Southern District of Iowa
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Washington County Woman Sentenced to 600 Months in Federal Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Riverside woman was sentenced yesterday to 600 months in federal prison for two counts of Production of Child Pornography, following a plea of guilty on an earlier date.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Abigail Margarete Knight, 36, produced child sexual assault material of two minor victims between July 2020 and May 2023. Knight used photos and videos of minors and sent the child sexual assault material to two men, one in Texas and the other in Missouri, through the use of cellular phones and internet chats.
After completing her term of imprisonment, Knight will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Washington County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations, and the ICAC Task Force.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.
Three Men and One Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Narcotics ChargesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Council Bluffs man was sentenced May 21, 2024, to 84 months in federal prison for Conspiracy to Distribute 500 grams or more of a Mixture or Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Methamphetamine.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencings, Alejandro Almaraz, 24, and three co-defendants, conspired to distribute methamphetamine in the Council Bluffs, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska metro areas. This case involved the seizure of approximately 12 kilograms of methamphetamine. The seized methamphetamine was transported from Juarez, Mexico to the United States through El Paso, Texas.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Almaraz will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Almaraz’s three co-defendants were sentenced earlier this year. Arnulfo Ibarra-Nunez, 57, was sentenced to 144 months in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Stacey Hernandez, 19, was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Manuel Gamez-Acosta, 25, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Council Bluffs Police Department.
Zone Fifth Street Gang Members Convicted for Racketeering (RICO), Drug, and Firearms Charges in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A federal jury in Davenport convicted five gang members yesterday, May 16, 2024, for Conspiracy to Engage in Racketeering Activity, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Firearms and Ammunition as a Felon.
According to public court documents and evidence presented during the two-week jury trial, Don Christopher White, Jr., 37, Raheem Jacques Houston, 30, Deaguise Ramont Hall, 34, Devell Carl Lewis, 35, and Simmeon Terrell Hall, 34, among others, were members and associates of a criminal organization or Enterprise known as the “Arsenal Courts Posse a/k/a Zone Fifth a/k/a Fifth Street Mafia a/k/a Rock Town Money Getters (RTMG) a/k/a Money Team,” whose members and associates engaged in acts of violence. The Enterprise’s origins began in Rock Island, Illinois, in the late 1990s and early 2000s. At that time, members and associates of the Enterprise referred to themselves as the Arsenal Courts Posse. Arsenal Courts was the former name of Century Woods, a housing complex which members or associates of the Enterprise lived in or frequented on a regular basis. The housing complex is located in the 1400 block of Fifth Street. Between 2009 and 2011, the younger members and associates of the Enterprise began referring to themselves as “Zone Fifth” or “Fifth Street Mafia” continuing to represent the location of the Enterprise’s territory. As alleged in the indictment, the principal purposes and objectives of the Enterprise were to distribute controlled substances, obtain money and things of value, and earn and maintain respect in the Quad Cities.
White, Houston, Lewis, Deaguise Hall, and Simmeon Hall were all found guilty of conspiracy to engage in racketeering activity. As part of this racketeering activity, the jury further found that this gang committed multiple acts involving murder and trafficking in controlled substances.
Additionally, Houston and White were found guilty of felon in possession of firearms and ammunition; Deaguise Hall and Simmeon Hall were found guilty of possession of cocaine base with an intent to distribute.
Defendants’ sentencings have not been scheduled. White faces a maximum of 40 years in prison. Houston faces a maximum of 30 years in prison. Lewis, Deaguise Hall and Simmeon Hall each face a maximum of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the United States sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal court system.
Co-defendants, Devante Atwell French, Michael Linn Cross, Lashawn D. James Hensley, Ricky Lee Childs, Jr., Timothy Justin Beaver, Rasheem Damonte Bogan, Kylea Dapri Cartwright, Jr., and Cortez Deangelo Cooper, Jr. were also charged as part of the investigation. Jury trial for co-defendants French, Cross, and Hensley, is scheduled for August 5, 2024. Jury trial for co-defendants Beaver, Bogan, Cartwright, Childs and Cooper is scheduled for November 4, 2024.
“The Quad Cities community deserves to go about their days free from the threat of violence used by these defendants,” stated United States Attorney Richard Westphal. “Whether individually or as part of a gang, people that choose to use violence as part of their criminal enterprise will be held accountable. Our gratitude to the multiple local, state and federal law enforcement officers who spent countless hours working on this investigation. Showing, as police officers do every day, that the protection of the community is their highest priority.”
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Davenport Police Department, the Rock Island Police Department, the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, the Iowa State Patrol, the Moline Police Department, the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, the Bettendorf Police Department, the Des Moines Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
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. On May 26, 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Waukee Man Sentenced to 25 years in Prison for Production and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Waukee man was sentenced today to 25 years in federal prison for production and possession of child pornography.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Michael Alan Jagim, 52, created and produced child pornography, using secreted video recording devices. On December 14, 2021, after receiving a cyber-tip, law enforcement officers conducted a search of Jagim’s residence and seized multiple electronic devices. A forensic analysis of these devices found multiple videos of child sex abuse material, including videos created by Jagim, for a total of 3,620 images. Jagim was also ordered to pay $28,123 in victim restitution.
After completion of his prison term, Jagim will be required to serve ten years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Jagim was also ordered to pay $10,200 in special assessments.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Waukee Police Department, the Urbandale Police Department, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force.
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 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.
Malvern Woman Sentenced to 6 Months in Federal Prison for Bank Embezzlement ChargeRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Malvern, IA woman was sentenced on April 25, 2024, to 6 months in federal prison for Embezzlement by a Bank Employee.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Mackenzie Ann Meggison, 37, was employed as a mortgage loan officer at Malvern Bank and was also the treasurer for the Malvern Area Betterment Association (MABA) who maintained their accounts at Malvern Bank. Using her position at the bank, from July – October, 2020, Meggison conducted 57 unauthorized transactions on four separate MABA accounts totaling at least $66,175.42.
After completing her term of imprisonment, Meggison will be required to serve 3 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Meggison was also ordered to pay $66,175.42 in restitution.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Davenport Man Sentenced to 360 Months in Federal Prison for Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced on April 17, 2024, to 360 months in federal prison, for conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and/or possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and felon in possession of firearms.
According to public court documents evidence presented at trial and sentencing, Kpangbala Benyan Blamah, 34, was identified by law enforcement as a suspect in multiple shooting incidents. During that investigation, it was revealed that Blamah was a leader of a drug distribution conspiracy in and around the Quad City Metro area. Evidence showed that Blamah was coordinating several trips to California for him and other members of the conspiracy, including in some cases, minors that Blamah had recruited to be a part of the conspiracy. Evidence also showed that Blamah had packages of controlled substances mailed from California to Davenport to various residences of members of the conspiracy. In total, Blamah was responsible for over 1700 kilograms of controlled substances, including marijuana and cocaine.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Blamah will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States 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. On May 26, 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Council Bluffs, Iowa Man Sentenced to 240 Months for Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Council Bluffs man was sentenced April 16, 2024, to 240 months in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, and 180 months for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, to be served concurrently.
According to public court documents, Virgil Rude McIntosh, III, 47, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Between December and July 2023, McIntosh was involved in a drug conspiracy credited for the distribution of over 30 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Council Bluffs metro area. Officers conducted a search warrant of McIntosh’s residence and seized methamphetamine and a loaded Sig Saur 9 mm handgun.
After completing his term of imprisonment, McIntosh will be required to serve ten years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, the Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Omaha Police Department, and the Council Bluffs 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. On May 26, 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Council Bluffs, Iowa Man Sentenced to 200 Months for Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Council Bluffs man was sentenced April 16, 2024, to 200 months in prison on federal drug charges and a concurrent 180 months for a firearms crime.
According to public court documents, Jake Michael Flynn, 39, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and prohibited person in possession of a firearm. From October 2022 through April 2023, Flynn was a member of a conspiracy which distributed more than 50 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Council Bluffs area. A stolen vehicle was also recovered that was involved in prior burglaries in the Council Bluffs area. Additionally, a Sig Sauer Model P365 9x19 millimeter handgun was found in the vehicle with Flynn’s DNA. Flynn was previously convicted of a felony and therefore prohibited from legally possessing a firearm.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Flynn will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, the Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Council Bluffs 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. On May 26, 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Council Bluffs, Iowa Man Sentenced to 108 Months in Federal Prison for Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A Council Bluffs man was sentenced April 16, 2024, to 108 months in prison for Receipt of Child Pornography.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Ivan Dean Joslin, 20, pled guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography. In May 2023, Joslin met a thirteen-year-old minor in Council Bluffs, Iowa and exchanged phone numbers. At his request, Joslin received over the internet sexually explicit images and videos of the minor.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Joslin is required to serve six years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by Council Bluffs Police Department.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. / For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.
Quad Cities Man Sentenced to 84 Months in Federal Prison for Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Quad Cities man was sentenced April 23, 2024, to seven years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.
According to public court documents, Marveon Dashawn Jovan Williams, 27, in May 2022, Davenport Police responded to a call for a gunshot victim in a vehicle. Upon arrival on the scene, the victim was located in the driver seat of a vehicle, with a gunshot wound to the head. Several firearms, including one located on the passenger side, and one located on the sidewalk outside the passenger side of the vehicle were recovered. A cell phone belonging to Williams was also located on the scene. Witnesses described a shootout between two different vehicles. A male, matching Williams’ physical description was seen possessing the firearm that was dropped on the sidewalk and recovered by police and fleeing the crime scene. Video surveillance footage of the scene showed Williams fleeing the area and then changing his clothing in a nearby wooded area. The discarded clothing was recovered by law enforcement and tested for DNA. DNA belonging to Williams was located on the clothing recovered from the wooded area.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Williams will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by 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. On May 26, 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Two Burlington Women Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sex Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Burlington woman was sentenced on April 22, 2024, to thirty years in federal prison for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking, attempted sex trafficking of a child, and sex trafficking three adult victims.
According to public court documents, Miesha Lasha Stanley, 32, in 2022, used force, fraud, and coercion to compel victims to engage in sex acts with customers in exchange for money. Stanley took some or all of the money that the victims earned. Stanley used the victims’ vulnerabilities, which included lack of stable housing, drug addiction, abusive relationships, and lack of familial support, to compel them to engage in paid sex acts. Stanley allowed the victims, most of whom were females in their late teens and early 20s, to live at her residence in Burlington. Stanley posted sex advertisements for the victims online, communicated with customers, and arranged for customers to engage in sex acts with the victims at her residence and other locations. Stanley also conspired with co-defendant Rosella Marie Taylor to sex traffic one of the victims.
After completing her term of imprisonment, Stanley will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
On April 1, 2024, Taylor, 36, was sentenced to 122 months of imprisonment for conspiring to sex traffic, attempting to sex traffic, and sex trafficking two victims. Taylor used force, fraud, and coercion, and conspired with Stanley to use force, fraud, and coercion, to compel an adult victim to engage in paid sex acts. Taylor invited the victim, who struggled with stable housing, and was unemployed, to live at Taylor’s residence in Burlington. Taylor posted sex advertisements for the victim online and drove the victim to meet customers for paid sex work. Taylor took some or all of the money the victim earned. Additionally, Taylor attempted to sex traffic a minor victim. Taylor posted sex advertisements for the victim online, arranged for a customer to engage in sex acts with the victim, and drove the victim to the customer’s residence. However, the customer did not answer the door, and the victim left with Taylor.
After completing her term of imprisonment, Stanley will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“On behalf of the Burlington Police Department, I would like to recognize the efforts of the personnel and agencies involved in this case,” said Burlington Police Chief Adam Schaefer. “Special recognition should be given to the investigators, who began with some small pieces of information and actively pursued all leads which ultimately led to this resolution. And of, course, I commend the victims who came forward and cooperated with law enforcement even under the most difficult circumstances. It was not an easy thing to do and their bravery and courage must be commended. This case also serves as a reminder that human trafficking is everywhere, not just large metropolitan areas. It is important for everyone to be vigilant about their surroundings both for themselves and their community.”
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa and the Burlington Police Department made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Burlington Police Department, assisted by the Des Moines County Attorney’s Office, and the Iowa Department of Public Safety. This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Human trafficking is a crime involving the exploitation of youth under the age of 18 for commercial sex; the exploitation of adults for commercial sex through the use of force, fraud, or coercion; and the exploitation of any individual for compelled labor. Human trafficking does not require the transportation of individuals across state lines, or that someone is physically restrained. Signs that a person is being trafficked can include working excessively long hours, unexplained gifts, physical injury, substance abuse issues, running away from home, isolation from others, or having a person in their life controlling them or monitoring them closely. Victims particularly susceptible to being trafficked include those with criminal histories, a history of physical or sexual abuse, uncertain legal status, and dependency on controlled substances. Individuals who purchase sex from minors or from those who are otherwise exploited for commercial sex are also subject to prosecution for sex trafficking under federal law, if they knew or were in reckless disregard of the fact that they were under the age of 18, or that force, fraud, or coercion was used.
Anyone who suspects human trafficking is occurring, be it a minor engaging in paid sex acts, or anyone being coerced into prostitution or labor, is urged to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
Iowa City Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Federal Prison Related to Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa– A Iowa City man was sentenced today to 27 years in federal prison for Conspiracy to Distribute a Mixture and Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Heroin Resulting in Death.
According to public court documents and evidence presented, on January 23, 2021, Iowa City Police officers were dispatched to a residence in Iowa City, Iowa, related to a suspected overdose. After investigation, Dione Dante Mobley (a.k.a. “Flee”), 43, and Lugene Shipp, 43, were identified as the source of the heroin and both were arrested for conspiracy to distribute heroin.
Mobley and Shipp were both convicted after a trial last fall. Today, Mobley was sentenced to 27 years of imprisonment. Shipp was previously sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment. After completing their terms of imprisonment, both Mobley and Shipp will be required to serve 5 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Iowa City Police Department, the University of Iowa Police Department, and the Johnson County Drug Taskforce.
Bettendorf Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Child Pornography and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Bettendorf man was sentenced today to 12 years in federal prison for Receiving/Distributing Child Pornography and being an Unlawful Drug User in Possession of a Firearm.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, the Scott County Sheriff’s Office received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that Jakob Paul Newberry, 29, had shared files containing child sexual abuse material from an iCloud account. Officers subsequently obtained another tip that Newberry had uploaded child sexual abuse material using a Kik account as well. During the investigation, officers found that Newberry had also utilized Instagram to obtain nude photographs of minor females and had attempted to extort the minors into sending other sexual images. As a part of the investigation, officers also found that Newberry was possessing firearms as an unlawful drug user.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Newberry will be required to serve 5 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Scott County Sheriff’s Office.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. / For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.
Department of Justice Commemorates 2024 National Crime Victims’ Rights WeekRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa join federal, state, and local communities nationwide in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and celebrating victims’ rights, protections, and services. This year’s observance takes place April 21-27, 2024, and features the theme, “How would you help? Options, services, and hope for crime survivors,” which is focused on creating safe environments for crime victims to share what happened to them and offer support, options for life-saving services, and most importantly, hope. The 2024 theme asks all of us—friends, family members, neighbors, colleagues, community leaders, victim service providers, criminal justice practitioners, and health professionals—how we can help crime victims.
As part of this observance, the Southern District of Iowa recognizes the courage and bravery of victims, and the outstanding work of law enforcement, victim advocates, and community service partners throughout Iowa. Ten individuals are recognized for outstanding service to victims:
Award for Excellence in Victim Services
- Shannon Knudsen, SANE, S.A.F.E. Center of Iowa
- Emily Milke, IL Sexual Assault Medical/Legal Advocate, Family Resources
- Lindsay Wilson, Victim Advocate, Family Crisis Centers
Law Enforcement Victim Service Award
- Josh Dagit, Special Agent, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation
- Kegan Jacobson, Detective, Burlington Police Department
- Kevin Kohler, Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Robert Larsen, Special Agent, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation
- Denise Rudolph, Special Investigator, Iowa Insurance Division
- Chris Scanlan, Special Investigator, Iowa Insurance Division
- Jeremy Tosh, Investigator, Ottumwa Police Department
“Every day law enforcement officers and victim service providers give priceless assistance and support to courageous crime survivors. With their unwavering support, these individuals provide hope, safe spaces and vital services to victims in our community and are a critical component of our criminal justice system. These awards proudly recognize the exceptional efforts of a number of these individuals who provided assistance to federal and state victims in the Southern District of Iowa,” said United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal for the Southern District of Iowa.
The 2024 Law Enforcement Victim Service Award recognizes the performance of Josh Dagit, Special Agent, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, and Jeremy Tosh, Investigator, Ottumwa Police Department. Special Agent Dagit and Investigator Tosh provided extraordinary assistance to hundreds of immigrant victims in the investigation and prosecution of a fraudulent tax scheme. Those immigrants were literally from all over the world—Burma, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mexico, and other places. Some were refugees. Nearly all had little education and were unable to speak or read English. Special Agent Dagit and Investigator Tosh showed time and time again that they were willing to do whatever it takes to ensure the victims’ participation and comfort, all in hopes of justice being served.
The 2024 Law Enforcement Victim Service Award recognizes the performance of Kegan Jacobson, Detective, Burlington Police Department. Detective Jacobson’s work in United States v. Miesha Stanley et al., exemplified his dedication to holding sex traffickers accountable for preying on society’s most vulnerable members. Detective Jacobson’s worked with victim service specialists to utilize trauma informed interview skills, responded to safety concerns, and built a strong and trusting rapport with victims. Detective Jacobson’s investigation of this matter both provided victims a secure environment and services, and also made the Burlington community safer.
The 2024 Award for Excellence in Victim Services is awarded to Shannon Knudsen, SANE Coordinator, S.A.F.E. Center of Iowa. S.A.F.E. Center of Iowa is a non-profit agency aimed at providing solutions to better serve victims of sexual assault across Iowa. Knudsen has professionally and personally proven to be dedicated to assisting both the criminal justice system and crime victim service programs. Knudsen works with Mid-Iowa Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) and Iowa State University/Story County SART as the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Coordinator, a state-wide technical assistance role for sexual assault examiner programs in the state of Iowa for the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Abuse. Shannon Knudsen assists with coordinating collaborative care at each of nine exam sites served by Mid-Iowa SART and two exam sites in Story County, as well as developing policies, and procedures and coordinating training to maintain the competency of Mid-Iowa SART and Story County SANEs.
The 2024 Law Enforcement Victim Service Award recognizes the performance of Kevin Kohler, Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Denise Rudolph and Chris Scanlan, Special Investigators, Iowa Insurance Division for their outstanding work in a complex fraud and money laundering investigation involving over thirty elderly victims and millions of dollars of fraud. Victims lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in life savings, proceeds from the sale of real estate, or other assets. Other victims reported being unable to afford travel, medical care, gifts for their family members, and other items they had planned to enjoy in their later years.
The 2024 Law Enforcement Victim Service Award recognizes the performance of Robert Larsen, Special Agent, Iowa Department of Public Safety-Division of Criminal Investigation. Special Agent Larsen has spent countless hours helping, supporting, and corroborating child victims accounts of abuse, reviewing cybertips, executing search warrants, interviewing suspects, meeting with victims and witnesses, developing strong cases for prosecution. He has spent many hours traveling the roads across Iowa, including Council Bluffs, Harlan, Clarinda, Shenandoah, Audubon, and other smaller counties in the Southern District of Iowa, setting up meetings with witnesses documenting the details of their abuse, explaining the court process, and preparing witnesses for plea hearings, trial, and sentencing.
The 2024 Award for Excellence in Victim Services is awarded to Emily Milke, IL Sexual Assault Medical/Legal Advocate, Family Resources. Milke has assisted with hands-on child pornography cases, death cases, sex trafficking cases, and a civil case involving a landlord that has victimized female tenants. She is a strong advocate and goes above and beyond to access the needs of the victims and to get them the services they need. Emily Milke is dependable, professional, compassionate, and easily establishes a trusting relationship with victims.
The 2024 Award for Excellence in Victim Services is awarded to Lindsay Wilson, Victim Advocate, Family Crisis Centers. Wilson will show up at moment’s notice if necessary. She is professional and approachable. She treats victims with respect, and they rely on her for assistance and support. Involved with victims of a large-scale overdose death investigation, many involving younger victims, Wilson provided compassionate and steadfast support to grieving parents and assisted them in navigating through the legal system. Lindsay Wilson is the ultimate team player.
President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first Victims’ Rights Week in 1981, putting crime victims' rights, needs, and concerns in a prominent spot on the American agenda. He also established the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime, which laid the groundwork for a national network of services and legal safeguards for crime victims.
For more information on how to create your own public campaigns to raise awareness about crime victims’ rights online and at events throughout the year, please visit: https://ovc.ojp.gov/ncvrw2024.
Muscatine Man Sentenced to 210 Months in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Muscatine man was sentenced for attempting to entice a minor.
According to public court documents, in December of 2022, Paul Kyle Quigley, 41, a registered sex offender engaged in a Facebook conversation with an undercover officer posing as a 15-year-old female. After told of the 15-year-old age of the putative victim, Quigley replied with requests for sex acts. After multiple days of continued conversations of a graphic sexual nature, Quigley formulated a plan to attempt to meet and flee the state with the 15-year-old female with the intent to engage in sexual activity. Working in conjunction with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), on February 22, 2023, Quigley was arrested in Burlington, just prior to arriving in his semi-truck at the established meeting place.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Quigley will be required to serve 15 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa and Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.
Iowa City Man Sentenced to 144 Months in Federal Prison for Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – An Iowa City man was sentenced April 17, 2024, to 144 months in federal prison for Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, on July 3, 2022, Chris Lee Gordon, 34, a two-time convicted felon, possessed a stolen and loaded pistol at an apartment in Iowa City, Iowa. While Gordon slept, a three-year-old child staying at the apartment, got out of bed, found Gordon’s pistol, and fatally shot himself. Gordon, heard the gun shot, got up and saw the injured child, picked up his pistol and ran out of the apartment. Several weeks later, the pistol used in this fatal shooting was found on a roof of a building, with the serial number scratched off.
On July 24, 2022, Gordon was arrested with another firearm, a loaded Polymer 80 nine-millimeter handgun with an extended magazine that was capable of holding up to 32 rounds of ammunition.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Gordon will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Coralville Police Department and the Division of Criminal Investigation.
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. On May 26, 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.
Two Council Bluffs Residents Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Council Bluffs man was sentenced on April 11, 2024, to 180 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to count one of a three-count indictment. His co-defendant was sentenced on December 11, 2023, to 120 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of a three-count indictment.
According to public court documents Diana Morales, 30, was a drug supplier to co-defendant Donavan Edward Belt, 25, who distributed methamphetamine in the Council Bluffs metropolitan area. In February 2023 law enforcement completed a controlled buy at the residence of Morales and Belt resulting in the seizure of 112.97 grams of actual methamphetamine. A subsequent search warrant resulted in the seizure of additional methamphetamine.
Belt must serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Morales must serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force and the Council Bluffs Police Department investigated the case.
Protecting Migratory Birds is a Priority in the Southern District of IowaRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – World Migratory Bird Day will be celebrated May 11, 2024, and again on October 12, 2024, aligning generally with migration patterns.
The state of Iowa is located within the Mississippi Flyway, the longest overland flyway in North America. The Mississippi Flyway is a critically important route for migratory birds as they migrate north in spring and south in the fall, with the wetlands and forests along the Mississippi River being important for many species of migratory songbirds in particular. Waterfowl and other wetland birds also heavily use the wetlands in the central and northern Prairie Pothole Region of Iowa, which are essential for both migratory stopover habitat as well as breeding habitat for hundreds of species of birds.
As Peter Rea, supervisory park ranger with DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge explains, “Refuges and wildlife areas throughout Iowa, such as DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, provide critical habitat for migratory birds to rest, feed and recuperate on their long migration journeys. For many, these places act more like a rest stop as they continue their migration northward, while for some it's their ultimate destination for the spring and summer nesting season.” “During this time of year, it's important to minimize disturbance so other visitors can appreciate the tremendous diversity of birds that we can see throughout the state,” continued Rea.
Federal law protects migratory birds. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) prohibits the taking (including killing, wounding, capturing, selling, trading, transporting, importing, and exporting) of protected migratory bird species without prior authorization of the Department of Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 16 U.S.C. §§ 703, 707(a). The list of federally protected migratory birds is comprehensive and includes many of the birds residing in or migrating through Iowa, including Canada geese. Refer to the Federal Code of Regulations for more information. The penalties for violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act are a term of imprisonment of up to 6 months, a fine of up to $15,000, or both.
Additional federal statutes that protect migratory birds include:
- The Lacey Act prohibits the importation, exportation, transportation, sale, receipt, acquisition, purchase, or inhumane transport of certain wildlife including birds. 16 U.S.C. § 42;
- The Endangered Species Act prohibits the taking, killing, wounding, importing, exporting, shipping, or sale of endangered species. 16 U.S.C. §§ 1538, 1540. Iowa’s birds on the endangered species list include the following: piping plover, rufa red knot, whooping crane, Indiana bat, and Northern long-eared bat. Learn more about protected species.
- The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act prohibits the taking, killing, wounding, bald or golden eagles, their feathers, nests, and eggs. 16 U.S.C. § 668.
“Birders and other wildlife enthusiasts can be helpful advocates in reducing wildlife crime. Knowing the laws that protect birds and other wildlife, and speaking up can make a big difference,” said Christopher Aldrich, Special Agent in Charge, Midwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“Preservation and protection of wildlife and endangered species go hand in hand with the high quality of life here in the State of Iowa. Knowing these laws and reducing wildlife crime helps everyone continue to enjoy what makes Iowa a great place to live,” said Richard Westphal, United States Attorney.
If you believe you have information related to a wildlife crime that violates federal law, please reach out to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. You can also contact the United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Iowa by telephone at 515-473-9300 or email at [email protected].
If you spot an injured bird, state licensed wildlife rehabilitators can aid the bird. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources maintains a list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators at the following links:
- Iowa DNR licensed wildlife rehabilitators
- County-specific wildlife rehabilitation look-up for Iowa
Thank you for caring about the wildlife in your community. Remember to observe wildlife from a safe distance. If a young animal isn’t visibly injured, its parents are likely nearby and still caring for it. Be sure to give young animals plenty of space to avoid spooking the parents.
Learn more about what to do if you find a baby bird, injured or orphaned wildlife.
Kansas City, Kansas Men Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Kansas City man was sentenced on April 11, 2024, to 260 months in federal prison after being found guilty by jury trial on Counts One and Two of the Indictment. His co-defendant was sentenced on December 12, 2023, to 120 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Counts One and Two of the Indictment.
According to public court documents, George Madison Kitchen, IV, 46, and Cardel Jordan Harris, 26, were transporting methamphetamine from Kansas City, Missouri with a destination of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In July 2022 law enforcement stopped Kitchen for a traffic violation with Harris as a passenger. Kitchen and Harris were asked to step out of the vehicle due to the odor of marijuana, instead of stepping out, they fled the scene. Kitchen led officers, from different agencies, on a high-speed pursuit northbound on Interstate 29. The vehicle was stopped north of Council Bluffs. Kitchen and Harris threw bags out the passenger side window while speeding along the interstate. Officers found the bags along the interstate which resulted in the discovery of distribution quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine.
Kitchen must serve a ten-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Harris must serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, and the Missouri Valley Police Department were involved in the apprehension and the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department, and the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force were involved in the apprehension and investigation of the case.
Council Bluffs Man Sentenced to 27 Months in Federal Prison for Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Council Bluffs man was sentenced April 11, 2024, to 27 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon, following a guilty plea.
According to public court documents, Keshawn C. Houtz-Mayfield, 21, was found to be in possession of a firearm during the execution of a search warrant at his residence. Houtz-Mayfield was a convicted felon at the time of the search warrant and knew he could not possess firearms.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Houtz-Mayfield will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
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. On May 26, 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Colorado Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Possession with the Intent to Deliver MarijuanaRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Commerce City, Colorado man was sentenced on April 11, 2024, to 18 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Hong Dinh Nguyen, 42, was arrested in in Council Bluffs on April 22, 2023, following a traffic stop on Interstate 80. Nguyen’s vehicle had a strong odor of marijuana coming from the inside. Located in the trunk of his vehicle, in heat sealed bags, were 34,424 grams of marijuana. Nguyen stated that he agreed to transport and deliver the marijuana to another person in Minnesota and in return would be paid $6,300.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Nguyen will be required to serve 3 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Division of Narcotics Enforcement of the Iowa Department of Public Safety and the Iowa State Patrol.
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. On May 26, 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Des Moines Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting 12-year-old Minnesota ChildRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for enticing a minor to engage criminal sexual activity.
According to public court documents and information presented at sentencing, Prya Reh, 24, met a 12-year-old Minnesota child online in the fall of 2022. Reh knew the child was 12. In November 2022, Reh drove from Des Moines to Minnesota where he picked the child up from middle school, drove to a local motel, and sexually abused the child. About a week later, Reh drove back to Minnesota, brought the child to Des Moines, where he secreted and sexually assaulted the child in a basement bedroom. In addition to the in-person sexual abuse of the child, Reh also created an image of child sexual abuse material depicting the child and repeatedly asked the child to text him sexually explicit pictures. Reh also possessed a firearm as a felon. When police searched Reh’s residence, police located a loaded pistol in Reh’s bedroom.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Reh will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Reh was also ordered to pay a special assessment of $5,000.
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, Austin (Minnesota) Police Department, FBI Child Exploitation Task Force, and Iowa DCI’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.
OMB Gang Member Sentenced on Firearms Trafficking and Fentanyl Distribution Charges to 276 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was sentenced today to 276 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges related to firearms straw purchasing and trafficking, illegally possessing firearms, and the distribution of fentanyl.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Armani Eugene Gates, 20, an OMB gang member, organized for the illegal acquisition of firearms via multiple straw purchasers. Gates then trafficked the guns to other OMB members and associates, in whose possession they were recovered by law enforcement. One of the guns recovered had been converted to a machinegun, and two of the guns had high-capacity magazines. Two of these firearms were determined to have been used in gang-related shootings.
Additionally, Gates led efforts to acquire and distribute over 3.5 kilograms of fentanyl. Gates employed others to assist him in his drug operation, including at least one minor. He also possessed a firearm in connection with his drug trafficking, as well as utilized residences to store his fentanyl.
In July 2023, federal search warrants were executed related to this investigation, during which approximately 13,000 fentanyl pills, seven firearms, one machinegun conversion device, and $23,000 in cash were seized. Gates was arrested at that time on the federal charges. The press release regarding those warrants is available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdia/pr/defendants-charged-joint-federal-state-and-local-investigation-firearms-trafficking.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Gates will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Since the inception of ‘Project Safe Neighborhoods’, there have been numerous investigations and prosecutions that have had a significant impact on violent crime in Central Iowa,” stated Des Moines Police Chief Dana D. Wingert. “This is simply another example of what success looks like, which should send a clear message to those in our communities who are involved in violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office and law enforcement agencies at all levels are committed to identifying, investigating and prosecuting violent criminals and removing them from our communities. This collective mindset is what underpins our success, yet we will remain diligent in our efforts to keep our citizens safe through the continued work of “Project Safe Neighborhoods.’ ”
“The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act has given ATF additional tools needed to go after straw purchasers and firearms traffickers who flood our streets with weapons that pose a threat to every single person in Des Moines,” said ATF Kansas City Field Division Special Agent in Charge Bernard Hansen. “This sentence sends a clear message to those who think they can illegally traffic guns into our communities or straw purchase firearms. ATF’s NIBIN technology has proven to be an invaluable resource for law enforcement in our continued pursuit to reduce violent crime and we will never waiver on our commitment to protect the public and to aggressively target firearms traffickers. This is a huge win for public safety that will reduce the proliferation of illegal guns that represent a grave danger to the public, but law enforcement is united and strong. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and all our law enforcement partners for their diligent work and tireless dedication to our shared public safety mission.”
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin M. Herrera and Mallory E. Weiser prosecuted the case. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); the Des Moines Police Department – Intelligence Division; and the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol, and the Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center.
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. On May 26, 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.
This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.
This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
Crip Gang Member Sentenced on Firearms Charge to 180 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was sentenced on April 3, 2024 to 180 months in federal prison, the maximum sentence allowed by law, after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Dominic Gregory Lacava, 27, a convicted felon and Crip gang member, possessed at least four firearms over a six-month time period. Lacava possessed the firearms in connection with other felonies, including the physical abuse of three minor children, the physical abuse of his significant other, the sexual abuse of a child, and drug-related felonies. At the time of this federal offense, Lacava was on state of Iowa supervision for multiple crimes, including drug felonies and assault.
Lacava’s conduct was discovered during a larger federal investigation into firearms straw purchasing and trafficking, as well as gang activity. Two federal search warrants were executed at Lacava’s Des Moines, Iowa, residence, leading to the recovery of three firearms. Two of those firearms were acquired through Lacava’s use of a straw purchaser.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Lacava will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“This sentencing today reflects ATF’s ongoing commitment to vigorously combat individuals that commit violent, gun-related crimes in our communities,” said ATF Kansas City Field Division Special Agent in Charge Bernard Hansen. “Today’s maximum sentence is justly served to a convicted felon in possession of a firearm who used them to commit acts of violence against women and children. ATF will work swiftly to remove dangerous individuals off our streets and with every arrest, and every successful prosecution, like this case, means that risks to public safety are being removed from our communities.”
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorney Kristin M. Herrera prosecuted the case. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and the Des Moines 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. On May 26, 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.
Oxford Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – An Oxford man was sentenced on March 27, 2024, to 17 years in federal prison for receiving child pornography.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Corey Lester Schlemme, 48, set up multiple Facebook accounts under various names to send and receive child pornography. After receiving a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children a subsequent search of Schlemme’s Oxford residence confirmed that he was sending and receiving child pornography. Review of seized evidence also determined that Schlemme represented himself as a minor female in fraudulent Facebook accounts to persuade a minor victim to produce and send him child pornography. Over the course of nine months, Schlemme exchanged thousands of messages with the minor and solicited numerous videos and images of the minor engaged in sexually explicit acts. At the time of this investigation, Schlemme was a coach for the Clear Creek Amana School District.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Schlemme will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Schlemme was also ordered to pay a special assessment of $5,000.00.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Johnson County Joint Forensic Analysis Cyber Team, with assistance from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.
Nebraska Man Sentenced to 63 Months in Federal Prison for Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Pilger, Nebraska man was sentenced March 19, 2024, to 63 months in prison for Prohibited Person in Possession of Ammunition.
According to public court documents, Nathaniel Lewis Kreikemeier, 32, was charged in a two-count Indictment, and on November 2, 2023, he pled guilty to Count Two, Prohibited Person in Possession of Ammunition.
Kreikemeier fled from an Iowa State Patrol traffic stop. After a chase that included Kreikemeier ramming through a fence gate and driving into oncoming interstate traffic, law enforcement officers were able to complete the stop. Kreikemeier attempted to flee on foot and was caught and placed in custody. A subsequent search of the vehicle located a double-barreled sawed-off shotgun, ammunition, and illegal drugs. Kreikemeier had been previously convicted of a felony and knew he was prohibited from possession of firearms and ammunition.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Kreikemeier will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol and Council Bluffs 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. On May 26, 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Iowa City Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison related to Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – An Iowa City man was sentenced yesterday to 25 years in federal prison for Conspiracy to Distribute a Mixture and Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Heroin Resulting in Death and Distribution of a Mixture and Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Heroin Resulting in Death.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at trial, on January 23, 2021, Iowa City Police Officers were dispatched to a residence related to a suspected overdose. After investigation, Lugene Shipp, 43, and Dione Dante Mobley, 43, were arrested related to the conspiracy to distribute and distribution of heroin.
Shipp and Mobley were both convicted after a trial last fall. This week, Shipp was sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment. After completing his term of imprisonment, Shipp will be required to serve 5 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Mobley is scheduled to be sentenced on April 23, 2024.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Iowa City Police Department, the University of Iowa Police Department, and the Johnson County Drug Taskforce.
Bellevue, Nebraska Man Sentenced to 24 Months in Federal Prison for Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Bellevue, Nebraska man was sentenced March 19, 2024, to 24 months in prison for Possession of Child Pornography.
According to public court documents, Ernest Ray Roberts Jr., 53, pled guilty to a one-count Indictment charging him with Possession of Child Pornography. In August 2021, an employee with Prairie Flower Casino discovered a Samsung cellular phone on the floor of the casino. While attempting to identify the owner of the cellular phone, child sexual abuse material was discovered to have been saved from the internet to the cellular telephone. The owner of the cellular phone was determined to be Roberts.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Roberts is required to serve seven years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by Carter Lake Police Department and Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.
Keokuk Man Sentenced to 720 Months for Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Keokuk man was sentenced on February 27, 2024 to 720 months in federal prison for Producing, Receiving, and Possessing Child Pornography.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, on or about December 21, 2021, a minor was reported missing from the Keokuk area. Law enforcement identified Christopher Douglas Black, 45, as an individual with knowledge relating to the missing minor. The missing minor was found with Black in Minnesota. Following Black’s arrest, a forensic review of Black’s cell phone was conducted and revealed child sexual assault materials.
Following his term of imprisonment, Black will be required to serve ten years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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.
Davenport Man Sentenced to 84 Months in Federal Prison for Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced on February 28, 2024, to 84 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Deandre Miller, 36, was found in possession of a loaded firearm. Law enforcement received a report of a stolen vehicle out of the Atlanta, Georgia area. The stolen vehicle was located at a gas station in Davenport. Law enforcement determined Miller was the passenger of the stolen vehicle and had entered the gas station. As officers investigated, Miller attempted to flee out of the store and was taken into custody. Officers determined that prior to fleeing, Miller had been in a walk-in cooler. Inside this walk-in cooler, officers found a loaded firearm. Miller had been previously convicted of a felony offense and was prohibited from possessing any firearms.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Miller will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States 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. On May 26, 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Burlington Man Sentenced to 200 Months for Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa –A Burlington man was sentenced on February 28, 2024 to 200 months in federal prison for Conspiracy to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, between January and October 2022, Hardy Pegues III, 62, conspired with others to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine in the Burlington, Iowa area. One of the other subjects was Larry Keith Knotts III.
Larry Keith Knotts III, 36, was sentenced on January 23, 2024, to 25 years in federal prison for Conspiracy to Distribute 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine. The press release for Knotts’ sentencing can be found at Knotts Press Release.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Pegues will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force.
Davenport Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Federal Prison for Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Tyrae Ronzell McDonald, 43, was in possession of a loaded firearm with an obliterated serial number. McDonald used the loaded firearm to threaten an adult female in the presence of two minor children. McDonald had been previously convicted of felony offenses, including two murder convictions, and was prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition.
After completing his term of imprisonment, McDonald will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Two Gang Members Added to Federal Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A federal grand jury in Davenport, Iowa, returned a second superseding indictment on February 6, 2024, adding two Rock Island gang members to a racketeering conspiracy, which engaged in a years-long pattern of violence including acts of murder, shootings, robbery, and drug trafficking. As stated in a May 2023 press release, the original indictment charged twelve Quad City gang members.
The following defendants were added to the second superseding indictment:
- Kylea Dapri Cartwright, Jr., 27, of Rock Island, Illinois, is charged with racketeering conspiracy and felon in possession of ammunition. Cartwright is facing a maximum sentence of 30 years of imprisonment.
- Cortez Deangelo Cooper, Jr., a/k/a “Tez”, 30, of Rock Island, Illinois, is charged with racketeering conspiracy and felon in possession of ammunition. Cooper is facing a maximum sentence of 30 years of imprisonment.
As alleged in this second superseding indictment, those charged were members and associates of a criminal organization or enterprise known under multiple titles, including the Arsenal Courts Posse, Zone Fifth, Fifth Street Mafia, Rock Town Money Getters (RTMG), and Money Team, whose members and associates engaged in acts of violence between April 2006 to the present. Further, the second superseding indictment alleges that:
- On September 5, 2012, Cartwright Jr. and another co-defendant shot a firearm at a rival gang member;
- On June 1, 2020, while the City of Davenport was experiencing civil unrest, Cooper Jr., shot several rounds at a person who they believed to be a rival gang member; and
- On July 5, 2020, Cartwright Jr. shot at a rival gang member. The rival gang member died as a result of being shot.
The second superseding indictment may be viewed at the link below.
On February 20, 2024, Cartwright Jr. was arrested after a federal search warrant was executed in the 1300 block of 44th Street in Rock Island, Illinois. During the search, officers seized over 30 pounds of marijuana and gang paraphernalia. Cartwright, Jr., made his initial appearance in federal court on February23, 2024, before United States Magistrate Judge Stephen B. Jackson, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.
Cooper Jr. is already incarcerated with the Bureau of Prisons on a federal drug trafficking sentence and will make his initial court appearance on a later date.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Davenport Police Department and the Rock Island Police Department are investigating the case, with assistance from the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Rock Island Gang Members Indictment
Des Moines Man—Owner of Wicked Imagery—Arrested on Federal Complaint for Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Possession of Child Pornography; Investigators Request Public’s AssistanceRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was arrested on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, and made his initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. Jeffrey Walter Gray, 61, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of Iowa with Sexual Exploitation of a Child (and Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Child) and Possession of Child Pornography.
According to the allegations in the unsealed complaint, Gray, from as early as approximately 2005 to at least approximately 2016, used minors to produce child sexual abuse material. Some of this material was allegedly created at the photography business Gray owned and operated in the Des Moines area—Wicked Imagery. The material included images from hidden cameras placed in the changing rooms at Wicked Imagery to capture videos and/or images of minor children undressing. In November 2023, investigators recovered from Gray’s residence a hard drive which was later determined to contain child sexual abuse material.
To date, investigators have identified approximately fifteen minor victims depicted in child sexual abuse material seized from Gray’s residence. Investigators request the public’s assistance in identifying other minors. If you believe that you or your minor children may have been victimized by Gray, or if you have information relevant to this investigation, please visit www.fbi.gov/JeffreyGray.WickedImagery or email [email protected].
This case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case with the assistance of the Des Moines Police Department.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Adair Police Chief Convicted for Fraud, False Statements, and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – On February 14, 2024, a federal jury in Des Moines convicted Bradley Eugene Wendt, 47, of conspiring to make false statements to the ATF, making false statements to the ATF, and illegal possession of a machine gun.
Since July 2018, Wendt has been the Chief of Police for Adair, Iowa. He is also the owner of BW Outfitters, a federal firearms licensee in Denison, Iowa. Evidence at trial showed that, between July 2018 and August 2022, Wendt used his position as Chief of Police to obtain machine guns for his own personal use and profit, including to buy machine guns for his own store.
Generally, machine guns made after May 1986 are illegal to transfer and possess. But, law enforcement agencies can buy machine guns for their official use and authorized dealer can get machine guns to demonstrate to a police department for the department’s future possible purchase. If a police department wants to purchase or receive a demonstration of a machine gun, it can submit a letter to ATF, referred to as a “law letter,” expressing its need for and interest in the machine gun.
Between July 2018 and August 2022, Wendt wrote nearly 40 law letters, requesting the purchase or demonstration of 90 machine guns for the Adair Police Department. In the law letters to purchase machine guns for his two-man department, Wendt said he was buying the machine guns for the official use of his department and was not getting the machine guns for resale. In the law letters requesting demonstrations of machine guns, Wendt said the Adair Police Department wanted a demonstration for the department’s future possible purchase of the requested machine guns.
A jury found that Wendt made false statements in several of these letters, convicting him of conspiracy to make false statements to the ATF and eight counts of making a false statement to the ATF. Evidence at trial showed that Wendt purchased machine guns for the Adair Police Department, but later resold those machine guns at a personal profit of nearly $80,000. The evidence also showed Wendt used demonstration law letters to purchase machine guns for his own gun store, BW Outfitters, including a .50 caliber machine gun called a “Ma Deuce,” which he immediately mounted to his personally owned armored Humvee.
Wendt was also convicted of illegal possession of a machine gun, based on his personal possession of a belt-fed, M60 machine gun registered to the Adair Police Department. Wendt, along with his gun store BW Outfitters, hosted a machine gun shoot in April 2022, where he charged the public to shoot machine guns, including several registered to the Adair Police Department. The jury found Wendt was not acting within the scope of his official duties when he possessed the M60 machine gun.
Wendt faces up to five years’ prison on the conspiracy count, five years’ prison for each false statement charge, and up to ten years’ prison for illegal possession of a machine gun. Sentencing is scheduled for June 14, 2024, at the United States Courthouse in Des Moines. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the United States sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said “In a stark abuse of the position of trust he held, Brad Wendt exploited his position as chief of police to unlawfully obtain and sell guns for his own personal profit. When so many law enforcement officers in our country are working to protect our communities and uphold the law, Brad Wendt did exactly the opposite. The FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate and hold accountable those who violate their oath of office to enrich themselves.”
Kansas City Field Division Special Agent in Charge Bernard Hansen stated “Mr. Wendt was in a position of trust and his egregious behavior betrayed his community he was entrusted to protect. Wendt was sworn to uphold the law, but instead he abused his authority as the Chief of Police for his own personal benefit.”
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made the announcement. “No one relishes seeking criminal prosecution of a law enforcement officer,” stated U.S. Attorney Richard Westphal, “however, with the oath of public service, comes the accountability of putting the public trust at the forefront of this duty. An oath that most officers zealously pursue every day with honor. If an individual law enforcement officer is the exception to this rule, then we should not shirk from holding them accountable. Our thanks to the dedicated work of the investigative ATF and FBI agents, and our hard working trial team.” This case was investigated by ATF and FBI, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mikaela Shotwell, Ryan Leemkuil, and Shai Gonzales.
Iowa City Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Federal Prison for Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – An Iowa City man was sentenced on Thursday, February 1, 2024, to 180 months in federal prison for Receipt or Distribution of Child Pornography.
According to public court documents presented at the time of the plea hearing, Michael Joseph Schmidt, 27, was identified by the Johnson County, Iowa Sheriff’s Office Joint Forensic Analysis Cyber Team (JFACT) for uploading child sexual abuse material to Kik. In April 2022, agents executed a search warrant on Schmidt’s residence. Multiple electronic devices were located at Schmidt’s residence that contained numerous images of child sexual abuse material.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Schmidt is required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Schmidt was also ordered to pay $6,000 in restitution.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by JFACT.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. / For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.
C-Block Member Sentenced to 384 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was sentenced today to 384 months in federal prison after a jury convicted him of charges related to firearms straw purchasing and illegally possessing firearms and a machinegun.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at trial and sentencing, believing that a group of people contained a rival gang member, Dontavius Rashawn Sharkey, age 27 and a member of the C-Block gang, open-fired with two firearms into a crowd of people attending a baby shower at a Des Moines apartment complex. Three teens were struck by Sharkey’s bullets, causing serious injuries to each. All three survived. As noted in the government’s sentencing memorandum, “[h]is motive, that a rival gang member happened to be in that crowd, was unconscionable.”
Following the shooting, Sharkey, a convicted felon, recruited an individual to illegally purchase him multiple firearms from various gun stores in the Des Moines area. One of those firearms was recovered by law enforcement on November 2, 2022, during a search warrant at Sharkey’s Des Moines residence. During that search warrant, Sharkey ran from police with this loaded firearm, which he had converted to a machinegun with an auto-switch. Sharkey was captured by an ATF K-9.
Twenty-four months of his sentence resulted from the revocation of his federal supervised release. Sharkey was serving a term of federal supervised release at the time he committed these crimes. He had been released from federal prison on February 17, 2022, after serving a 60-month sentence for felon in possession of a firearm.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Sharkey will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The Des Moines Police have enjoyed a long-standing working relationship with the ATF, FBI and the United States Attorney’s Office,” stated Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert. “This partnership continues to pay dividends in our community, whereas violent criminals are held accountable for their actions. The collective efforts in this particular case are certainly impressive, and we vow to continue pooling our resources in a relentless pursuit of those individuals who compromise the safety our of citizens through gun violence.”
“The ATF has no greater mission than keeping firearms out of the hands of violent criminals. This case not only demonstrates the lengths to which criminals will go to acquire firearms, but more importantly, ATF’s expertise and commitment to investigating such violations of federal law,” said Bernard Hansen, Special Agent in Charge, Kansas City Field Division, ATF. “With our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office, we will continue to work tirelessly to bring those who disregard the safety of our communities to justice.”
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin M. Herrera and Adam J. Kerndt prosecuted the case This case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department – Intelligence Division; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Des Moines Police Detective/ATF Task Force Officer Brian Minnehan was the lead agent in the investigation.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Des Moines Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Federal Prison for Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison for felon in possession of a firearm.
According to public court documents, Walter John Dawson Jr., 26, was identified in early 2023 during a Des Moines Police Department investigation of a two-week shooting spree that involved six separate drive-by shootings in the Des Moines area. Dawson repeatedly fired into occupied residences at multiple locations. In March 2023, Dawson was located asleep in a stolen vehicle by law enforcement and subsequently found to be in possession of a loaded firearm with an extended and loaded magazine. Dawson had previously been convicted in state court of a felony charge, which bars him from possessing a firearm.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Dawson will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Des Moines 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Davenport Man Sentenced to 210 Months in Federal Prison for Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced today, Thursday, February 1, 2024, to 210 months in federal prison for distribution and receipt of child pornography.
According to public court documents at the time of his plea, Benji Clark Engesser, Jr., 23, was identified by law enforcement when a parent reported that they found their minor child exchanging sexual pictures with an adult. The phone number associated with the adult was traced to Engesser. During the execution of a search warrant of Engesser, Engesser’s phone was seized. Law enforcement forensically evaluated Engesser’s phone and uncovered images and videos of child sexual abuse material, that had both been received and distributed from Engesser’s phone.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Engesser will be required to serve ten years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Davenport Police Department.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. / For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.
Burlington Man Sentenced to 96 Months in Federal Prison for Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Burlington man was sentenced on January 24, 2024, to 96 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Brandon Allen Haynes, 32, was arrested for possessing a loaded pistol and loaded magazines as a felon, after a standoff with law enforcement, in Des Moines County, on December 15, 2022. Haynes had previously been convicted in state court of two felony charges, which bars him from possessing a firearm.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Haynes will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, the Burlington Police Department, and the West Burlington 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Davenport Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Federal Prison for Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, to 33 months in federal prison for felon in possession of a firearm.
According to public court documents, Gabriel Anjel Trujillo, 20, was identified by law enforcement in January 2023 during routine surveillance. Trujillo is a known and admitted member of the Lowrider street gang. A traffic stop and vehicle block were conducted on the vehicle in which Trujillo was a passenger. Trujillo fled on foot from law enforcement and a handgun was later found in the vehicle where Trujillo was sitting. At the time of his arrest, Trujillo was on state supervision for assault while displaying a dangerous weapon.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Trujillo will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Past prosecution of other Lowrider members can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdia/pr/fifteen-defendants-charged-37-count-racketeering-indictment-against-lowrider-criminal
United States 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Iowa City Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Federal Prison for Prohibited Possession of Ammunition ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – An Iowa City man was sentenced on January 22, 2024 to 180 months in federal prison for being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition. On June 28, 2023, Antonio Mashawn Airhart, 33, was found guilty following a three-day jury trial.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at trial, on July 2, 2022, Airhart was involved in a dispute that culminated in an exchange of gunfire with another subject. During this exchange, Airhart fired at least thirteen shots, and injured the victim. Airhart had been previously convicted of felony offenses and was prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Airhart will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Iowa City 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Des Moines Man Arrested on Federal Complaint in Possession of 30,000 Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was arrested on Sunday, January 21, 2024, and made his initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa on Wednesday, January 24, 2024.
Sharmarke Omar Mohamed, 35, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of Iowa with one felony drug offense: possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
According to the allegations in the unsealed complaint, as part of a Des Moines Police Department investigation, Mohamed was located traveling toward Des Moines from Arizona when the Iowa State Patrol conducted a traffic stop of his vehicle in Decatur County, Iowa. Pursuant to a federal search warrant for Mohamed’s vehicle, approximately 30,000 counterfeit pills suspected of containing fentanyl, weighing approximately 3,182 grams, were located in the luggage area of the vehicle.
This case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Des Moines Police Department is investigating the case, with the assistance of the Iowa Department of Public Safety, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Iowa State Patrol, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Ankeny Police Department, and the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Burlington Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Burlington man was sentenced on January 23, 2024, to 60 months in federal prison for possessing child pornography.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Donald Dale Ping, 53, was found to be in possession of child sexual assault material. Law enforcement received a cybertip that Ping had uploaded child sexual assault material to a social media platform. Due to the cybertip, a search warrant was executed on Ping’s social media account and cellular phone. The search warrant uncovered child sexual assault material including images of prepubescent children.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Ping will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the McHenry, Illinois Police Department.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.
Chicago Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Distribution ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Chicago, Illinois, man was sentenced on Monday, January 22, 2024, to 120 months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine.
According to public court documents at the time of his plea hearing, Joshua Adam Townsen, 42, admitted to the October 2022 distribution of a bag that contained approximately 220 grams of methamphetamine to Gilbert Ellis. On October 10, 2023, Gilbert Ellis was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment on conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, distribution of heroin near a school, distribution of heroin, and distribution of methamphetamine. Additional information on this drug conspiracy can be found in a previously published press release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdia/pr/eight-burlington-individuals-charged-federal-criminal-complaint-drug-charges
After completing his term of imprisonment, Townsen will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Taskforce, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Burlington Police Department, the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, the West Burlington Police Department, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Lee County Task Force, Muscatine Task Force, Quad City Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Johnson County Drug Task Force, Ottumwa Drug Task Force, and the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team in Illinois.
Burlington Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Burlington man was sentenced on January 23, 2024, to 25 years in federal prison for Conspiracy to Distribute 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Larry Keith Knotts, III, 36, conspired to distribute over 65 kilograms of Methamphetamine. As a part of the conspiracy, Knotts possessed a dangerous weapon and attempted to influence a witness.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Knotts will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Taskforce, Burlington Police Department, Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, West Burlington Police Department, Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Moline Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Moline man was sentenced January 18, 2024, to 25 years in federal prison for Producing, Possessing, and being in Receipt of Child Pornography.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Jason Richard Heider, 48, was responsible for producing and receiving child sexual abuse material. Heider pleaded guilty in July of 2022.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Davenport Police Department.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.
Rock Island, Illinois Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Ammunition ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Rock Island man was sentenced on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, to 67 months in federal prison for felon in possession of ammunition.
According to public court documents at the time of his plea hearing, George Harper, Jr., 34, was involved in a shooting incident located at the Kwik Star on 1650 West Kimberly Road in Davenport, Iowa. During the shooting, Harper fired multiple rounds from a firearm possessed unlawfully. Prior to his possession of the ammunition, Harper had been convicted of felon in possession of a firearm in Scott County, Iowa.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Harper, Jr. is required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Nigerian Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Wire Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Nigerian national, and Dallas, Texas resident, was sentenced on Thursday, January 18, 2024, to 87 months in federal prison for wire fraud charges.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at the sentencing hearing, Emmanuel Azubuike Ogbeide, 28, was a member of a fraudulent business email compromise (BEC) scheme with his father, Kingsley Ogbeide, and his girlfriend, Vemuna Katjaimo, in the Southern District of Iowa. BEC scams are initiated by tricking employees of legitimate businesses to change their bank information via email. Large sums of money are subsequently wired to illegitimate bank accounts controlled by fraudsters.
Ogbeide knowingly falsified bank accounts with co-defendants, Kingsley Ogbeide and Vemuna Katjaimo, and directly defrauded various businesses in the Southern District of Iowa and elsewhere. Following the fraudulent money wires from the businesses, Ogbeide actively participated in moving large sums of money between fraudulent accounts to avoid detection.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Ogbeide will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Ogbeide, joint and severable with the other co-defendants, was also ordered to pay $1,587,127.87 in restitution to the business victims.
Co-defendants, Kingsley Ogbeide and Vemuna Katjaimo, were sentenced on September 20, 2023, to 121 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release and time served, respectively. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdia/pr/ugandan-man-sentenced-121-months-federal-prison-money-laundering-charge.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Iowa City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of Ammunition ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – An Iowa City man was sentenced on Thursday, January 18, 2024, to 120 months in federal prison for Felon in Possession of Ammunition.
According to public court documents and sworn testimony during sentencing, Sanchez Lavelle Watson, 43, was identified by law enforcement after officers were dispatched to an apartment complex in Iowa City in reference to a man waving a gun and threatening others. Officers located a vehicle that was known to have left the scene and initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. Watson was identified as the driver prior to Watson fleeing from police in the vehicle. The vehicle eventually stopped, and Watson proceeded to flee on foot. Nearby the stopped vehicle, officers located a fanny pack containing a handgun with an extended magazine and marijuana. The fanny pack was known to be associated with Watson. As a convicted felon, Watson is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Watson will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Iowa City 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.