Southern District of Iowa
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Savage Life Gang Members Sentenced to Federal Prison on Racketeering ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – Two Davenport men were sentenced on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, in relation to a racketeering prosecution. Najawaun Marcus Quinn, 26, was sentenced to 408 months in federal prison for assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, use and carry a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Dimetri Alexander Smith, 30, was sentenced to 400 months in federal prison for two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and two counts of use and carry a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. In February 2023, both were found guilty of the charges following a 7-day jury trial.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at trial, in 2016 and 2017, as members of Savage Life Boys (SLB), a Davenport-based street gang, Quinn and Smith were involved in multiple shootings.
In October 2016, Quinn and other SLB members encountered a man with whom he had been feuding sitting in a parked car at his residence on North Division Street in Davenport. They parked a short distance away and Quinn approached the man on foot. Quinn then fired numerous rounds at the man while he sat in his car. The man sustained a gunshot wound.
In January 2017, Smith, and co-defendants Austin Ruiz and Olajuwan Culbreath were at the NorthPark Mall when they saw a rival gang member. Smith, Ruiz, and Culbreath went to their car, where they had firearms. Culbreath drove to the mall entrance where they expected the rival gang member to exit. When they saw the rival gang member, Smith and Ruiz chased him through the mall parking lot, shooting at him.
In February 2017, Quinn, Smith, and co-defendants Culbreath, and Darion Gardner, and other SLB members started an altercation at a concert at the Hotel Davenport due to perceived disrespect for their gang. During the altercation, Gardner shot and killed one male and injured another.
In April 2017, Smith and Ruiz were at Centennial Park in Davenport when they saw a male who recently robbed another SLB member’s dice game. Ruiz, armed with a firearm, got out of their vehicle to confront the male. The men struggled over the firearm, which discharged, striking the male in the foot. Smith then joined the altercation, choking the male to unconsciousness to assist them in their flight.
Quinn and Smith committed these acts with the intent to maintain or increase position in the gang.
Following their prison terms, both Quinn and Smith must each serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
In April 2023, Ruiz was sentenced to 202 months in prison and Culbreath was sentenced to 152 months in prison. In December 2022, Gardner was sentenced to 450 months in prison.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal stated “We will continue to pursue and aggressively prosecute those individuals and groups of individuals that choose to commit violent crimes. This investigation, trial and hard work of our partners at the Davenport Police Department exemplifies our joint commitment to using every tool available to combat gun violence and protect the communities we serve.”
“We are proud of the hard work and dedication of our investigators and continued partnership with federal prosecutors to bring violent offenders to justice. Partnerships such as these are vital to keeping our community safe,” said Davenport Police Chief Jeffery E. Bladel.
The Davenport Police Department led this investigation, with assistance from the Peoria, Illinois Police Department.
Davenport Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced yesterday to 30 years in federal prison for production and possession of child pornography.
According to public court documents, and evidence presented at sentencing, William Richard Trudell, 43, was identified by law enforcement as a person of interest after a cybertip was received by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The cybertip from the MeWe social media platform reported that images of child pornography had been uploaded. Law enforcement traced the email that was used to upload the images back to Trudell. During a search of Trudell’s electronic devices, officers located hundreds of images of child pornography. The investigation also revealed that Trudell had been sexually abusing a minor child over a three-year period and produced child pornography images and videos of the abuse.
After completing his prison term, Trudell will be required to serve eight years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Trudell was also ordered to pay restitution.
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 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.
Elvaston, Illinois Man Sentenced to 300 Months in Prison Related to Conspiracy to Distribute MethRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – An Elvaston, Illinois man was sentenced yesterday 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, Randy Glenn Price, 63, was identified by law enforcement through a confidential informant, who purchased pound quantities of methamphetamine from Price. In 2022, Price received multiple pounds of methamphetamine from out-of-state sources and distributed it in and around Johnson County, Iowa. In total, Price was attributed with distributing 33,046 grams (33.05 kilograms) of ice/actual methamphetamine.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Price will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. The Court also levied a $4,000 fine against Price.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Johnson County Drug Task Force.
Iowa City Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison Related to Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – An Iowa City man was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in federal prison for receiving child pornography.
According to public court documents, and evidence presented at sentencing, William Robert Adams, 23, was identified through a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children after suspected child pornography was found on the social media platform Snapchat. During the execution of a search warrant on Adams and his residence, law enforcement located numerous pictures and videos of children ranging in age from toddler to age 16. Law enforcement also found evidence that Adams was buying and selling child pornography online. Some of the images were determined to be sadistic or masochistic. In total, Adams was attributed with possessing over 5,000 child pornographic images.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Adams will be required to serve 5 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Adams was also ordered to pay restitution pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 2259. This section requires restitution be paid to victims in an amount determined by the court, but no less than $3,000 per victim.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.
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.
Iowa Man Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Failure to Pay Employment Taxes and File Federal ReturnRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – On Monday, July 31, 2023, an Iowa man pled guilty to Willful Failure to Pay Over Employment Taxes and Willful Failure to File an Income Tax Return.
As described in public court records, Thomas James Morford, 50, operated a concrete construction business within the Southern District of Iowa. During the fourth quarter of 2019, Morford collected and willfully failed to pay more than $9,000 in employee Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) taxes to the United States. Additionally, for the year 2020, Morford willfully failed to file a federal tax return.
Morford is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1, 2023. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the case.
Former Ames Man Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison for Fraud and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – On August 1, 2023, an Ames man was sentenced to 48 months in prison for making a false statement to a financial institution and possessing firearms after having been previously convicted of a felony.
In early September 2021, Aaron Christopher Lindsey, 34, purchased a 2018 Dodge Durango GT from an Ames car dealership using the fictious identity “Kevin Grant”. Lindsey provided the dealership that false name as well as a false Iowa driver’s license, false social security number, and false date of birth. The false information that Lindsey provided the dealership was also submitted by Lindsey as part of his credit application to obtain financing for the vehicle and caused a local Ames credit union to approve a vehicle loan for more than $42,000.
In late September 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Lindsey’s Ames residence. Officers located eight firearms and ammunition at the residence, including a loaded pistol in the Durango. Lindsey possessed each of these eight firearms and ammunition. Lindsey had been previously convicted of two felonies: a forgery conviction in Marshall County, Iowa in 2017 and a forgery conviction in Story County, Iowa in 2017. At Lindsey’s residence, police also found counterfeit credit cards, blank checks in the names of multiple purported third-persons, counterfeit driver’s licenses, hundreds of blank magnetic strip cards, hundreds of blank EMV “chip” cards, a magnetic strip card encoder, printers, computer equipment, a card cutter, a laminator, laminate papers, and holograms of various state seals.
Following his prison term, Lindsey will be on supervised release for five years. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Ames Police Department and the Iowa Department of Transportation. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Shambaugh Man Sentenced for Drug Distribution OffensesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – On Thursday, July 27, 2023, a Shambaugh man was sentenced to 60 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance following his plea of guilty.
According to public court documents, from June 2022 to July 2022, the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE) completed several controlled buys of methamphetamine with Michael Leo Pickens, 49. In August 2022, a search warrant was executed by DNE on Pickens’ residence in Shambaugh. Agents recovered approximately 26 grams of methamphetamine and a scale from the residence.
Pickens must serve a four-year term of supervised release following 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 Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement investigated the case.
California Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Long Beach, California man was sentenced on July 21, 2023 to 12 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine resulting in the death of a victim.
According to public court documents, Ray Bustamante, 61, conspired with Dr. John Robert Muriello and Eric Hojka, both of Iowa City, and others, to obtain and distribute methamphetamine. An investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service revealed that since early 2020, Bustamante mailed packages of methamphetamine to people he met online. In March 2021, a parcel, mailed by Bustamante, was intercepted by Postal Inspectors and found to contain approximately 137 grams of “ice” methamphetamine.
In a separate investigation in May 2021, first responders were dispatched to Hojka’s Iowa City apartment for a report of an unconscious victim, who was later pronounced dead. An autopsy revealed the victim ingested methamphetamine which caused his death. It was later determined that the methamphetamine ingested by the victim originated from Bustamante and was sent to Dr. John Robert Muriello and Eric Hojka in Iowa City for distribution.
After his prison term, Bustamante was ordered to serve a five-year term 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 United States Postal Inspection Service and the Iowa City Police Department.
Former University Professor Sentenced for Child Pornography and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – On Friday, July 21, 2023, a former professor at the University of Iowa was sentenced to 25 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine which resulted in the death of a victim, and 20 years in prison for possessing child pornography. The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently, or at the same time.
According to court documents, since sometime in 2020, Dr. John Robert Muriello, 66, conspired with Eric Hojka of Iowa City, and others, to obtain and distribute methamphetamine in and around Iowa City. In May 2021, first responders went to Hojka’s apartment in Iowa City based on a report that a victim who had lost consciousness. Paramedics were unable to revive the victim and he was pronounced dead. An autopsy showed the victim ingested methamphetamine which caused his death. The investigation revealed the victim received that methamphetamine from Hojka. Hojka obtained the methamphetamine from Muriello, who had obtained the drugs from a supplier in California. When the police conducted a search at Muriello’s Iowa City residence in May 2021, they discovered methamphetamine and a large collection of child pornography.
In addition to the 25-year prison term, Muriello was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $12,000, a fine of $50,000, and assessments of $22,200. Muriello’s Iowa City residence was also forfeited. After his prison term, Muriello was also ordered to serve a five-year term 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. The Iowa City Police Department and the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office investigated the case.
Defendants Charged in Joint Federal, State, and Local Investigation of Firearms Trafficking and Drug DistributionRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – Eleven defendants are facing federal criminal charges as part of a joint federal, state, and local law enforcement investigation. These charges result from a year-long investigation into violent acts, shootings, the possession and use of firearms, including the use of automatic switches, which qualify as machine guns under federal law, firearm straw purchasing, firearm trafficking, and distribution of fentanyl within the Des Moines area by members and associates of the criminal street gang OMB (Only My Brothers), a subset of the C-Block criminal street gang. During the investigation, law enforcement recovered shell casings at various shootings and generated investigative leads. Ninety-two guns were involved, with 73 of the involved guns seized.
“Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies will continue to work side by side to aggressively investigate crimes of violence and conduct that promotes and sustains this violence, including the trafficking of fentanyl, firearms trafficking, and straw purchasing,” stated United States Attorney Richard Westphal. “Our thanks to the dedicated local, state and federal law enforcement agents and officers whose tireless dedication to the protection of this community is exemplified by this investigation. To individuals and groups that use violent crime, firearms and drug trafficking as a means to any end, please stop or face similar consequences.”
Eleven defendants are charged in five criminal indictments with federal drug and firearm related offenses:
• Armani Eugene Gates, 19, also known as “OMB74” and “74,” of Des Moines,
• Majok Majok, 18, also known as “Jok” and “Magok Magok,” of Des Moines,
• Trent Douglas Brown, Jr., 19, also known as “TB,” of Des Moines,
• Semaj Johnson, 19, also known as “Maj” and “10mill,” of Des Moines,
• Santiz Cortez Langford, Jr., 19, also known as “Tiz” and “Tizwick,” of Des Moines,
• Dawn Ellease Robinson, 44, also known as “Dawn Ellease Colbert,” of Des Moines,
• Deon Ellease Cooper, 27, of Des Moines,
• Deadrian Maurice Nelson, 18, also known as “Shiesty” and “D,” of Des Moines,
• Johnetta Marie Strode, 36, of Des Moines,
• Avontae Lamar Tucker, 20, also known as “Tae Tae,” of Des Moines, and
• Bakier Esmaeil, 18, of Des Moines.On July 20, 2023, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies executed nine federal search warrants that resulted in the arrest of eleven defendants, two of which were already in federal custody. The search warrants also lead to the seizure of approximately 13,000 suspected fentanyl pills, seven firearms, one machine gun conversion device, and $23,000 in cash.
According to public court documents and information discussed at court hearings, Strode is Nelson’s mother and allegedly conspired to straw purchase a firearm, later found in Nelson’s possession. Robinson is the mother of both Langford and Cooper and allegedly conspired with Langford to straw a purchase a firearm later found in possession of a victim in the January 2023 Starts Right Here double homicide in Des Moines. Cooper, who is Langford’s sister, is also alleged to have purchased firearms at Langford’s direction.
Gates, Majok, and Brown are charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. This charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison, up to life in prison.
Gates, Cooper, Langford, Robinson, and Strode are charged with conspiracy to straw purchase firearms. Cooper and Robinson were charged with individually straw purchasing firearms. These charges carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, with Gates facing a maximum of 25 years in prison.
Cooper, Robinson, and Strode are charged with false statement during the purchase of a firearm. These charges carry a maximum sentence of five to 10 years in prison.
Gates, Majok, Johnson, and Langford are charged with firearm trafficking conspiracies. Langford was charged with firearms trafficking. These charges carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Johnson and Tucker are charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Gates, Brown, and Majok were charged with distribution of fentanyl. These charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Langford is charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana. This charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Tucker is charged with possession with intent to distribution five grams or more of methamphetamine. This charge carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. Tucker is also charged with possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, which carries a mandatory seven-year consecutive sentence, up to life in prison. Further, Tucker is charged with interference with commerce through robbery. This charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Johnson and Tucker are charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. This charge carries a mandatory five-year consecutive sentence, up to life in prison.
Majok and Langford are charged with illegal possession of a machinegun. Majok and Langford were also charged with possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. These charges carry a mandatory 30-year consecutive sentence, up to life in prison.
Gates, Esmaeil, Johnson, Majok, Robinson, Langford, Strode, and Tucker are charged with being an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm. Nelson was charged with being a felon and an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm. These charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 to 15 years in prison.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The charges were announced by Richard D. Westphal, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa; Bernard Hansen, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Kansas City Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Bryan Musgrove, Postal Inspector in Charge of the Denver Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service; and Dana Wingert, Chief of Police of the Des Moines Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin Herrera and Mallory Weiser are prosecuting the case.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Des Moines Police Department, and the United States Postal Inspection Service are investigating the case, with assistance from the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE), Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center, Iowa State Patrol SWAT, United States Marshals Service, Clive Police Department, West Des Moines Police Department, Ames Police Department, Altoona Police Department, Mid-Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Suburban Emergency Response Team (SERT), and Metro Special Tactics and Response (STAR).
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Davenport Woman Sentenced to Six Months in Prison Related to PerjuryRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A Davenport woman was sentenced today to six months in federal prison for providing false statements during federal grand jury testimony.
According to court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, LaRhonda Dawnielle Jenkins, 30, was present at a shooting at the Dam View Inn in Davenport on March 9, 2021, where an individual was shot multiple times. When Jenkins was called to testify at federal grand jury proceedings, Jenkins lied about her knowledge of the identified shooter.
After completing her term of imprisonment, Jenkins 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. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.Federal Search Warrants ExecutedRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa -- On Thursday, July 20, 2023, federal search warrants were executed at the following locations in the Des Moines metropolitan area:
• 900 block of Creston Avenue, Des Moines,
• 1200 block of 23rd Street, Des Moines,
• 200 block of East Caulder Circle, Des Moines,
• 400 block of East Thornton Avenue, Des Moines,
• 2500 block of East Sheridan Avenue, Des Moines,
• 1500 block of South 50th Street, West Des Moines,
• 9000 block of Burkwood Drive, West Des Moines, and
• 15000 block of Boston Parkway, Clive.
The searches at these locations were an official law enforcement action involving officers, agents, and investigators from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Des Moines Police Department, United States Postal Inspection Service, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE), Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center, Iowa State Patrol SWAT, United States Marshals Service, Clive Police Department, West Des Moines Police Department, Ames Police Department, Altoona Police Department, Mid-Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Suburban Emergency Response Team (SERT), and Metro Special Tactics and Response (STAR).Red Oak Man Sentenced for Drug Distribution OffensesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA -- A Red Oak man was sentenced on July 6, 2023 for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Donald Eugene Reed, 45, was sentenced to 212 months in prison following his plea of guilty to both counts. Reed must serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE) completed several controlled buys from Reed in September 2022, purchasing methamphetamine and marijuana. The United States Postal Inspectors intercepted a package addressed to Reed’s home in Red Oak, containing four pounds of methamphetamine. DNE also learned that approximately 15 other similar packages had been previously delivered to Reed.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement investigated the case.
Omaha Man Sentenced for an Interstate Domestic Violence OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – An Omaha man was sentenced on Thursday, July 6, 2023, for interstate domestic violence – causing travel of a victim.
Ruben Toledo, Jr., 28, was sentenced to 60 months in prison following his guilty plea. According to court documents, on October 23, 2021, Toledo assaulted his then girlfriend at a bar in downtown Omaha then forced her into his car and drove from Omaha, Nebraska to Council Bluffs, Iowa and continued the assault. After his prison sentence, Toledo must serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
When he committed this crime, Toledo was on supervised release for a 2015 federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. The Court also revoked Toledo’s supervised release and sentenced him to 18 months’ imprisonment, to be served consecutively to the 60-month sentence.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department, the Omaha Police Department, the Glenwood Police Department, Mills County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE), or the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence at 1-800-770-1650. Additional resources for victims and survivors of domestic violence can be found on the Resources page of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence website at https://ncadv.org/resources.
Nebraska Man Sentenced for Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A Nebraska man was sentenced on Thursday, July 6, 2023, to 180 months in federal prison for charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, carrying a firearm during and relation to a drug trafficking crime, prohibited person in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on August 6, 2021, a Council Bluffs Police officer found Kyle G. Ashmore, 37, in a car in a motel parking lot around 3:30am. The officer saw a baggie of marijuana in plain view. During the search of the vehicle, the officer found a loaded .40 caliber Smith and Wesson handgun, a box of ammunition, LSD, fentanyl, cocaine, buprenorphine, psilocyn, and drug paraphernalia.
Following a two-day trial in November 2022, a jury found Ashmore guilty of the drug charges. Following a two-day trial in February 2023, a jury found Ashmore guilty of the gun charges. Ashmore 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 Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, and the Department of Narcotics Enforcement investigated the case.
Muscatine Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A Muscatine man was sentenced on June 23, 2023 to 136 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Mackenzie Jacob Belnap, 31, was identified by law enforcement as a distributor of “ice” methamphetamine in eastern Iowa. In May 2022, a package linked to Belnap was intercepted by federal authorities. The package contained nearly a pound of methamphetamine and was shipped to Iowa from California. In all, Belnap was responsible for more than 4,500 grams of ice methamphetamine.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Belnap 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 United States Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Muscatine County Drug Task Force.
Burlington Man Sentenced to Thirty Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and HeroinRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A Burlington man was sentenced on June 23, 2023 to thirty years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin.
According to court documents, and evidence presented at sentencing, Kourtney Melvin Connors, 35, was identified by law enforcement as a distributor of methamphetamine through an investigation that began in the spring of 2019. During the course of the investigation, numerous individuals identified Connors as a supplier of large quantities of methamphetamine and heroin in the Burlington and Quad Cities areas. In all Connors was held accountable for more than 4,500 grams of ice methamphetamine, nearly 500 grams of heroin, and 40 grams of fentanyl.
This sentence was ordered to be served consecutively with any sentence of imprisonment imposed in relation to a criminal case in Marathon County, Wisconsin. After completing his term of imprisonment, Connors 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 multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Burlington Police Department, Davenport Police Department, Bettendorf Police Department.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Iowa City Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A Iowa City man was sentenced today to nine years in federal prison for being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, and evidence presented at sentencing, Michael Haythorn, 32, fled from law enforcement after they were called to respond to a domestic disturbance between Haythorn and his significant other. Law enforcement chased Haythorn on foot until he jumped a fenced and officers lost sight of him. Approximately 20 feet away from the location that Haythorn jumped the fence, officers located a firearm. The firearm had Haythorn’s DNA on it. Haythorn knew he was a felon and was prohibited from possessing firearms.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Haythorn 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 and 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. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Burlington Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A Burlington man was sentenced today to 20 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.
According to court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Robert Gantz, 39, was identified as a source of methamphetamine in southeast Iowa. Officers purchased methamphetamine from Gantz with the use of a confidential source. In a subsequent search of a vehicle occupied by Gantz, officers located a handgun, with an obliterated serial number, two loaded magazines, methamphetamine, marijuana, and other items indicative of drug trafficking. At the time of his arrest, Gantz admitted to being involved in the distribution of methamphetamine. Gantz was also under supervision for a prior state drug conviction at the time of his arrest.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Gantz 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 Narcotics Task Force and 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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Cass County (Iowa) Man Sentenced for Distributing Fentanyl Causing Serious Bodily Injury or DeathRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A Cass County (Iowa) man was sentenced yesterday, for conspiring to distribute fentanyl causing serious bodily injury or death.
Mason Blaine Loudermilk, 19, was sentenced to 192 months in prison. Loudermilk must serve a six-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, Loudermilk plead guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. The investigation revealed that between August 2020 and May 2022, Loudermilk obtained fentanyl, in pill form, from a source in Omaha, Nebraska. In turn, Loudermilk distributed the pills containing fentanyl in and around Cass County (Iowa) causing several fentanyl overdoses, each overdose requiring medical attention to prevent death.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. Agencies involved in the investigation include the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Atlantic Police Department, Cass County (Iowa) Sheriff’s Office, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force (SWINE), Council Bluffs Police Department, Iowa Division of Intelligence, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Crime Lab, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Omaha Police Department.
Fentanyl has become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills often resemble pharmaceutical pill, but contain potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. Visit the Drug Enforcement Administration’s website to learn more about One Pill Can Kill.
Council Bluffs Woman Sentenced for a Drug Distribution OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A Council Bluffs woman was sentenced June 15, 2023 for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Amanda Marie Sprinkel, 33, was sentenced to 60 months in prison following her plea of guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Sprinkel must serve a four-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on September 20, 2022, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force executed a search warrant on a home in Council Bluffs. Amanda Sprinkel was located sitting in a vehicle in the driveway of the Council Bluffs residence. Officers witnessed Sprinkel throw an object on the driver side floorboard. A backpack was found containing 62 grams of suspected methamphetamine. A search of Sprinkel’s phone would later show messages negotiating narcotic transactions and other messages arranging and discussing narcotic sales.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force investigated the case.
Omaha Man Sentenced for a Drug Distribution OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – An Omaha man was sentenced yesterday, June 15, 2023, for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Jerome Wallace, III, 22, was sentenced to 180 months in prison following his plea of guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Wallace must serve a ten-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Wallace was also ordered to pay restitution reimbursing funeral expenses.
According to court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, on March 2, 2021, the Council Bluffs Police and Fire Departments were dispatched to a home in Council Bluffs to provide medical treatment to an unresponsive male, who ultimately died from a fentanyl overdose. Wallace distributed pressed pills containing fentanyl to the victim. Officers linked Wallace to the fentanyl overdose death after reviewing phone and social media information, and conducting witness interviews. Wallace along with codefendants Karlee Rosenthal and Linsey Stisi distributed pressed pills containing fentanyl as part of the conspiracy from January to August of 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs.
In January 2023, Rosenthal, 21, was sentenced to time served and five years of supervised release, following her plea of guilty to her role in the conspiracy to distribute a controlled sentence. In March 2023, Stisi, 20, was sentenced to time served and four years of supervised release, following her plea of guilty to her role in the conspiracy to distribute a controlled sentence.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department, Omaha Police Department, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Fentanyl has become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills often resemble pharmaceutical pills, but contain potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. Visit the Drug Enforcement Administration’s website to learn more about One Pill Can Kill.
Davenport Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A Davenport man was sentenced yesterday to seven years in federal prison for being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, and evidence presented at sentencing, Donnell Hargrove, 54, was stopped by law enforcement on the evening of August 21, 2022 for a traffic violation. Officers detected the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Hargrove admitted that marijuana had been smoked in the vehicle earlier and showed officers the marijuana. During the traffic stop and a search of Hargrove’s person, a loaded nine-millimeter pistol was found on Hargrove’s waistband. Hargrove was a felon prohibited from possessing firearms.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Hargrove 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 Bettendorf Police Department.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Ottumwa Man and Woman Convicted for Filing Hundreds of False Tax Returns and Fraudulently Obtaining Unemployment Insurance Benefits PaymentsRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – An Ottumwa man and woman were convicted of conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service by filing hundreds of fraudulent tax returns and of defrauding applicants out of unemployment insurance benefits and the Iowa Workforce Development out of benefits payments.
On May 22, 2023, Thein Maung, 47, pleaded guilty to 49 fraud and tax charges. On June 2, 2023, a federal jury convicted Phyo Mi, 21, of 16 fraud charges. According to court documents and evidence presented at Mi’s four-day trial, Maung and Mi ran a fraudulent tax-preparation business out of their family’s Ottumwa home. In exchange for a cash fee, Maung and Mi prepared and filed their customers’ tax returns. Maung and Mi primarily catered to immigrants and refugees who worked at meat-packing facilities in Iowa and who had little or no ability to read, write, or speak English.
Without their customers’ knowledge or approval, Maung and Mi included on their customers’ federal tax returns, schedules, and forms, fraudulent items, such as false claims for residential energy credits, business-expense deductions, or moving-expense deductions for members of the United States Armed Forces. The effect of Maung and Mi including fraudulent items on the tax documents was to increase the refunds their clients received and increase Maung and Mi’s customer base. In all, from 2018 to 2022, Maung and Mi caused over 1600 tax returns to be filed from their Ottumwa residence. The fraudulent tax returns claimed over $3.5 million in residential energy credits.
From 2018 to 2022, Maung and Mi received approximately over $200,000 in cash fees from their customers. In addition, on their customers’ returns, Maung and Mi sometimes directed portions of the fraudulent refunds be sent to financial institution accounts accessible to Maung and Mi.
Maung and Mi also offered to help customers apply for unemployment benefits from Iowa Workforce Development. Without their customers’ knowledge or approval, Maung and Mi submitted materials to Iowa Workforce Development directing that their customers’ benefits payments be sent to financial institution accounts that Maung and Mi had access to. From October 2020 through March 2021, Maung and Mi directed nearly $100,000 in fraudulent unemployment insurance benefits payments be sent from Iowa Workforce Development to their accounts, instead of to the eligible claimants.
“This guilty verdict brings Phyo Mi and Thein Maung to justice. They created and implemented this massive energy credit and false deduction scheme to fund their greed at the expense of trusting taxpayers,” said Special Agent in Charge Thomas F. Murdock of the IRS Criminal Investigation St. Louis Field Office. “This conviction should serve as notice that we will vigorously prosecute those criminals who engage in any form of tax fraud.”
Sentencings for both Maung and Mi are scheduled for September 27, 2023, in Des Moines, before Chief United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement.
The investigation was conducted by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the Ottumwa Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle Essley and Laura Roan prosecuted the case.
Keswick Man Sentenced to Prison for Failing to Pay Payroll Taxes, Making False Statements on PPP Loan ApplicationsRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – A Keswick man was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for failing to pay over $700,000 in employment taxes for his business, and for making a false statement for purposes of obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for the business.
According to court documents, during the years 2014 through 2020, Thomas Sieren, 60, was a co-owner of TCS Fabricating, Inc. and, during that time, failed to pay $703,615.69 in employment taxes to the IRS. This included the failure to pay taxes that he had collected from TCS’s employees through withholding, as well as matching contributions to Social Security and Medicare. In 2020 and 2021, Sieren obtained two PPP loans on behalf of TCS in the total amount of $237,379. The PPP loan applications misrepresented that TCS had paid its payroll tax obligations.
Sieren will be required to pay TCS’s unpaid payroll tax obligations, together with interest and penalties. He also will be required to pay restitution of $237,379 to the United States Small Business Administration. Following Sieren’s release from prison, he will be required to serve two years of supervised release.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal made the announcement. This case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Essley prosecuted the case.
12 Quad Cities Gang Members and Associates Indicted on Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A federal grand jury in Davenport returned an indictment on May 22, 2023, charging 12 Quad Cities men with offenses related to a racketeering conspiracy, who conspired to engage in a years-long pattern of violence, including murder, attempted murders, robbery, and drug trafficking.
As alleged in this indictment, those charged 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 this 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. To achieve those purposes and objectives, members and associates of the Enterprise committed acts involving murder, robbery, threatened to commit acts of violence, and trafficking of controlled substances.
The following members and associates of the Enterprise are charged in the Indictment and are all from Rock Island, Illinois:
• Ricky Lee Childs, Jr., 38, is charged with racketeering conspiracy. As part of this investigation, he was previously charged with felon in possession of a firearm and sentenced to 110 months of imprisonment (Southern District of Iowa, 3:22-cr-21). Between both charges, he is facing a maximum sentence of 30 years of imprisonment.
• Don Christopher White, Jr., 37, is charged with racketeering conspiracy and felon in possession of a firearm. As part of this investigation, White was previously charged with felon in possession of a firearm (Southern District of Iowa, 3:23-cr-22). White is facing a maximum sentence of 40 years of imprisonment.
• Devell Carl Lewis, 35, is charged with racketeering conspiracy. He is facing a maximum sentence of 20 years of imprisonment. In addition, Lewis is scheduled to be sentenced in August 2023 on federal drug charges out of Rock Island, Illinois (Central District of Illinois, 4:20-cr-40022).
• Deaguise Ramont Hall, 34, is charged with racketeering conspiracy. He is facing a maximum sentence of 20 years of imprisonment.
• Simmeon Terrell Hall, 34, is charged with racketeering conspiracy. He is facing a maximum sentence of 20 years of imprisonment.
• Brandon Deshane Branigan, 32, is charged with racketeering conspiracy. As part of this investigation, Branigan was previously charged with felon in possession of a firearm (Southern District of Iowa, 3:22-cr-110). Branigan is facing a maximum sentence of 30 years of imprisonment.
• Rasheem Damonte Bogan, 31, is charged with racketeering conspiracy and felon in possession of a firearm. He is facing a maximum sentence of 30 years of imprisonment. In addition, Bogan is scheduled to be sentenced in August 2023 on federal drug charges out of Rock Island, Illinois (Central District of Illinois, 4:20-cr-40022).
• Raheem Jacques Houston, 30, is charged with racketeering conspiracy and felon in possession of a firearm. He is facing a maximum sentence of 30 years of imprisonment. In addition, in August 2023, Houston is scheduled to be sentenced on federal drug charges out of Rock Island, Illinois (Central District of Illinois, 4:20-cr-40022).
• Michael Linn Cross, 30, is charged with racketeering conspiracy. He is facing a maximum sentence of 20 years of imprisonment.
• Lashawn D James Hensley, 30, is charged with racketeering conspiracy. He is facing a maximum sentence of 20 years of imprisonment.
• Devante Atwell French, 29, is charged with racketeering conspiracy and felon in possession of a firearm. He is facing a maximum sentence of 30 years of imprisonment.
• Timothy Justin Beaver, 28, is charged with racketeering conspiracy. He is facing a maximum sentence of 20 years of imprisonment.
The Indictment is attached below.
Timothy Beaver, Simmeon Hall, and Deaguise Hall made their initial court appearance on May 25, 2023, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen B. Jackson, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. The remaining defendants will make their initial court appearances on later dates.As part of this investigation, in September 2022, Sinae Coral Lucille Tate, 33 of the Quad Cities, was charged with making false declarations to a federal grand jury regarding Don White’s use of her 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix during two of the overt acts in the racketeering conspiracy (Southern District of Iowa, 3:22-cr-77). On April 20, 2023, Tate pled guilty to one count of False Declarations Before a Grand Jury. She is facing a maximum sentence of five years of imprisonment and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 8, 2023.
“To those that choose criminal violence this case is an example of the fate that awaits you. We will continue to place violent crime as our highest priority. With our law enforcement partners like the Davenport Police Department, we are dedicated and motivated to use every legal tool to help protect the Davenport community,” said United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa.
“The tremendous work of our investigators and federal partners delivered justice for those impacted by these violent crimes,” said Davenport Police Chief Jeffery Bladel. “These cases demonstrate, the outstanding partnership and collaboration between federal prosecutors and local law enforcement that has a long-term impact on the safety of our community. The Davenport Police Department is dedicated to the safety and wellbeing of our community and bringing those who commit violent crimes to justice.”
The Davenport and Rock Island Police Departments are investigating the case, with assistance from the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and 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.
arsenal_courts_posse_indictment.pdfIllinois Man Sentenced to More Than 31 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – On Monday, May 22, 2023, a Markham, Illinois man was sentenced to 375 months in prison. During a January 2023 trial, Carl Murphy, 53, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin for his role in a large-scale heroin and fentanyl conspiracy.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, over the course of a 14-month investigation, including the use of wiretaps, law enforcement identified Murphy, also known as “P” and “C-Note,” as a heroin/fentanyl supplier for numerous street-level dealers in the Des Moines Metro from 2019 through July 2021.
Murphy is a high-ranking member of the Black P Stone Nation, a criminal street gang based in Chicago. Murphy had a large distribution network consisting of lower ranking gang members, which he helped run and control. The street-level dealers traveled to and from Murphy’s Chicago suburb residence to purchase large quantities of heroin/fentanyl for redistribution in Des Moines. While awaiting trial, Murphy threatened individuals he believed to be cooperating against him, intimidated potential witnesses, and orchestrated a violent assault of an individual in his jail housing unit. Murphy was previously convicted of distribution of a controlled substance in the Northern District of Illinois in 2011.
At sentencing, Chief United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose found that Murphy was an organizer or leader of the conspiracy; obstructed justice by attempting to influence witnesses, threatening others, and orchestrating an assault; and maintained a residence for drug trafficking. As a result, Murphy was sentenced to 375 months in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
In July 2021, Murphy and others were arrested and charged following the execution of numerous search warrants. Twenty-three co-defendants were sentenced as part of this drug conspiracy including:
• Malek Shawn Holmes, also known as “Chubbs,” 23, was sentenced to 50 months imprisonment;
• Pierre Fontain Black, also known as “Rico,” “Peezy,” and “Pezzo,” 32, was sentenced to 192 months imprisonment;
• Deshawn Levell Greer, also known as “Jack,” 31, was sentenced to 87 months imprisonment;
• Gregory Izell Spight, also known as LoSo, 43, was sentenced to 63 months imprisonment;
• Earl Clay, III, also known as “BD,” 30, was sentenced to 87 months imprisonment;
• Michael Byrd, also known as “Big Mike,” 30, was sentenced to 63 months imprisonment;
• Azim Abdul-Ahad, also known as “Tana,” 24, was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment;
• Ronald Harris, 37, was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment;
• Daeante Dewayne Neely, also known as “Black,” 30, was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment;
• Derrick Fleming, also known as “Flock,” 29, was sentenced to 70 months imprisonment;
• Dandre Cox, also known as “Dusky,” 22, was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment;
• Patrick Staples, 30, was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment;
• Tabaris Brown, also known as “TB,” 24, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment;
• Brandon Reed, also known as “J,” 33, was sentenced to 12 months and 1-day imprisonment;
• Jason Beaman, 48, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment;
• Elijah Seymour, also known as “Big Josh,” 34, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment;
• Felicia Olson, 31, was sentenced to 12 months and 1-day imprisonment;
• Sarah Hume, 40, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment;
• Andrew Price, 31, was sentenced to 3 years supervised release;
• Jamisha Canada, 45, was sentenced to 5 years supervised release;
• Tonie Canada, 40, was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment;
• Rickey’a Dee Jackon, also known as “Kia,” 23, was sentenced to 3 years probation.
There is no parole in the federal system.“Let there be no doubt as to law enforcement’s continued resolve to prosecute Carl Murphy and any individuals, groups, and gangs who believe they can distribute deadly drugs such as heroin and fentanyl in our community,” United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa said. “This significant sentence is an example of the fate that awaits them. Our thanks to the tireless effort of the officers and agents involved in this complex investigation.”
The investigation was conducted by the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force (MINE) and the Central Iowa Gang Task Force (CIGTF), with assistance from the: Des Moines Police Department; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; Polk County Sheriff’s Office; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Iowa State Patrol; Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center; Iowa State Patrol SWAT; United States Marshals Service; Central Iowa Drug Task Force; Drug Enforcement Agency; Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force East; Homeland Security Investigations; Altoona Police Department; Story County Sheriff’s Office; Ames Police Department; Norwalk Police Department; West Des Moines Police Department; Ankeny Police Department; METRO Star; Suburban Emergency Response Team (SERT); Iowa Fifth Judicial District; Federal Bureau of Investigation Chicago; Federal Bureau of Investigation Kansas City; Federal Bureau of Investigation Minneapolis; Federal Bureau of Investigation Omaha; and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). Assistant United States Attorneys Mallory Weiser and Amy Jennings prosecuted the case with the assistance of Victim Witness Specialist Charlotte Kovacs.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Three Cass County Residents Sentenced for Distributing Fentanyl Causing Serious Bodily Injury or DeathRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA –Three Cass County (Iowa) residents were sentenced on May 16, 2023 for conspiring to distribute fentanyl causing serious bodily injury or death.
Cam Christopher Jahnke, 33, was sentenced to 193 months in prison. Chase Daniel Jahnke, 29, was sentenced to 204 months in prison. Kelsi Thurman, 27, was sentenced to 156 months in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, each defendant plead guilty to agreeing to obtaining fentanyl pills from sources in Omaha, Nebraska, and selling those pills in and around Cass County, Iowa. The investigation determined that between August 2019 and June 2022, the group obtained and distributed over 10,000 pills containing fentanyl. Fentanyl distributed by the group caused two fentanyl overdose deaths.
Two additional co-defendants, Colby Clarken, 20, and Collin Clarken, 25, have also plead guilty to the same charge of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl causing serious bodily injury or death. Both are scheduled to be sentenced in August 2023.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa stated the convictions disrupted a major source of supply of fentanyl in Western Iowa and was accomplished through the cooperation of numerous law enforcement agencies. Agencies involved in this investigation included the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Atlantic Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force (SWINE) Task Force, Council Bluffs Police Department, Iowa Division of Intelligence, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Crime Lab, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Omaha Police Department.
Fentanyl has become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills often resemble pharmaceutical pills, but contain potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. Visit the Drug Enforcement Administration’s website to learn more about One Pill Can Kill.
United States Attorney’s Office Recognizes Police Week National Police Week honors the service and sacrifice of law enforcementRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, and local law enforcement. U.S. Attorney Westphal stated, “This week we take time to pause and express our gratitude and thanks to the unwavering commitment, courage and sacrifice of law enforcement officers in protecting and serving our communities in Iowa. Every hour of every day, federal, state and local law enforcement officers place the safety of our communities above their own, and their dedication to this duty is one of the main reasons Iowa is such a great place to live. In particular, we honor the lives of Coralville Police Sergeant John Karl Williams and Fremont County Deputy Austin Melvin Richardson, who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting and serving Iowans. We stand together in remembering the brave men and women who have died in the line of duty, here in Iowa and across the nation.”
On May 5, 2023, Sergeant Williams and Deputy Richardson were honored at the 2023 Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony in Des Moines. Sergeant Williams was a 28-year veteran of the Coralville Police Department and experienced fatal health complications after responding to a report of a three-year-old child with gunshot wounds. He is survived by a wife, two sons, two daughters, and six grandchildren. Fremont County Deputy Richardson served as a police officer and deputy for 14 years. While responding to a call for service, Deputy Richardson’s patrol vehicle collided with a combine, resulting in his death. He is survived by a wife, and three daughters.
According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 226 federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement officers died in the line of duty in 2022.
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Savage Life Boys Gang Member Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A Davenport man was sentenced on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, to 130 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers arrested Darion Lemont Thomas, 22, at a local hospital in September 2021 on outstanding state arrest warrants. At the time of his arrest, Thomas, a Savage Life Boys gang member, possessed a loaded, stolen firearm in his waistband and 66 ecstasy pills and marijuana in a backpack. Thomas knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms due to his status as a felon.
Thomas’s cell phone and social media records revealed evidence of drug trafficking, including Thomas’s use of a minor to distribute drugs. The cell phone and social media records also uncovered photos and videos of Thomas illegally possessing firearms.
Following his prison term, Thomas must also serve four 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. The Davenport and Bettendorf Police Departments investigated the case.
Four People Sentenced in Federal Court for Schemes to Smuggle Drugs into the Polk County JailRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – Four individuals have been sentenced in federal court for schemes to smuggle drugs into the Polk County Jail.
On December 19, 2022, Michael Joseph Wilson, 35 of Des Moines, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for attempt to possess contraband in a federal facility. On April 11, 2023, Fawn Ann Colyn, 57 of Des Moines, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to providing contraband in a federal facility. On April 28, 2023, Randall Joseph Verbeski, 61 of Sioux City, was sentenced to thirty months in prison for possessing contraband in a federal facility. On April 28, 2023, Ashley Michelle Evans, 35 of Ottumwa, was sentenced to a term of five years’ probation for attempt to provide contraband in a federal facility.
According to court documents, as well as evidence presented at the sentencing hearings, Colyn and Verbeski engaged in a scheme to mail Suboxone and other opioids into the Polk County Jail, which houses federal prisoners. The scheme involved Colyn, who was not incarcerated, hiding drugs in envelopes and documents disguised as legal mail, and then sending those envelopes to Verbeski. Verbeski was in the Polk County Jail serving a federal sentence related to a prior gun and drug trafficking offense.
According to court documents, Wilson and Evans engaged in a similar scheme to mail MDMB-4en-PINACA, commonly known as K2, into the Polk County Jail. Evans, who was not incarcerated, hid the K2 in an envelope and document disguised as legal mail which she sent to Wilson. At the time, Wilson was in the Polk County Jail after officers found methamphetamine, heroin, MDMA, and a loaded revolver at his residence in Des Moines. At the time of his arrest, Wilson was on federal supervised release out of Indiana for a firearm conviction. Wilson was ultimately sentenced to a total term of 240 months, for the Iowa and Indiana federal charges.
Following their prison sentences, Colyn, Verbeski, and Wilson will serve terms of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Polk County Sheriff Kevin J. Schneider said “Maintaining the highest level of security at the Polk County Jail is one of my top priorities, and a mission for our staff. Our strong working relationships with partner agencies allow us to remain successful. I am proud of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office staff, and appreciate the great work done by the United States Marshals Service and the United States Attorney’s Office in concluding these cases.”
“Once again, these positive outcomes show the importance of maintaining a solid working relationship with our local partners. The communication and close bonds we’ve formed, serves as a force multiplier, to assure we can deliver the best service possible,” said
United States Marshal Ted G. Kamatchus of the Southern District of Iowa.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement.
The investigated was conducted by the United States Marshals Service and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office—Jail Division.
North Liberty Woman Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison Related to False Statements During the Purchase of FirearmsRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A North Liberty woman was sentenced on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, to 12 months and one day in federal prison after pleading guilty to making false statements during the purchase of firearms.
According to court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Miracle Star Vaughn, 27, purchased seven handguns from Scheels, in Coralville, over a period of 18 months. During the firearms purchases, Vaughn provided false information regarding her address and her drug use. One of the firearms Vaughn purchased was recovered in Chicago in the possession of Dimione Walker. Walker was a felon prohibited from possessing firearms, and also had a federal warrant for his arrest. One of the other guns Vaughn purchased was recovered in the possession of her significant other and co-defendant, Michael Haythorn, also a felon prohibited from possessing firearms.
At sentencing, the District Court found that when law enforcement confronted her, Vaughn continued to provide false statements. The District Court considered the danger to the community created by Vaughn’s conduct and noted that Vaughn’s lack of criminal history allowed her to purchase these firearms.
After completing the prison term, Vaughn will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Haythorn pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a felon. His sentencing is currently scheduled for May 23, 2023.
“Straw purchasing is a serious crime that contributes to the epidemic of gun violence,” United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa said. “We will continue to partner with federal and local law enforcement to hold accountable those who illegally purchase firearms.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and 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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
If you have information pertaining to illegal firearms activity such as a straw purchase, please contact the ATF at 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867). Anonymous tips may also be submitted to ATF through the ReportIt mobile app.
Savage Life Gang Members Sentenced to Racketeering ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – Two Davenport men were sentenced on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in relation to a racketeering prosecution. Austin Zachary Ruiz, 28, was sentenced to 202 months in federal prison for assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and use and carry a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Olajuwan Hakeem Culbreath, 27, was sentenced to 152 months in federal prison for aiding and abetting the same charges.
In 2016 and 2017, as members of Savage Life Boys (SLB), a Davenport-based street gang, Ruiz and Culbreath were involved in multiple shootings. In December 2016, Ruiz and other SLB members robbed and physically assaulted another male, including pistol-whipping him, at a dice game at an apartment in Davenport. The male escaped from the apartment, but Ruiz chased him, firing numerous rounds at the vehicle in which he fled. The male sustained wounds from the assault and the driver of the vehicle sustained a gunshot wound.
In January 2017, Ruiz, Culbreath, and co-defendant Dimetri Smith were at the NorthPark Mall when they saw a rival gang member. Culbreath, Ruiz, and Smith went to their car, where they had firearms. Culbreath drove to the mall entrance where they expected the rival gang member to exit. When they saw the rival gang member, Ruiz and Smith chased him through the mall parking lot, shooting at him.
In February 2017, Culbreath and co-defendants Smith, Darion Gardner, Najawaun Quinn, and other SLB members started an altercation at a concert at the Hotel Davenport due to perceived disrespect for their gang. During the altercation, Gardner shot and killed one male and injured another. To create a diversion and escape from the hotel, Culbreath fired one round, which did not strike anyone.
In April 2017, Ruiz and Smith were at Centennial Park in Davenport when they saw a male who recently robbed another SLB member’s dice game. Ruiz, armed with a firearm, got out of their vehicle to confront the male. The men struggled over the firearm, which discharged, striking the male in the foot. Smith then joined the altercation, choking the male to unconsciousness to assist them in their flight.
Ruiz and Culbreath committed these acts with the intent to maintain or increase position in the gang.
Following their prison terms, both Ruiz and Culbreath must each serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Co-defendants Quinn and Smith are scheduled to be sentenced on August 8, 2023, after a federal jury convicted them of racketeering-related charges following a 7-day trial in February 2023.
In December 2022, Gardner was sentenced to 450 months in prison.
“The hard work and dedication of our officers, investigators, and federal prosecutors delivered justice for those impacted by these violent crimes,” said Davenport Police Assistant Chief Major Jamie Brown. “These cases demonstrate the collaboration and commitment to keeping our community safe.”
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Davenport Police Department investigated the case.
Savage Life Boys Gang Member Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A Davenport man was sentenced on Monday, April 24, 2023, to 60 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of firearms.
In December 2021, law enforcement identified Milton Lee Howard, Jr., 21, after conducting surveillance at a residence in Davenport. Howard had an active arrest warrant for escape. Howard, a Savage Life Boys gang member, and four additional Savage Life Boys members left that residence in a vehicle, which law enforcement followed to a gas station. Law enforcement blocked the vehicle in, detained the occupants, searched the vehicle, and arrested Howard. Four firearms, an extended magazine, marijuana, and four cell phones were located inside the vehicle. A forensic examination was performed on the seized phones, as well as on the vehicle occupants’ social media accounts. The examination revealed photographs and videos of Howard and other gang members displaying firearms, including two firearms seized from the vehicle. At the time of his arrest, Howard knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms due to his status as a felon.
Following his prison term, Howard must also serve a three-year term 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. The Davenport Police Department investigated the case.
Muscatine Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A Muscatine woman was sentenced on April 26, 2023, to 192 months in prison following her guilty plea to charges of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams of methamphetamine and possession of five grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, law enforcement received information that Cristina Kaye Briones, 38, and her co-conspirators were obtaining large quantities of pure methamphetamine through the mail directly from California suppliers. Following her prison term, Briones was ordered to serve a five-year term 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 United States Postal Inspection Service and Drug Enforcement Administration.
Illinois Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Ammunitions ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A Chicago, Illinois man was sentenced on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, to 92 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition.
On October 13, 2020, law enforcement identified Michael Jermaine Hambrick, 38, after responding to a burglary and domestic assault call at a residence in Davenport. Officers had served Hambrick with a No Contact Order earlier, which prohibited him from having contact with a female resident, his former significant other. Hambrick previously entered the residence and stole the female’s firearm and magazines. Late that night, he broke into the residence, struck the female in the face with the firearm, and fled. Once Hambrick left, the female found one of her firearm magazines on the floor, which had Hambrick’s fingerprints on it. Law enforcement also located Hambrick’s vehicle nearby, which contained a second magazine to the female’s firearm. As a convicted felon, Hambrick knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms.
Following his prison term, Hambrick was ordered 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. The Davenport Police Department investigated the case.
Des Moines Man Sentenced to over 14 Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – On Wednesday, April 12, 2023, a Des Moines man was sentenced to 170 months in prison for his role in a fentanyl conspiracy and his possession of several firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking.
According to court documents, Jacquone Karrie Ford, also known as Antwon, 41, distributed a heroin-fentanyl mixture throughout the Des Moines area dating back to summer 2021. Law enforcement knew Ford utilized two residences, one of which operated as an in-home daycare, and a storage unit to facilitate his drug dealing. During an April 2022 search warrant at one residence, Ford was found in possession of over $75,000 and two firearms. At the other residence, officers found Ford’s co-defendant, Edgar Riley, and a firearm. In Ford’s storage unit, officers seized over six pounds of fentanyl and seven firearms, two of which were stolen.
Following his prison sentence, Ford will serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
In February 2023, Riley, 43 of Jefferson, Missouri, was sentenced to a 36-month term of imprisonment following his plea to conspiracy to distribute heroin.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The investigation was conducted by the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force (MINE).
Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to Prison for Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A Cedar Rapids man was sentenced on April 25, 2023, to 270 months in prison for charges of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to court documents, Ricky Timothy Williams, 41, engaged law enforcement in a high-speed chase along the interstate in Scott County before leaving the road and driving to the edge of a cornfield. Williams attempted to flee but was apprehended by officers a short distance from the vehicle. A search of Williams’ vehicle revealed a loaded pistol and more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Williams was convicted of the charges against him by a federal jury on November 15, 2022, following a two-day trial.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Iowa State Patrol, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Burlington Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug, Firearm, and Cyberstalking ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A Burlington man was sentenced on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, to 264 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of an unregistered firearm, and cyberstalking.
Law enforcement identified Kevin Arthur Andries, 32, following a traffic stop in September 2021 when Andries fled from law enforcement at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. Andries eventually crashed the vehicle into the backyard of a residence. Andries then fled on foot and was apprehended nearby. Law enforcement located a backpack, that contained two pounds of methamphetamine, on the ground outside of the driver’s door of the vehicle. There was also a sawed-off shotgun in the trunk.
In November 2021, the Burlington Police Department investigated Andries for stalking. Andries appeared at the victim’s children’s bus stop and school. When Burlington police officers attempted to apprehend Andries, he drove at high rates of speed in a stolen vehicle. When apprehended and arrested, Andries was in possession of methamphetamine and ammunition. A search of Andries’ residence revealed two additional firearms.
Meanwhile, the Iowa City Police Department had a separate investigation into Andries for cyberstalking the same victim from May 2020 until his arrest in November 2021. Andries obtained approximately 25 TextNow phone numbers that he used to call and send text messages to the victim, which at times were hundreds of contacts within one day. Andries also used the numbers to “spoof” people or businesses known to the victim, to induce her to answer the phone. Andries hacked the victim’s email, social media, cell phone, and bank accounts. He added himself to her cell phone plan and wiped the contents of her phone remotely. Andries used the access he gained to her financial accounts to make purchases for himself. Additionally, Andries locked the victim out of all her accounts which prevented her access to the accounts and their contents. Andries coupled his cyberstalking with physical stalking and showed up at the victim’s and the victim’s family’s residences. Andries’ conduct caused the victim substantial emotional distress.
Following his prison term, Andries must also 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. The Muscatine Police Department, Burlington Police Department, and Iowa City Police Department investigated the case.
Department of Justice Commemorates 2023 National Crime Victims’ Rights WeekRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – 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 23-29, 2023 and features the theme, “Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change,” which emphases the importance of engaging with victims of crime, learning from their lived experiences, amplifying their voices, and fostering an environment where they are heard, believed, and supported.
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. Seven individuals are recognized for outstanding service to victims:
Award for Excellence in Victim Services
• United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Iowa, Victim Witness Specialist Charlotte Kovacs
• Family Resources/Braking Traffik Survivor Advocate Gretchen McCall
Law Enforcement Victim Service Award
• Des Moines Police Department Detective Ben Carter
• Council Bluffs Police Department Sergeant John Focht
• Altoona Police Department Detective David Lowe
• FBI Special Agent Amber Mann
• Ottumwa Police Department Investigator Jeremy Tosh“These awards proudly recognize the exceptional efforts of individuals providing assistance to federal and state victims in the Southern District of Iowa,” said United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal. “Advocacy for the rights and safety of victims is a cogent reminder of the long-term human impact of these crimes. The service of these individuals, and other state and federal victim advocates, are a vital component of our criminal justice system.”
The 2023 Award for Excellence in Victim Services is awarded to United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Iowa, Victim Witness Specialist Charlotte Kovacs. Kovacs provides selfless and dedicated advocacy to federal crime victims. Kovacs epitomizes the highest quality of victim advocacy in support of victims, witnesses, and their families during the investigation and prosecution of all federal crimes, and specifically human trafficking cases and fentanyl-related death cases. Kovacs’s extraordinary dedication to her profession and to the citizens of the Southern District of Iowa cannot be replicated.
The 2023 Award for Excellence in Victim Services is awarded to Family Resources/Braking Traffik Survivor Advocate Gretchen McCall. McCall has provided excellent victim services to the Davenport community and the Southern District of Iowa. McCall and her services were instrumental in a Davenport human trafficking case where, as a victim advocate, she provided the human trafficking victim with vital resources to ensure a solid foundation for the victim, before, during, and after trial. McCall’s devotion to her profession, time and time again, has proven to be an invaluable resource to the community and the victims for whom she relentlessly advocates.
The 2023 Law Enforcement Victim Service Award recognizes the performance of Des Moines Police Department Detective Ben Carter. Detective Carter showed outstanding work and unrelenting perseverance in the investigation and prosecution of Tyrone Cameron. Detective Carter’s dedication to the case began in early spring of 2022 from the death of Jeff Gillom and extended into April 2023 when Tyrone Cameron was convicted in federal court on charges related to the death of Gillom. During a year’s time, Detective Carter showed unwavering commitment to bring justice to the victim’s family and ultimately received justice by performing in his role as an investigator and as the victim’s family’s lifeline by exuding empathy and understanding with the victim’s family. Detective Carter went above and beyond in his duties for the victim’s family and for the Des Moines community, resulting in a conviction largely due to his unparalleled commitment and service.
The 2023 Law Enforcement Victim Service Award is awarded to Council Bluffs Police Department Sergeant John Focht for his support and dedication to his profession through the investigation and prosecution of several cases involving child victims. Sergeant Focht’s investigative skills were vital in the prosecution of Myron Brandon who was charged and convicted of Kidnapping and Transportation of a Minor. Sergeant Focht spent countless hours meeting with witnesses across the United States and assisted the prosecution with invaluable support during trial. Sergeant John Focht is an irreplaceable asset to the Council Bluffs community and to the people of Iowa.
The 2023 Law Enforcement Victim Service Award is awarded to Altoona Police Department Detective David Lowe for his outstanding service, commitment, and dedication to assisting victims in the Altoona community and the State of Iowa. Detective Lowe has established himself as an outstanding detective in the investigations of human trafficking and child exploitation cases by providing support to victims and witnesses. Detective Lowe has exceptional skills in communication, investigation, and prosecutorial support and exemplifies the highest order of conduct and performance in every investigation and with each victim.
The 2023 Law Enforcement Victim Service Award is awarded to FBI Special Agent Amber Mann as a fierce investigator and committed advocate for justice especially for minor victims in human trafficking and sex trafficking cases. Special Agent Mann successfully investigated and aided in the prosecution of two defendants, one convicted of Transportation of a Minor and Coercion and Enticement and one convicted of Travel with the Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct. Both defendants preyed on children for their personal intentions. Special Agent Mann investigated the cases to the core, worked directly with the minor victims and their families, and dedicated long hours on the ultimate prosecution of two predators. Special Agent Mann is dedicated to our community and to fighting for justice for all victims.
The 2023 Law Enforcement Victim Service Award is awarded to Ottumwa Police Department Investigator Jeremy Tosh for his commitment to his work and for his relentless efforts to provide victims and witnesses of crimes with outstanding support. Investigator Tosh’s skills were put to the test during the investigation and prosecution of Nesly Mwarecheong and Bertino Weires, both of which plead guilty to forced labor crimes against three victims from the small island of Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia. Investigator Tosh provided constant support to the victims, despite significant obstacles with language barriers and American customs and norms. At sentencing, the victims expressed their gratitude for Investigator Tosh in their victim impact statements, proof that Investigator Tosh’s impact on the lives of victims makes him most deserving of this award.
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/ncvrw2022/overview.
Clive Man Charged for Defrauding Elderly Individuals and Insurance CompaniesRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – A federal grand jury in Des Moines returned an indictment on April 19, 2023, charging a Clive man with seventeen counts of mail and wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and two counts of money laundering over $10,000.
As alleged in the indictment, Zachary James Flaherty, 46, used his position as an insurance agent and annuity salesperson to defraud elderly individuals out of their retirement savings and other monies. To do that, Flaherty misrepresented information to and concealed information from his clients, including information relating to: the returns and bonuses his clients would receive by investing with him; the clients’ ability to make penalty-free withdrawals from their investments; and the losses clients could incur. After the clients agreed to invest money with Flaherty, he continued to misrepresent and conceal information, including information regarding: the returns clients were earning; the amount of money clients had invested with him; and the costs associated with withdrawing funds or cancelling their investments.
In addition, Flaherty encouraged victims to write checks to Flaherty personally and his businesses, including Midwest Senior Solutions Retirement Group, Inc. and Infinity Construction Group, LLC. At the same time, Flaherty misrepresented and concealed information about what he would do with the funds he received from the victims. Instead of depositing or investing the funds on the victims’ behalf, Flaherty deposited the funds into accounts he controlled, and he then used the funds for his own purposes and benefits, including to buy a boat and pay his mortgage and vehicle loans.
The indictment alleges that Flaherty’s conduct affected twelve specific victims in Iowa and Nebraska. On behalf of those victims, Flaherty obtained at least thirty-five annuities. Those twelve victims lost over $900,000 in charges, taxes, and fees in relation to their annuities. Those victims also wrote checks to Flaherty personally and his businesses which totaled over $1 million.
Further, the indictment alleges that Flaherty defrauded insurance companies out of commission payments. To do so, Flaherty caused annuity paperwork to be submitted to insurance companies which included misrepresentations and concealed information. Among other things, Flaherty submitted paperwork containing forged policyholder signatures. As a result of the annuity policies issued for the twelve victims in Iowa and Nebraska, insurance companies awarded commissions of over $650,000.
Finally, the indictment alleges that Flaherty conspired with another individual to commit mail and wire fraud. Flaherty and a co-conspirator agreed to execute and attempt to execute a scheme to defraud elderly individuals, primarily individuals in the Kansas City area.
If convicted, Flaherty faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison on each count.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement.
The Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case, with assistance from the Des Moines Police Department, Clive Police Department, and the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Essley is prosecuting the case.
Audubon County Man Sentenced for a Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – An Audubon County man was sentenced on April 18, 2023, to 60 months in prison following his plea of guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
On September 15, 2022, Audubon County Sheriff’s Department, Atlantic Police Department, Audubon Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Department, and Iowa State Patrol, responded to a call of shots fired. Deputies found Adam Lee Karstens, 41, standing outside the residence by a locked pickup truck. A search of the vehicle revealed a nine-millimeter Taurus handgun with an obliterated serial number underneath the driver’s seat. Karstens was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had a prior felony conviction. Karstens 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 Audubon County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement investigated the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Sigourney Man Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud and Defrauding the IRSRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – A Sigourney man pleaded guilty on April 17, 2023, to mail fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States.
According to court records, Mark Lynn Haines, 48, engaged in a scheme to defraud and obtain money from 2015 to 2018 concerning sales of grain as organic, when in fact, the grain was grown in violation of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP). NOP is a federal regulatory program governing organic agricultural products. Key among Haines’ NOP violations were the use of treated seed, which is prohibited by NOP. Haines concealed his NOP violations from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), the organic certifier. The grain was then sold by Haines to a number of unwitting purchasers.
Haines also conspired to impede and obstruct the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the assessment and collection of income taxes. Between April 2017 to April 2019, Haines obtained false invoices, backdated checks, and exchanged checks to give the appearance of an expense that was not in fact incurred. This conduct increased Haines’ expenses and decreased Haines’ federal income taxes.
“The USDA Organic Seal is a symbol of trust and confidence amongst consumers seeking to purchase organically grown produce. When farmers, like Haines, subvert NOP and its regulations, they compromise the integrity of the program and impair USDA’s ability to protect the health and value of American agriculture,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Shantel R. Robinson, USDA, Office of Inspector General, Midwest Region.
Haines is scheduled to be sentenced on August 18, 2023. A related defendant, Daniel DeRycke, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States, and is also pending sentencing.
A federal district court judge will determine the sentences of Haines and DeRycke after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement.
The United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) revoked Haines’ organic certificate in 2018 due to several NOP violations and assisted the federal agents in the investigation and the prosecution of the case.
If you witness or have knowledge of any violations of laws and regulations related to USDA programs, contact the OIG Hotline by telephone at (800) 424-9121 or TDD (202) 690-1202.
Omaha Man Sentenced for a Drug Distribution OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – An Omaha man was sentenced yesterday, April 18, 2023, to 168 months in prison following his plea of guilty to distribution of a controlled substance.
On January 12, 2021, the Council Bluffs Police and Council Bluffs Fire Departments were dispatched to a motel to provide medical treatment to an unresponsive victim, who ultimately died from a fentanyl overdose. Jason D. Hartzell, 22, distributed fentanyl pressed pills to the victim. Officers linked Hartzell to the fentanyl overdose death after reviewing phone information, social media information, surveillance footage, and conducting witness interviews. Hartzell 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 Council Bluffs Police Department, Omaha Police Department, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Fentanyl has become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills often resemble pharmaceutical pills, but contain potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. Visit the Drug Enforcement Administration’s website to learn more about One Pill Can Kill.
North Liberty Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A North Liberty man was sentenced on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, to 60 months in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
According to court documents, on May 20, 2021, Ronald Lee Robi, 71, entered a retail store in Coralville, browsed the firearm section, and selected two pistols to purchase. Robi paid for the pistols but told the sales associate he would come back later with his firearms permit and other documents to complete the paperwork. On June 1, 2021, Robi returned to the same retail store, convinced a different sales associate he had already provided the necessary documentation when he paid for the pistols, and took possession of the firearms. Robi has multiple prior felony convictions and was prohibited from possessing firearms.
On June 7, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Robi’s residence in North Liberty. During the search, law enforcement recovered a third firearm. At the time of his offense in the Southern District of Iowa, Robi had been indicted in the Southern District of Texas for being a felon in possession of firearms. He was granted the privilege of pretrial release. As a result of this offense, his pretrial release was revoked. He was sentenced for his crime in the Southern District of Texas on June 10, 2022. His sentence will be served consecutively to the sentence for the Texas firearms conviction.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Coralville Police Department and North Liberty Police Department investigated the case.
New London Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Embezzlement and Theft of Labor Union AssetsRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A New London man was sentenced on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, to 24 months in prison for embezzlement and theft of labor union assets.
According to court records, James Darin Boatman, 53, the former president of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 617 Union, embezzled and stole union funds for his personal use. UFCW Local 617 members include production workers and skilled trade workers at the Conagra plant located in Fort Madison. Investigation revealed that Boatman, the president of the Union from 2010 until 2019, set up a credit card in the Union’s name, without authorization, and from at least May 2017 to August 2019 used the card for personal expenses, including vacations to Florida, large repairs on his personal vehicle, and to pay for attorney representation for an unrelated matter. Additionally, Boatman wrote checks from the Union funds to cover personal expenses and to pay himself for unauthorized lost time for periods of time Boatman claimed he was conducting Union business. Boatman pled guilty and agreed to pay $74,231.34 in restitution to the Union.
Following his prison term, Boatman was ordered 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. The United States Department of Labor and Office of Labor-Management Standards investigated the case.
Council Bluffs Man Sentenced for a Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A Council Bluffs man was sentenced today, April 18, 2023, to 48 months in prison following his plea of guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
On February 27, 2022, Jake Campbell, 38, was stopped driving a vehicle that was reported stolen. During a search of the vehicle, officers located a loaded Smith and Wesson firearm under the driver’s seat, along with other items belonging to Campbell. The firearm was reported stolen. Campbell was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had a prior felony conviction, and he was a methamphetamine user. Campbell 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 Council Bluffs Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Muscatine County Man Sentenced to Twenty Years in Prison for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
Des Moines, IA – A Muscatine County man was sentenced Friday, April 7, 2023, to twenty years in prison following his guilty plea for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Child.
According to court documents, from February 2022 to September 2022, David Franklin Duncan III, 33, used cellphones and Facebook to communicate with a person he believed to be a fifteen-year-old child. During the conversations, Duncan attempted to employ, use, persuade, entice, or coerce the person he believed to be a child to capture and send Duncan images and videos of the child engaged in sexually explicit conduct, to travel to Duncan’s location or meet him at an agreed location for the purpose of engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and to engage in commercial sex acts. Duncan also sent images and videos of his penis and of him masturbating. Unbeknownst to Duncan, the person he was communicating with was an undercover law enforcement officer.
Following his prison term, Duncan must also serve a ten-year term 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. The Altoona Police Department, in conjunction with the Iowa Crimes Against Children Task Force, investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Essley prosecuted the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Man Guilty of Federal Charge Related to April 2022 Shooting DeathRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – On April 5, 2023, a federal jury convicted a Des Moines man of possessing ammunition in connection with the April 2022 shooting death of a man.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Tyrone Scott Cameron, 29, shot and killed a man after a fight over a debt Cameron owed. The evidence showed that Cameron left the apartment complex where the fight occurred and later returned with a gun. He fired 15 rounds of ammunition through a closed apartment door, striking and killing a male victim. A second victim survived. Cameron then fled the scene and was later identified as the shooter through surveillance video, witness statements, and cell site location records.
Cameron’s sentencing date has not yet been set. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
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, with assistance at trial by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Mikaela Shotwell and Kristin Herrera are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Davenport Man Found Guilty of Drug Charges Related to Fentanyl Overdose of ChildRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A federal jury convicted a Davenport man on Wednesday following a two-day trial on drug charges stemming from a fentanyl overdose of an 18-month-old child.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in 2021 Davenport Police Department investigated an influx of pressed fentanyl pills into the area, which resulted in numerous overdoses. On October 30, 2021, emergency personnel were dispatched to a residence on 4th Street in Davenport, for a child ingesting pills. When first responders arrived, they found the child unresponsive, with shallow breathing. The child eventually stopped breathing. First responders performed CPR on the child and administered Narcan. The child was revived and transported to Genesis Medical Center. While at Genesis, the child required additional doses of Narcan, and was eventually transferred to the University of Iowa pediatric intensive care unit for further care. Toxicology testing revealed fentanyl in the child’s system.
During the investigation of the child’s overdose, officers learned that Kathan Daniel Wiley, 23, had been distributing fentanyl. The fentanyl had been pressed into pills resembling prescription Percocet pills—blue pills stamped with “M30”—which the child had ingested and caused the overdose. Officers located evidence that Wiley had been obtaining and distributing the fake Percocet pills in the Quad Cities area, along with other individuals. Wiley was charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, along with co-conspirators Linder Kai Divos (a.k.a. Lindo), Jordan Thomas Hopper, Austen Michael Thomas (a.k.a. Waynski, a.k.a. Mitch), and Marshall Matthew James Carver.
On April 5, 2023, the jury found Wiley guilty of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, as well as possession with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury, relating to the overdose of the child on October 30, 2021.
Wiley faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 20 years with a maximum of life in prison for the possession with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury charge. Wiley faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy charge. There is no parole in the federal system. Wiley’s sentencing is scheduled for September 27, 2023, at 10:30 a.m.
The other charged co-conspirators have pled guilty and are pending sentencing.
Linder Kai Divos pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm. On February 21, 2023, Divos was sentenced to 14-and-a-half years in federal prison.
Jordan Thomas Hopper pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury, relating to an April 2021 overdose which occurred in Bettendorf, and distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, relating to a June 2021 overdose which occurred in Davenport. Hopper faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 20 years with a maximum of life in prison for each of the overdose charges, and a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years with a maximum of 40 years in prison for the conspiracy charge. Hopper’s sentencing is scheduled for September 26, 2023, at 1:30 p.m.
Austen Michael Thomas pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and felon in possession of a firearm. Thomas faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years with a maximum of 40 years in prison for the conspiracy charge, and a maximum of 10 years in prison for the firearm charge. Thomas’ sentencing is scheduled for September 26, 2023, at 2:30 p.m.
Marshall Matthew James Carver pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury, relating to an April 2021 overdose which occurred in Bettendorf. Carver faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 20 years with a maximum of life in prison for the distribution resulting in serious bodily injury charge, and a maximum of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy charge. Carver’s sentencing is scheduled for September 26, 2023, at 12:30 p.m.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Davenport Police Department investigated this case.