salinas received and distributed hundreds of pounds of marijuana in connection with co-defendant Aaron Deshawn Watson. On February 8, 2013, Watson was sentenced to 240 months imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Davenport, Iowa, Police Department, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Quad Cities Man Sentenced to 30 Years Imprisonment for Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – On April 1, 2013, Eric Martin, age 35, was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment for armed bank robbery, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. United States District Judge Stephanie M. Rose also sentenced Martin to five years supervised release and ordered Martin to pay $53,369 in restitution to the victim banks.
On April 23, 2012, at approximately 9:30 a.m. Martin entered the Hills Bank and Trust of Iowa City, wearing a mask, and armed with a loaded black, semi-automatic Jiminez Arms 9mm handgun. Martin pointed the gun at the tellers, demanded money from the teller drawers, and took approximately $23,295.00. Martin then fled on a motorized dirt bike, and led law enforcement on a lengthy vehicle pursuit through residential neighborhoods, where he was apprehended with the stolen money and the firearm. During the six months leading up to the robbery, Martin had also robbed the U.S. Bank and the Midwest One Bank in Iowa City in similar fashion.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Quad Cities Area Man Sentenced to 6 Months Imprisonment and 6 Months Home Confinement for Preparing False AppraisalsRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – On April 1, 2013, Michael Saad, age 49, was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment followed by 6 months home confinement for willfully overvaluing property for the purpose of influencing a federally insured credit union, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. United States District Judge Stephanie M. Rose also sentenced Saad to two years supervised release, and ordered Saad to pay $131,575.06 in restitution to Deere Harvester Credit Union.
Beginning in April 2007 and continuing until December 2007 Saad knowingly inflated the values of properties that he appraised in an effort to justify higher mortgage loans for borrowers. Saad misrepresented the square footage, age, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, and other information associated with the subject properties, and the comparable properties listed in his appraisals.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Audubon County Men Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Manufacture MarijuanaRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA - On March 26, 2013, Paul Joseph Irlmeier, age 44, and co-defendant, Randy Frank Irlmeier, age 63, both from rural Audubon County, Iowa, were sentenced to 60 months imprisonment for conspiracy to manufacture marijuana. In addition, the Court ordered Randy Frank Irlmeier to forfeit $400,000 and Paul Joseph Irlmeier to forfeit $104,503 for their roles in the conspiracy.
As part of their guilty pleas, the Irlmeiers admitted to conspiring to grow, harvest and distribute marijuana at their respective rural Audubon County residences between approximately 2005 and October 27, 2010. On October 27, 2010, law enforcement located evidence of a sizable marijuana growing operation, including a large quantity of mature marijuana plants at Randy Irlmeier’s residence. Both defendants admitted responsibility for at least 100 marijuana plants during the conspiracy.
The investigation was conducted by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and the Audubon County Sheriff’s Office, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Altoona Man Sentenced to Four Years Imprisonment for Mortgage FraudRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – On March 18, 2013, Lane Anderson, age 38, was sentenced to four years imprisonment for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Chief United States District Judge James E. Gritzner also sentenced Anderson to five years supervised release following imprisonment.
From 2006 to 2008 Anderson, along with co-defendants Shannon Flickinger, Dave Mable, and Paul Kramer, executed a scheme to defraud lenders by using straw buyers and fraudulent loan applications to obtain inflated mortgage loans. Mable and Flickinger previously pled guilty and were sentenced. Kramer was found guilty after a joint jury trial with Anderson, and Kramer’s sentencing is currently set for Friday, April 12, 2013, at 1:30 p.m.
Anderson, Flickinger, and Mable owned and operated LDF Development (LDF) in Urbandale, Iowa. LDF purchased, renovated, and resold residential real estate, and initially acquired approximately thirty properties but struggled to renovate and resell the properties. LDF needed additional capital to continue to operate, but was saddled with properties and debt and could not obtain additional financing. Anderson, Flickinger, and Mable submitted thirteen fraudulent loan applications in Flickinger’s name when the true buyer was LDF. In an effort to qualify Flickinger for the loans, Anderson knowingly falsified Flickinger’s income and liabilities. When the applications were approved Kramer knowingly closed the fraudulent transactions at his closing company, Iowa Closing and Escrow. LDF and Flickinger were unable to keep up with the mortgage payments and the thirteen properties were eventually foreclosed upon. The scheme caused more than $600,000 in losses to the lenders.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Council Bluffs Woman Sentenced on Methamphetamine ChargesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – On March 15, 2013, Lisa Marie Barrett, age 46, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Council Bluffs, on the charge of distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Robert W. Pratt sentenced Barrett to 60 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release following her imprisonment. The Judge also ordered Barrett to forfeit $1,061 and various drug-related paraphernalia seized at the time of Barrett’s arrest on these charges. Barrett remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending designation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to serve her federal sentence.
Barrett was sentenced upon her plea of guilty to distribution of 6.8 grams of 95% pure methamphetamine. The charge arose from a SouthWest Iowa Narcotics Task Force investigation in which Barrett made two sales of methamphetamine to an undercover operative.
This case was part of a larger investigation conducted by the SouthWest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, in which David Fisher was sentenced to 117 months imprisonment, plus 5 years supervised release; Nicholas Franks was sentenced to 133 months imprisonment, plus 5 years supervised release; and Steven Etherington was sentenced to 150 months imprisonment, plus 5 years supervised release. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Former Thurman, Iowa Resident Pleads Guilty to Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA - On March 12, 2013, 54 year old Robert W. Duncan, formally a resident Thurman, Iowa, entered guilty pleas to defrauding the Social Security Administration, filing a false income tax return and making a false statement to a financial institution.
Duncan, the former owner and auctioneer for Bob Duncan and Associates, admitted during the plea proceeding that he had defrauded the Social Security Administration of between $200,000 and $400,000 by receiving benefits he was not entitled to between 1993 and 2011. Duncan also admitted that he had caused to be filed a false 1040 tax form for tax year 2008 by under-reporting his income, and that he had provided false financial documents to Treynor State Bank to obtain a $225,000 loan in 2005.
Duncan faces a potential sentence of up to thirty years in prison, $1,000,000 in fines, and five years of supervised release. Sentencing is currently set for June 11, 2013, in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
The investigation was conducted by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, the Mills County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Office, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Social Security Administration-Office, of the Inspector General, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Altoona Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Lying About Military Record and Honors to Obtain VA Health Care BenefitsRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA - On March 14, 2013, Jeffrey Scott Kepler, age 53, of Altoona, Iowa, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Jarvey to one year and one day in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt.
Kepler pleaded guilty on September 7, 2012, to federal charges of health care fraud. As part of his plea agreement, Kepler admitted to submitting a false United States Department of Defense form, known as a “DD Form 214, Certificate of Release And Discharge From Active Duty,” to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Des Moines in August 2007, in which he falsely represented his military service in an effort to fraudulently obtain VA medical benefits to which he was not entitled. Between 2007 and 2010, Kepler received over $100,000 in VA health care benefits for which he was not eligible. He also attempted to obtained VA disability benefits to which he was not entitled, but was caught.
Kepler only served in the United States Army for 27 days in 1986, when he was honorably discharged for not meeting medical fitness standards. He received no promotions, awards, or commendations, and was never in combat, and did not serve in the military long enough to earn veterans benefits. In the false DD Form 214, Kepler falsely claimed to have served in the Army for 2 years, 11 months, and 23 days between January 1977 and August 1979, portraying himself as an Airborne Ranger, who qualified for Officer Candidate School, and a war hero, who had been awarded numerous Army medals, including the Silver Star, and twice awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Kepler also admitted in court that he had acquired military memorabilia over the years, including various crests, insignia, badges, ribbons, clothing, medals, awards, and military tatoos, which he used from time-to-time to falsely represent himself to individuals and the American Legion as a decorated, Army combat veteran. As part of the plea agreement, Kepler consented to forfeiting or adandoning these items to the United States.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, and was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Former Clarinda, Iowa Resident Sentenced to 48 Months for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Council Bluffs, IA- On March 12, 2013, John R. Clark, age 49, formally a resident of Clarinda, Iowa, was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment for Possession of Child Pornography, to be served consecutively with a sentence Clark is currently serving in Florida for Lewd and Lascivious Act on a Child. The 48 month sentence was imposed by United States District Judge John Jarvey. Judge Jarvey also ordered Clark to serve a ten year term of supervised release following incarceration.
On November 1, 2012, the defendant pled guilty to a charge of Possession of Child Pornography. The investigation showed that Clark was receiving images of child pornography over the internet. At the time of his guilty plea, Clark admitted that on May 7, 2009, he had images on his home computer that depicted minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
The investigation was conducted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office Southern District of Iowa.
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Council Bluffs Man Sentenced on Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – On March 8, 2013, Ronald Wayne Reed, II, age 27, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was sentenced in United States District Court in Council Bluffs on the charge of felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Chief United States District Court Judge James E. Gritzner sentenced Reed to 46 months imprisonment, to be followed by a 2 years term of supervised release. The Court also ordered Reed to forfeit the firearm and ammunition which he had possessed, and to pay a $100.00 special assessment for the Crime Victim Fund. Reed remains in the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons facility at which he will serve his sentence.
On December 5, 2012, Reed pled guilty to the charge of felon in possession of a firearm. The charge arose out of the purchase by an undercover officer with the SouthWest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, of a .357 caliber revolver and ammunition.
This investigation was conducted by the SouthWest Iowa Narcotics Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Davenport Man Sentenced After Federal Drug ConvictionRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA- On March 8, 2013, Leeandrel Quinn-Lake, age 35, from Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge John A. Jarvey to 168 months imprisonment, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Quinn-Lake was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release and pay $100 towards the Crime Victims Fund. As part of the plea proceeding, Quinn-Lake admitted that from October 2007 to February 2009 he joined a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, obtained quantities of crack cocaine from multiple sources, and then distributed this cocaine in the Davenport area. Quinn-Lake admitted that he was responsible for between 840 grams to 2.8 kilograms of crack cocaine.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Davenport Police Department and the United States Marshals Service and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Davenport Man Sentenced After Federal Conviction for Felon in Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA- On March 8, 2013, Yusuf Hasan Shariff, age 56, from Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge John A. Jarvey to 15 months imprisonment on the charge of possession of ammunition as a felon, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Shariff was also ordered to serve three years supervised release and pay $100 towards the Crime Victims Fund.
On April 13, 2012, Scott County, Iowa, Sheriff deputies responded to a local gas station when Shariff was unable to pay for gasoline. When Shariff was unable to find a means to pay the bill, he handed the deputy a .32 caliber bullet and said “. . . let’s take this to the next level.” During a transport to jail, Shariff made verbal threats to kill the deputy. The Clinton County dispatcher also reported that police had made contact with Shariff earlier that day, and that Shariff made statements about revenge against the police department.
On April 17, 2012, a Davenport police officer conducted a traffic stop of a mini-van driven by Shariff. Shariff ended up crashing his vehicle into a retaining wall near Genesis West in Davenport. When a Davenport police officer approached Shariff, he refused several orders to remain still and to go down to his knees. As the officer approached, Shariff stood up, pulled away from the officer, and then swung at and punched the officer in the mouth. A second police officer arrived and Shariff physically struggled with both officers. As they went to the ground, Shariff obtained control of a knife and stabbed at the police officers. With the assistance of a third officer, Shariff was taken into custody. While being transported to jail, Shariff again made verbal threats to kill a Davenport police officer.
On April 19, 2012, Davenport police officers searched Shariff’s Davenport residence and seized an additional 15 rounds of .32 caliber ammunition. On October 22, 2012, Shariff pled guilty to possession of ammunition as a felon, having previously been convicted in 1999 of a felony drug offense.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Davenport Police Department, and the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative.
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Davenport Man Sentenced After Federal Conviction for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA - On March 1, 2013, Arnordo Corderrel Turner, age 25, from Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge John A. Jarvey to 57 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to bank robbery, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Turner was also ordered to serve three years supervised release and pay $100 towards the Crime Victims Fund. On June 11, 2013, Turner entered and robbed Northwest Bank and Trust in Davenport, Iowa.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Davenport Police Department, and was prosecuted by the U. S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Davenport Man Sentenced to 63 Month Imprisonment for Federal Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – On February 25, 2013, Fred Carl Chapman, age 30, of Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced to 63 months imprisonment, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. United States District Judge Stephanie M. Rose also ordered Chapman to serve three years supervised release following imprisonment, and pay a $100 special assessment to the crime victim fund.
On May 19, 2012, the Davenport, Iowa, Police Department was contacted by employees of a downtown bar about a man in the bar armed with a gun. A police officer went to the bar and identified Chapman based on a bar employees’ description. When the officer asked Chapman to step outside, Chapman initially refused, but eventually went outside with the officer. The officer frisked Chapman, finding a semi-automatic pistol and ammunition in Chapman’s pocket. Chapman had several prior felony convictions, and was charged in United States District Court as a felon in possession of a firearm. Chapman entered a guilty plea on October 23, 2012.
This case was investigated by the Davenport, Iowa, Police Department and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Davenport Man Sentenced to 147 Months in Prison for Methamphetamine and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – On February 25, 2013, Leslie Wade Hardin, age 42, of Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced to 147 months imprisonment for conspiring to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, and for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. United States District Judge Stephanie M. Rose also sentenced Hardin to 5 years supervised release.
Between August 2011 and March 7, 2012, Hardin manufactured at least 50 grams of actual methamphetamine at a residence in Davenport, Iowa, owned by Steven Michael Gruetzmacher. In his plea agreement, Hardin admitted that he, Gruetzmacher, and Travis Lee Meier pooled together ingredients to manufacture methamphetamine and manufactured it at the residence on a regular basis. Some of the methamphetamine was consumed for personal use while some was distributed to various customers. Hardin also admitted to constructive possession of various firearms located at that residence, and that his possession of the firearms was with the intent that they advance, assist, or help the drug conspiracy.
Hardin’s co-conspirators have already been sentenced by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose. On February 1, 2013, Gruetzmacher, age 46, of Davenport, Iowa was sentenced to 180 months imprisonment and 5 years supervised release for conspiring to manufacture, and distribute methamphetamine, and for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On November 29, 2012, Meier, age 21, of Davenport, Iowa was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment, and 4 years supervised release for conspiring to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the Davenport, Iowa, Police Department, and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – On February 15, 2013, T. Wayne Allen, Sr., of Davenport, IA, was sentenced to 180 months imprisonment, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Chief United States District Judge James E. Gritzner also sentenced Allen to four years supervised release following imprisonment and ordered him to pay a $100 special assessment to the crime victim fund.
On August 27, 2011, after Allen made threats to shoot certain people during an argument inside the Davenport, Iowa, Northpark Mall, the Davenport police officers stopped and searched Allen, and found a loaded semi-automatic pistol in his pocket. Subsequent investigation revealed that Allen had a least four convictions for armed robbery in Nevada, Iowa, and one armed robbery conviction in Illinois. Allen denied the convictions, but at sentencing the government proved Allen’s identity by a combination of court records, photographs, and fingerprints. Accordingly, Allen was sentenced to a mandatory term of 15 years imprisonment as an Armed Career Criminal.
This case was investigated by the Davenport, Iowa, Police Department, and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Harrison County Man Sentenced on Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – On February 15, 2013, Micah David Meloccaro, age 22, of Woodbine, Iowa, was sentenced in United States District Court in Council Bluffs on the charge of unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose sentenced Meloccaro to 30 months imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised. The Court also ordered Meloccaro to forfeit two shotguns and ammunition which he had possessed, and to pay a $100.00 special assessment for the Crime Victim Fund. Meloccaro was allowed to remain on conditions of release, supervised by the United States Probation Office, pending designation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons facility at he will serve his sentence.
Meloccaro was sentenced upon his plea of guilty to unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm. The charges arose out of an emergency medical response to Melocarro’s then residence in Woodbine, Iowa, on April 13, 2012. The emergency response was regarding a friend of Meloccaro’s, whom Meloccaro had accidently shot at close range with a 12-gauge shotgun. The shooting victim is recovering. During the emergency response, deputies of the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department observed growing marijuana. A search was conducted by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and a marijuana grow operation was found in the house. Meloccaro eventually admitted to smoking marijuana on a regular basis. As a part of the federal plea agreement in this case, Melocarro must also plead guilty in the District Court of the State of Iowa for Harrison County to manufacturing marijuana.
This investigation was conducted by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Harrison County Attorney’s Office also aided in this case, which was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Council Bluffs Man Sentenced on Methamphetamine Conspiracy and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – On February 15, 2013, Clifford Arthur Ellis, age 28, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was sentenced in United States District Court in Council Bluffs on the charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in relation to drug trafficking, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose sentenced Ellis to 175 months imprisonment regarding the drug conspiracy, and 60 months on the firearms charge, with the sentences to be served consecutively, that is one in addition to the other, for a total sentence of 235 months imprisonment. The Judge also ordered Ellis to serve 5 years of supervised release following his imprisonment. The Court also ordered Ellis to forfeit the firearm and ammunition which he had possessed, and to pay a $200.00 special assessment for the Crime Victim Fund. Ellis remains in the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons facility at which he will serve his sentence.
Ellis was sentenced upon his plea of guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm during and in the course of the conspiracy. The charges arose out of the investigation by the SouthWest Iowa Narcotics Task Force of a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, which conspiracy began in mid-2011, and was continued by some of the coconspirators, including Ellis, until at least April 1, 2012. For his involvement in the conspiracy, Ellis admitted responsibility for approximately 1.36 kilograms of methamphetamine. Ellis also regularly carried a loaded .45 caliber pistol, and then, later, a loaded 9mm pistol upon his person in the course of the conspiracy. On January 4, 2012, Ellis and two other persons were arrested by Council Bluffs Police Officers in the course of the burglary of a truck parked in an apartment parking lot in Council Bluffs. The 9mm pistol was recovered from Ellis at that time. On April 1, 2012, an Iowa State Patrol Trooper and Mills County Sheriff Deputies arrested Ellis and another person in Mills County carrying approximately one ounce of methamphetamine for distribution.
This investigation was conducted by the SouthWest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, the Council Bluffs, Iowa, Police Department, the Mills County Sheriff’s Department, and the Iowa State Patrol. The Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office and the Mills County Attorney’s Office also aided in this case, which was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Davenport Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and CocaineRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – On February 8, 2013, Aaron Deshawn Watson, age 33, was sentenced to 240 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana and five kilograms or more of cocaine, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. United States District Judge John A. Jarvey also sentenced Watson to ten years supervised release.
Beginning in approximately 2005 and continuing until 2010 Watson conspired with others to distribute large amounts of marijuana and cocaine. Watson often received and distributed hundreds of pounds of marijuana in connection with a co-defendant Gerardo Salinas, Jr. Salinas is set to be sentenced on April 5, 2013.
This case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the Davenport, Iowa, Police Department, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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West Des Moines Man Pleads Guilty to Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – Charles R. Barbour, of West Des Moines, Iowa, pleaded guilty to one count of income tax evasion in a proceeding before United States Magistrate Judge Celeste F. Bremer, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Sentencing has been scheduled for May 9, 2013, at the United States Courthouse in Des Moines before United States District Court Judge John A. Jarvey.
As part of his written plea agreement filed February 6, 2013, Barbour agreed to plead guilty to a U.S. Attorney’s Information charging him with one count of income tax evasion. In the plea agreement, Barbour agreed that he did not report all income he earned making dentures for a private dental practice. Barbour agreed that he willfully understated his income for tax year 2006 in the amount of $80,927.00; for tax year 2007 in the amount of $50,940.00; for tax year 2008 in the amount of $52,895.00 and for tax year 2009 in the amount of $11,300.00. Babour also admitted to claiming false business expenses on his returns during tax years 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Barbour faces a maximum penalty of up to 5 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, or both a fine and imprisonment. Additionally, under the plea agreement, Barbour agrees to cooperate with the Internal Revenue Service to pay all back taxes, penalties and interest due. Barbour was released on bond, under the supervision of the United States Probation Office, pending imposition of sentence.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Des Moines-Area Developer Sentenced to Twelve Months and One Day in Prison for Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – Des Moines area real estate developer Randal L. Walters was sentenced to twelve months and one day in prison for his participation in a bank fraud scheme. Chief Judge James E. Gritzner also ordered Walters to serve a term of 5 years of supervised release following release from prison, $500,000 restitution and directed Walters to pay a $100 special assessment to the crime victims fund.
Walters pleaded guilty to committing bank fraud on September 20, 2012, in connection with a condominium development project on the south side of Des Moines known as the Meadow Cove project. Walters had been charged with diverting funds borrowed for that project to pay for a variety of other items and projects. A consortium of at least ten Iowa and Missouri banks participated in loans to the project. Walters’s co-defendant in the matter is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief Judge Gritzner in April.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Iowa Residents Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA - On February 1, 2013, Susan Lea Combs, a 51 year old resident of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, was sentenced to 120 months (ten years) imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine by United States Senior District Court Judge Ronald Longstaff. Judge Longstaff also imposed a period of five years of supervised release following her incarceration. Combs’ co-defendant, David Dwayne Mendez, a 52 year old resident of Polk County, Iowa, was sentenced by Judge Longstaff to a term of imprisonment of 108 months (nine years) for his role in the Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, as well as a four year period of supervised release. Combs and Mendez entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on September 6, 2012. At the time of their respective pleas of guilty, each admitted that they agreed to sell methamphetamine that was obtained from a source in South Omaha, Nebraska, to individuals in Iowa, particularly in the Council Bluffs and Des Moines areas.
The investigation was conducted by the Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Mid-Iowa Narcotics Task Force, and the Polk County Attorney’s Office. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Iowa Resident Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA - On February 1, 2013, Michael James Vore, a 50 year old resident of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, was sentenced to 120 months (ten years) imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine by United States Senior District Court Judge Robert Pratt. Judge Pratt also imposed a period of eight years of supervised release following his incarceration.
In September of 2012,Vore was found guilty by a jury of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The evidence at trial showed that the Iowa State Patrol was conducting an investigation into the possession and transportation of stolen commercial utility trailers in May of 2011. As part of their investigation, members with the Iowa State Patrol conducted a traffic stop on Vore as he was pulling a suspected stolen trailer behind his pick-up truck. While searching the pick-up truck that Vore was driving, troopers located approximately fifty grams of pure methamphetamine, along with a large stack of United States Currency, a digital scale and notes consistent with the sale of a controlled substance.
The investigation was conducted by the Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Muscatine Man Sentenced for Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – On January 31, 2013, Robert Leslie Ranck, age 46, was sentenced to 130 months imprisonment, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. United States District Judge Stephanie M. Rose also sentenced Ranck to three years supervised release following imprisonment, ordered him to pay a $200 special assessment to the crime victim fund, and ordered him to forfeit all firearms and ammunition involved in the offense.
On April 7, 2012, Ranck was stopped by the Burlington, Iowa, police for a traffic violation. Police discovered that Ranck, a multi-time convicted felon, was in possession of a high-capacity, semi-automatic 9mm pistol. Ranck had just received the pistol from Justin Adams, who purchased the pistol for Ranck at a Burlington gun shop. Ranck, after being arrested and booked by police, was released on bond.
On April 18, 2012, Ranck again was arrested in Scott County, Iowa, while making a delivery of six pounds of marijuana to a police informant. Police searched Ranck’s residence in Muscatine, Iowa, finding additional marijuana packaged for sale, growing marijuana plants, several firearms, and ammunition.
Ranck was indicted in United States District Court for possessing firearms and ammunition as a felon and possessing marijuana with intent to distribute, and Adams was separately indicted for making false statements in connection with the purchase of a firearm. Ranck and Adams both entered guilty pleas, and Adams’ sentencing is still pending.
This case was investigated by the Burlington, Iowa, Police Department, the Davenport, Iowa, Police Department, the Muscatine Drug Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa
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Gary, Indiana Man Sentenced to 240 Months in Prison for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – On February 1, 2013, Tracy Lee White, age 47, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced to 240 months imprisonment for conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute at least 1000 kilograms of marijuana, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. United States District Judge Stephanie M. Rose imposed the sentence after White and the United States Attorney reached an agreement that the 240-month sentence furnishes adequate protection to the public, is in keeping with the gravity of the offense, and promotes respect for the law, just punishment, and deterrence to criminal conduct. United States District Judge Stephanie M. Rose also fined White $20,000, ordered him to serve five years supervised release following his incarceration, and ordered him to pay a $100 special assessment to the crime victim fund.
At the time of his guilty plea, White admitted his involvement in a conspiracy that obtained more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana in Colorado and transported it to Iowa and elsewhere with several other individuals. White traveled to Colorado on numerous occasions to meet with the suppliers and others for the purpose of purchasing of multiple pounds of marijuana.
This investigation was conducted by the Clinton, Iowa, Police Department, Quad City Metropolitan Enforcement Group, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Davenport Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – On February 1, 2013, Steven Michael Gruetzmacher, age 46, of Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced to 180 months imprisonment for conspiring to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. United States District Judge Stephanie M. Rose also sentenced Gruetzmacher to 5 years supervised release.
Gruetzmacher agreed with others to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine from July 2011 through early March 2012. Gruetzmacher manufactured and distributed methamphetamine on multiple occasions over the course of the conspiracy.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Davenport, Iowa, Police Department, and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Davenport Man Sentenced in Connection with Marijuana ConspiracyRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – On February 1, 2013, Jonathan Lamont Morning, age 34, of Davenport, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. United States District Judge John A. Jarvey also sentenced Morning to five years supervised release following imprisonment, ordered him to pay a $100 special assessment to the crime victim fund, and ordered him to forfeit $10,182 in cash seized during the investigation.
On January 27, 2012, Morning was arrested by Davenport, Iowa, police while making a delivery of 10 pounds of marijuana. Police subsequently recovered another 100 pounds of marijuana from Morning’s residence. The investigation revealed that Morning was involved in an interstate marijuana trafficking conspiracy with another Davenport resident, Earl Buckner. Buckner was sentenced on April 13, 2012, to 60 months imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Davenport, Iowa, Police Department, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Clinton Woman Pleads Guilty to Filing False Returns; Faces up to 3 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – On February 1, 2013, Regina Jimenez, age 60, of Clinton, Iowa, pled guilty to two counts of filing false tax returns, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Jimenez faces up to 3 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000 and costs of prosecution on each count.
Jimenez operated AA Accounting & Tax Services, Inc. in Clinton, Iowa from approximately 2007 through 2011. Jimenez used the business to facilitate the theft of over $200,000 from a client who believed that Jimenez would use the money to pay the client’s taxes. Jimenez instead used the money for personal expenditures and did not report the stolen funds on her tax returns.
The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, and is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Council Bluffs Man Sentenced on Interstate Copper Theft ChargesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – On January 22, 2013, Jonathan Dale Campbell, age 32, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was sentenced in United States District Court in Council Bluffs on the charge of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property regarding the theft of copper from center-pivot irrigation systems, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Chief United States District Court Judge James E. Gritzner sentenced Campbell to 37 months in prison, and also ordered Campbell to serve 3 years of supervised release following his imprisonment. The Court ordered that the 37 months federal sentence of imprisonment be served consecutively to, that is, in addition to, State of Iowa sentences currently being served by Campbell. (Campbell is currently serving terms of imprisonment in Iowa for theft and burglary charges unrelated to the federal interstate transportation of stolen property case.) The Court also ordered Campbell to pay restitution in the amount of $174,047.97 to identified victims of the theft scheme in which Campbell was involved, and to pay a $100.00 special assessment for the Crime Victim Fund. Campbell remains in the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons facility where he will serve his federal sentence, or return to the custody of the State of Iowa to complete serving sentences from Mills and Pottawattamie, Iowa, counties, which he was serving when taken into federal custody on the interstate theft charges.
Campbell was sentenced upon his plea of guilty to conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property. The charges arose from a prolonged series of thefts of copper from control cables for center-pivot irrigation systems. The cable was stolen from farming operations stretching from near Sioux City, Iowa, to near St. Joseph, Missouri, with a concentration of the thefts in Harrison and Monona counties in Iowa. Campbell was a part of a conspiracy involving three or more people, which operated from late in 2009, until the summer of 2010. The sentences imposed in this case were in part based on co-conspirators receiving an estimated $70,000.00, to $120,000.00.00, from a salvage yard in Omaha, Nebraska, for the copper cable. Records established that persons involved in this conspiracy delivered copper from the center-pivot irrigation system control cables to the salvage yard in Omaha, Nebraska, on at least 73 occasions. The sentences were also based in part on the number of victims identified in the case, with approximately 28 farming entities and a number of insurance companies being identified as victims in Harrison and Monona counties.
Previously convicted in this conspiracy were Charles Douglas Nichols, age 35, and Joseph Daniel Falknor, age 30, both of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Nichols was sentenced to 31 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Falknor was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day of imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Nichols and Falknor were also ordered to pay restitution and to pay an assessment for the Crime Victim Fund.
This investigation was conducted by the Harrison County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Department, the Monona County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Department, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Council Bluffs Man Sentenced on Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – On January 22, 2013, Charles Edward Duncan, age 25, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was sentenced in United States District Court in Council Bluffs on the charge of prohibited person in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Chief United States District Court Judge James E. Gritzner sentenced Duncan to 34 months in prison and also ordered Duncan to serve 2 years of supervised release following his imprisonment. The Court also ordered Duncan to pay a $100.00 special assessment for the Crime Victim Fund, and to forfeit the firearm and ammunition found in his possession. Duncan, a victim of a recent shooting, was allowed to remain under the supervision of the United States Probation Office to receive further medical care for his wound, pending the Federal Bureau of Prisons designating the facility at which he is to serve his term of imprisonment.
The indictment alleged that Duncan was an unlawful user of controlled substances (marijuana) and that Duncan had, prior to possessing the firearm, been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. Either circumstance barred Duncan from possessing a firearm. The charge arose out of the execution of a State of Iowa search warrant by the SouthWest Iowa Narcotics Task Force on April 11, 2012, at Duncan’s residence in Council Bluffs, Iowa. During the search, officers found various indicia of use of marijuana by Duncan, and an AK-47 style rifle and ammunition. Duncan had on November 15, 2011 been convicted in the District Court of the State of Iowa for Pottawattamie County, Iowa, of a misdemeanor domestic assault resulting in physical injury, and was at the time of the search subject to a domestic abuse protection order.
This case was investigated by the SouthWest Iowa Narcotics Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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Chamness Technology, Inc. Sentenced for Discharge of PollutantRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA B Chamness Technology, Inc. (CTI) was sentenced today to pay a $100,000 fine for the discharge of a pollutant announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. United States Magistrate Judge Ross A. Walters also sentenced CTI to serve a term of two years supervised probation, which includes conditions that CTI perform community service and develop a compliance and ethic program. The Court also imposed a $125 crime victim fund assessment.
On November 1, 2010, the Iowa Division of Natural Resources responded to a complaint of a discharge in the Palestine Creek in Wapello County. An investigation revealed that leachate water and storm water runoff had been discharged from an umbilical hose at CTI’s compost facility located outside Eddyville, Iowa. A CTI employee caused the discharge by failing to attach the umbilical hose and ensure the umbilical hose was connected to a spray irrigator at the facility. The leachate water and storm water runoff entered the Palestine Creek and flowed to the Des Moines River. The discharge was not permitted and the employee acted within the scope of employment and intended at least in part to benefit CTI through the employee’s actions.
The case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Iowa Division of Natural Resources, and was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
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