Northern District of Iowa

A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced on May 9, 2023, to 5 years in federal prison. 

Linda Fernandez, 69, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty January 26, 2023, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that between May and July 2022, Fernandez and others conspired to distribute over 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Sioux City area.  On July 15, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Fernandez’s apartment, and discovered approximately one pound of methamphetamine, drug distribution materials, and over $3,300. 

Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Fernandez was sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment and must serve a 3-year term of supervised release following the imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Fernandez remains in custody of the United States Marshal until she can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 22-4055.  Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.

A man who violated his supervised release by selling methamphetamine has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison. 

Adam James Rollins, age 43, from Mason City, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 8, 2023, revocation hearing where he was found to have violated his third term of supervised release which began May 6, 2022.  Rollins violated the conditions of release by using, and eventually selling methamphetamine again. 

Rollins’ supervised release had previously been revoked in April of 2019 and September of 2021.  He was originally sentenced in January of 2010, to 10 years in prison and 8 years of supervised release for conspiring to manufacture methamphetamine in the Mason City area. He also had a previous conviction for a felony drug offense in April of 2005.    

Rollins was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Linda R. Reade.  Rollins was sentenced to 40 months’ imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Rollins is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jack Lammers and investigated by the Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office and the Algona Police Department.   

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 09-CR-3019.

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A man who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced on May 8, 2023, in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Lavell Andre Barnes, Jr., age 27, from Iowa City, Iowa, was convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon.

At the sentencing, information showed that Barnes traveled from Chicago with a firearm, illegal controlled substances, and a large amount of United States Currency with children in the vehicle.  Barnes admitted that he illegally possessed a firearm after being previously convicted of two felony convictions in Cook County, Illinois.  Barnes was also previously convicted of a controlled substance offense involving heroin. 

Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Barnes was sentenced to serve 46 months’ imprisonment and must serve a three‑year term of supervised release following his term of incarceration.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Barnes remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until he is transported to federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason Dorval Norwood and was investigated by the Iowa City Police Department’s Street Crimes Action Team.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-CR-84.

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A Cedar Rapids man who attempted to rob a marijuana dealer and later shot at least twenty‑four times at an apartment building was sentenced on May 1, 2023, to 15 years in federal prison. 

Lucas Frank Floyd, age 28, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 29, 2022 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery. 

In a plea agreement, Floyd admitted that, on March 1, 2021, he agreed with others to rob a Cedar Rapids marijuana dealer.  Floyd and two others, all carrying firearms, broke into the marijuana dealer’s home and demanded marijuana and money from the dealer.  When the dealer told Floyd that he did not have any marijuana or money, Floyd pistol‑whipped the dealer, causing bodily injury to the dealer.  Floyd and the two other individuals then left the dealer’s home without taking anything.  On March 8, 2021, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop on a car in which Floyd was seated in the front‑passenger seat.  During the traffic stop, Floyd provided false names and dates of births to officers.  During a search of the car, officers recovered three firearms, extended magazines, marijuana, and a black ski mask.  The next day, on March 9, 2021, law enforcement officers searched Floyd’s residence and recovered another firearm. 

Floyd had previously been convicted of felony offenses in September 2011, May 2012, and December 2012, and he was forbidden from possessing firearms. 

Floyd also admitted that, on June 5, 2022, he fired at least twenty‑four shots at an occupied apartment building, striking the apartments in the apartment building at least twenty‑three times, with seventeen bullet holes found inside one of the apartments.  The next day, law enforcement officers attempted to arrest Floyd when he jumped out of an apartment window and attempted to flee.  Officers eventually arrested Floyd and they recovered the firearm Floyd used to shoot at the apartment building the night before.          

Floyd was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Floyd was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment, and he was ordered to make $2,500 in restitution to the owner of the apartment building he shot.  He must also serve a three‑year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Floyd is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Cedar Rapids Police Department. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-CR-00050.

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A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessed firearms was sentenced on May 1, 2023, to 25 years’ imprisonment. 

Robert Nicholas Hansen, 43, from Hospers, Iowa, was convicted by a jury of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; two counts of distribution of methamphetamine; and one count of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm (1 gun) on November 3, 2022.  On May 18, 2022, Hansen was convicted by a jury of two counts of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm (17 guns).

The jury found that, from January 2017 through January 2021, Hansen was involved in a conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine.  Evidence at trial showed that Hansen was involved with several other co-conspirators in the acquisition and distribution of more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine.  Evidence further showed that on two separate occasions, Hansen distributed one-half pound of methamphetamine to individuals cooperating with law enforcement and during one of the transactions was found to possess three separate bundles of cash, totaling $14,000.  The jury verdict included findings that Hansen’s methamphetamine distributions occurred within 1000 feet of Hospers Elementary School and South Side Park in Hospers, Iowa.  The jury also found that Hansen illegally possessed a .223 caliber AR-15 style rifle.  At trial, evidence was presented that Hansen had others store methamphetamine and guns for him when the “heat was on” him from law enforcement.  At sentencing, Hansen’s illegal involvement with three other guns was also presented. 

During Hansen’s other trial, the jury found that, from 2017 through November 2017, Hansen illegally possessed seventeen firearms.  At sentencing, Hansen’s illegal involvement with four other guns was also presented.  Hansen was previously convicted of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver in 2003 in the Iowa District Court for Sioux County.

Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Hansen was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment and must serve a 10-year term of supervised release following the imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Hansen remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Shawn Wehde and Patrick Greenwood and was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, the Orange City Police Department, the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file numbers are 21-4014 and 21-4054.  Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.

A Mason City, Iowa man who possessed over 150,000 depictions of child pornography was sentenced on Friday, April 28, 2023, to 240 months imprisonment after a jury returned a guilty verdict against him on November 17, 2022.

Brandon Manning, age 41, from Mason City, Iowa, was convicted of two counts of possession of child pornography at trial.  The verdict was returned following more than four hours of jury deliberations.

The evidence at trial and his sentencing showed that Manning possessed thousands of images and videos of child pornography, including pornography of children under the age of 12 years old—including infants, on an SD card in a cellphone he attempted to destroy, as well as an internal hard drive that was found in his home, hidden in his bedroom.

Manning was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 240 months’ imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay $118,000 in restitution to the victims.  Manning must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Manning is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.  For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and was investigated by the Mason City Police Department and the State of Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-3002.

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Bryan Ross, 26, from Ellsworth, Iowa, was sentenced April 28, 2023, to 25 years in federal prison for Producing and Distributing Child Pornography.

At the hearing, evidence established that between July 2019, and February 2022, Ross knowingly harassed and coerced minors online via Facebook and Snapchat to take sexually explicit photos and videos of themselves to send to him.  Evidence further established that Ross received and attempted to receive visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and distributed them to others online. 

Ross was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 300 months’ imprisonment and fined $1,000.  Ross was also ordered to pay $18,649 in restitution to the victims.  Ross must also serve an 8-year term of supervised released following the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.  For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

The case was investigated by HSI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-3016.  Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.

A Chicago man who distributed heroin in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on four different occasions was sentenced today to more than 3 years in federal prison.

Jerry Lamont Granville, age 52, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after an October 31, 2022 guilty plea to four counts of distribution of a controlled substance and one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that law enforcement utilized a confidential informant to conduct four controlled purchases of heroin from Granville between October 2020 and January 2021.  On January 5, 2021, following one of the controlled purchases of heroin, law enforcement officers stopped Granville’s vehicle.  During a search of the vehicle, officers found heroin and cocaine base.

Granville was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Granville was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Granville is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA; the Linn County Sheriff's Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-CR-36.

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Two men from Waterloo, Iowa, were sentenced to prison terms after possessing a firearm as felons.

Bruce Terrell Sanford, 32, from Waterloo received the prison term after a November 28, 2022 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.  Houston Simmons III, 26, from Waterloo received the prison term after a December 15, 2022 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

Evidence at the guilty plea and sentencing hearings showed that Simmons III and Sanford were sitting in a car outside of a club in Waterloo on September 5, 2021, when officers were called to the club.  Sanford was in the driver’s seat of the car, and Simmons III was in the front passenger’s seat.  Officers could smell an odor of marijuana coming from the car and then searched the car.  Inside the car, officers located a loaded Taurus PT111 G2 A, 9-millimeter pistol in the passenger door compartment next to where Simmons III was seated.  Officers were able to determine that the pistol was stolen.  Officers also found a burnt marijuana roach in the center console area of the car, a baggie of marijuana in the driver’s side door, an opened bag containing marijuana in the trunk of the vehicle, and a bag of marijuana in Sanford’s pocket.  Sanford and Simmons III both admitted to possessing the pistol.  Sanford was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he was previously convicted in Black Hawk County, Iowa, of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver in 2010, burglary in the third degree in 2010, and criminal mischief in the second degree in 2011.  Simmons III was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he was previously convicted in Black Hawk County, Iowa, of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver in 2019.

Sanford was sentenced on April 27, 2023, to 70 months’ imprisonment.  Simmons III was sentenced today to 44 months’ imprisonment.

Both Sanford and Simmons III were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  They were each ordered to serve a 3‑year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Sanford and Simmons III are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-CR-2019.

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Christen Williams, 35, from Sioux City, Iowa, was sentenced today to 10 months in federal prison for making false statements during the purchase of a firearm.  Williams received the prison term after a December 5, 2022, guilty plea.

Evidence at the hearing established that between August 23 and 24, 2021, Williams purchased three firearms from Fleet Farm in Sioux City.  Williams falsely indicated on the purchase forms that she was the intended recipient when she was purchasing the firearms on the behalf of another.  These firearms were later recovered at three separate crime scenes over the next 46 days, one of which was a drive-by shooting.   

Williams was sentenced in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa, by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 10 months’ imprisonment.  She must also serve a 1-year term of supervised released following the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit and was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-4079.  Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.

Felipe Martin, 26, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty on April 27, 2023, to being a prohibited person in possession of firearms. 

Evidence at the plea hearing showed that on August 29, 2022, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop in Lemars, Iowa, of a vehicle that defendant was driving and noted the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.  During a search of the vehicle, a Glock 9mm Luger, a .45 ACP pistol, ammunition, and a marijuana roach were found.  Law enforcement later executed a search warrant at defendant’s residence and recovered drug paraphernalia, baggies, cocaine, and marijuana.  Defendant further admitted he was an unlawful user of marijuana and cocaine, which by federal law prohibits a person from possessing any firearm or ammunition. 

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Martin was allowed to remain on release pending sentencing.  He faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, Le Mars Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-4078.  Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.

A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported four times was sentenced today to more than five years in federal prison.

Aron Vargas-Acosta, age 40, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Marshalltown, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 28, 2022, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported.

At the guilty plea, Vargas-Acosta admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government.  Vargas-Acosta was previously deported in April 2003, January 2008, July 2010, and April 2016. 

Vargas-Acosta was convicted of operating while intoxicated in Marshall County in April 2000, in Tama County in January 2001, and in Polk County in October 2001.  In June 2002, he was convicted of operating while intoxicated in Marshall County and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.  In April 2003, Vargas-Acosta was deported to Mexico for the first time. 

In September 2004, Vargas-Acosta was convicted of domestic assault.  In December 2005, he was convicted of driving while barred, identity theft and possession of marijuana.  In July 2006, he received his fifth conviction for operating while intoxicated and was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.  In January 2008, Vargas-Acosta was deported to Mexico for the second time.

In May 2008, Vargas-Acosta was arrested by immigration authorities in Texas.  In October 2008, he was convicted in the Southern District of Texas of illegally reentering the United States and sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment.  In July 2010, Vargas-Acosta was deported to Mexico for the third time. 

In November 2014, Vargas-Acosta was convicted in the Southern District of Iowa of illegally reentering the United States and sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment.  In April 2016, Vargas-Acosta was deported to Mexico for the fourth time. 

On September 13, 2022, immigration officials learned Vargas-Acosta had illegally returned to the United States and found Vargas-Acosta at the Tama County Jail following his arrest and conviction for possession of a controlled substance and operating while intoxicated.

Vargas-Acosta was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Vargas-Acosta was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Vargas-Acosta is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-CR-90.

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A Mason City, Iowa man who possessed a firearm as a felon was sentenced yesterday to the statutory maximum term of 10 years in federal prison.

Harley Davidson Llewellyn, age 44, from Mason City, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 26, 2022, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon.

In a plea agreement, Llewellyn admitted to being convicted of domestic abuse assault impeding air/blood flow causing bodily injury.  Llewellyn admitted to knowing he was prohibited from being in possession of a firearm. 

The case began after Llewellyn threatened a co-worker with a firearm, which led to termination of his employment. Over the course of the next two months, Llewellyn went on a shooting spree in Mason City and fired shots from a 9 millimeter pistol into 4 houses in Mason City.  First, on April 7, 2022, Llewellyn shot multiple times into a house that he incorrectly believed to be the home of a co-worker whom he had threatened.  On April 25, 2022, he fired a shot into another home where he believed the co-worker lived and then on May 3, 2022, he fired a round into the home of his co-worker’s parents, where the co-worker previously resided.  Also on May 3, 2022, Llewellyn shot into a sober living facility in Mason City. 

Following this shooting spree, Mason City police served a search warrant at defendant’s residence in Mason City where they located two Hi-Point 9 millimeter handguns, one of which had been used in all four of the shootings.

Llewellyn was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Llewellyn was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment, the statutory maximum sentence for the crime.  He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Llewellyn is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jack Lammers and was investigated by the Mason City Police Department and the Butler County Sheriff’s Office. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-CR-3026.

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A convicted felon who possessed a sawed-off shotgun in his truck was sentenced April 26, 2023, to more than four years in federal prison.

Joseph John Senger, age 34, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 9, 2022 guilty plea to unlawfully possessing a destructive device.

In a plea agreement and at the guilty plea hearing, Senger admitted he was driving his truck in Cedar Rapids on April 29, 2022.  Cedar Rapids Police officers stopped the truck after it drove over a curb and onto a sidewalk.  As they approached the truck, officers saw a methamphetamine pipe.  Officers then searched the truck and found four grams of methamphetamine, more methamphetamine pipes, seventeen shotgun shells, and a set of brass knuckles.  Finally, officers found a weapon made from a Revelation shotgun.  Both the barrel and the stock of the shotgun had been shortened.  Senger had four shotgun shells on his person.

Senger was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Senger was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Senger is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-cr-78.

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CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – As part of the Department of Justice’s United Against Hate (UAH) initiative, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa invited the citizens of Cedar Rapids to participate last night in a forum to discuss hate crimes and bias incidents. 

UAH is an initiative launched by the Department of Justice focused on improving the prevention of hate crimes and hate incidents by building relationships at the local level. Through this initiative, the Justice Department seeks to create and strengthen partnerships among law enforcement, community leaders and residents.

Joining in the forum were representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Linn County Attorney’s Office, the Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service, and the Cedar Rapids’ Civil Rights Commission. 

United States Attorney Timothy T. Duax emphasized the importance of citizens reporting hate crimes to law enforcement.  “In civil rights cases, enforcement begins with regular reporting of potential civil rights violations. The reporting of hate crimes is vital because these crimes have a devastating impact not just on the victims, but their families and communities as well.  That’s why the Department of Justice has engaged communities through the United Against Hate initiative, bringing together citizens, law enforcement, and prosecutors. However, we cannot investigate and prosecute unless such crimes are reported. Therefore, we encourage citizens to report to the Federal Bureau of Investigation or local law enforcement whenever they witness conduct they believe to be a hate crime.”

To report a hate crime to the FBI, please call 1-800-CALL-FBI, submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov, or contact your local field office.

A man who drove loads of ice methamphetamine from California to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for a drug trafficking organization was sentenced today to more than seven years in federal prison.

Albert Henry Bailey, age 53, from Cedar Rapids, received the prison term after a November 8, 2022 guilty plea to one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.

Evidence at prior hearings showed that during a wiretap investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration in Cedar Rapids in late 2021 and early 2022, Bailey was discovered to be a driver for a group of individuals who were purchasing ice methamphetamine in California and selling it in eastern Iowa.  Bailey traveled to California and then drove between 30 and 60 pounds of methamphetamine back to Iowa, where other individuals would sell it.  In February 2022, intercepted communications over the wiretap indicated that Bailey would be transporting methamphetamine from California to Iowa.  Investigators tracked Bailey’s vehicle and stopped it in York County, Nebraska.  During a search of the vehicle, investigators located and seized approximately 60 pounds of ice methamphetamine.

Bailey was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Bailey was sentenced to 88 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Bailey is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the DEA Task Force in Cedar Rapids and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The DEA Task Force in Cedar Rapids consists of the DEA; the Linn County Sheriff's Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22‑CR‑87‑CJW‑MAR.

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CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (“OVC”) and the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa will join 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 and features the theme, “Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change.”

In the Northern District of Iowa, United States Attorney Timothy T. Duax announced winners for the following awards based on their service to victims in Iowa:

• The Law Enforcement Victim Services Award is presented to Sargent Investigator Brent Ostrander from the Clayton County Sheriff’s Department. This award is presented to law enforcement officers in Iowa who go beyond the call of duty to help crime victims. It is the highest federal honor in Iowa for victim services by a law enforcement officer. Sgt. Ostrander is recognized for his leadership skills when working with other law enforcement agencies and his compassion and survivor-centered approach when working with crime victims.

Sgt. Ostrander took the initiative to attend college courses on trauma-informed services for victims of sexual assault and was then assigned to investigate all sexual assault allegations in Clayton County. During these investigations, Sgt. Ostrander consistently showed victims great respect and empathy. Sgt. Ostrander took his experience, knowledge and skills and began to train law enforcement in rural areas on how to interview, investigate, and present cases for prosecution. He collaborated with the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy to implement a Sexual Assault training course. He assisted in creating the Clayton County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), a team comprised of numerous law enforcement agencies, the Clayton County Attorney and Clayton County Victim Witness Coordinator. Sgt. Ostrander is a leader, educator and outstanding advocate for men, women, and children devastated by sexual violence.

• The Award for Excellence in Victim Services is presented to Victim Specialist Sherrie Schweder from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Law Enforcement Victim Services Award is presented to Detective Nathan West from the Sioux City Police Department, Special Agent Bradley Colligan from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Deputy Jared Junge from the Dakota County Nebraska Sheriff’s Department. These four individuals were nominated for their outstanding investigative and advocacy work that led to the successful prosecution of Arjune Ahmed.

Arjune Ahmed was convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting two women in Sioux City Iowa. While investigating these crimes, SA Colligan, Investigator West and Dep. Junge discovered five additional victims of attempted kidnapping and sexual assault by this defendant stemming back to 2014. Each of these victims were afraid of the defendant, distrustful of law enforcement, and keen to forget the worst day of their lives. But for the caring, comforting strong and inspirational conduct of Victim Specialist Schweder, the victims would not have cooperated with the government. Ms. Schweder provided varying levels of assistance to each victim, including crisis counseling, court accompaniment, and transportation. This incredible team effort made it possible to remove a serial kidnapper and rapist from the Siouxland area.

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/ncvrw2023/overview.

A woman who was trafficking ice methamphetamine was sentenced today to more than seven years in federal prison.

Mary Lavone Linnell, age 62, from West Chester, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 18, 2022 guilty plea to possession of ice methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it.

Evidence disclosed at the sentencing hearing showed that law enforcement stopped Linnell in a vehicle with approximately a quarter pound of ice methamphetamine in November 2021.  Other evidence showed that, in total, she bought over two pounds of ice methamphetamine for redistribution throughout 2021.  Linnell has multiple prior convictions for operating vehicles while under the influence and for possessing controlled substances.  She also has convictions for distributing methamphetamine and possessing cocaine with intent to deliver it.

Linnell was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  She was sentenced to 92 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Linnell is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Johnson County Drug Task Force, Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 22-CR-61.

A man who led a years‑long conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl was sentenced on April 21, 2023, to over 33 years in federal prison.

Brian Jarrell Dennis, age 33, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after his June 27, 2022 guilty pleas to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin, two counts of distribution of heroin and fentanyl, two counts of distribution and aiding and abetting the distribution of heroin and fentanyl, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

Evidence and information presented at the sentencing hearing and prior hearings showed that Dennis orchestrated the transport of over six kilograms of purported heroin from Chicago for distribution in Cedar Rapids.  During the early part of 2021, the Drug Enforcement Administration in Cedar Rapids initiated a wiretap investigation into Dennis’s drug distribution ring.  That evidence showed that during the months of the wiretap, Dennis employed intermediaries whom he supplied with purported heroin (which almost always also contained fentanyl or another synthetic opioid) to distribute to customers.  Several of those customers regularly distributed that purported heroin to other individuals.

Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that, in November 2018, Dennis was in a dispute with his cousin, who was one of his former heroin distributors.  Dennis believed his cousin had stolen customers from him, so Dennis threatened that individual over the phone, telling him that he would “come at him with everything [he] had.”  The sentencing court found that, during the evening of November 29, 2018, Dennis shot his cousin twice in the chest with a .22 caliber pistol during a drive‑by shooting in Cedar Rapids.  The cousin survived the attack, but the sentencing judge observed that for Dennis, “money comes before family.”  The judge described Dennis as the “poster child” for a major drug dealer who uses violence to control his business.

Information presented at sentencing and other hearings also showed that when officers attempted to arrest Dennis on the federal arrest warrant in June 2021, he led them on a high‑speed car chase during which Dennis threw a loaded handgun out of his vehicle, drove through traffic signals, and eventually drove onto a golf course where he ran his vehicle into a stone bridge.  After Dennis exited his vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, he was arrested by officers.

“Heroin and fentanyl are lethal drugs, and have killed adults and children in our community,” said United States Attorney Timothy Duax.  “Dennis brought these deadly drugs here intending to sell them for profit, regardless of the consequences.  Dennis used violence to control his market and enhance his ability to make money from the vulnerable and addicted.  Prosecuting dangerous individuals like Dennis remains a top priority for our office.”

drug“A known drug trafficker with a proven history of violence has been removed from our community making the streets of Cedar Rapids that much safer for our families,” Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Justin C. King said.  “Today’s sentencing, along with the sentencing of nine of Brian Dennis’ associates, should send a strong message about the penalty that comes from pushing potentially lethal substances like heroin and heroin laced with fentanyl into our neighborhoods.  Drug trafficking is not an innocent crime and arrests are often made of traffickers who own multiple weapons and have inflicted harm on others.  Brian Dennis is a dangerous criminal and now faces more than 33 years in federal prison for his violent acts.”

Nine other individuals, Cody Scott Deklotz, Andrew James Lehman, Ryan Rick Schlitter, Melinda Salvatora Werning, Jerry Dwayne Banghart, Thomas Nathaniel May, Demeco Demon Irvin, Taylor James Leyden, and David Michael Nelson, previously pled guilty to the heroin conspiracy and have been sentenced.  Ryan Rick Schlitter was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment.  Andrew James Lehman was sentenced to 10 months and 16 days’ imprisonment.  Cody Scott Deklotz was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment.  Melinda Salvatora Werning was sentenced to 12 months and one day of imprisonment.  Jerry Dwayne Banghart was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment.  Thomas Nathaniel May was sentenced to 31 months’ imprisonment.  Demeco Demon Irvin was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment.  Taylor James Leyden was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment.  David Michael Nelson was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment.  Ladonna Cynthia Givens, who also sold heroin and fentanyl for Dennis but who was charged in a separate indictment, was sentenced to 7 months and 14 days’ imprisonment.

Dennis was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Dennis was sentenced to a total of 400 months’ imprisonment on the conspiracy count, 240 months’ concurrent imprisonment on the remaining drug counts, and 120 months’ concurrent imprisonment on the gun count.  He must also serve a total of a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Dennis is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA; the Linn County Sheriff's Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 21‑CR‑32‑CJW.

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A two-time drug felon who possessed a firearm and sold fentanyl to drug users in Dubuque, Iowa, was sentenced today to 216 months in federal prison. 

Jose Miguel Soto-Guzman, age 47, received the prison sentence after a December 6, 2022 guilty plea to distribution of a controlled substance near a protected location after having been previously convicted of a felony drug offense and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Evidence at hearings in Soto-Guzman and his co-defendant’s cases established that, between March and June 2022, Soto-Guzman supplied heroin users in the Dubuque area with fentanyl.  Soto-Guzman and his co-defendant, Fallon Christina Murphy, regularly traveled to La Crosse, Wisconsin, to purchase fentanyl from Soto-Guzman’s source, which Soto-Guzman and Murphy then sold in Dubuque.  During one of these trips, Soto-Guzman’s three-year-old child was present.  Between March and June 2022, investigators conducted five controlled purchases from Soto‑Guzman and Murphy.  The drugs purchased contained fentanyl, but some of the fentanyl was mixed with heroin and some with methamphetamine.  During a drug sale, Soto-Guzman told an undercover agent that two people had overdosed the previous day.  When investigators searched a residence where Soto-Guzman stayed, they located a firearm that he possessed.  Soto-Guzman, a convicted felon, was also known to possess a firearm while selling controlled substances.

Soto-Guzman was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  He was sentenced to 216 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a 6-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Murphy was previously sentenced to 28 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release.

Soto-Guzman is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin and Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham and was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force as part of the Northern Iowa Heroin Initiative.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-CR-1022.

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A man illegally armed with a loaded gun, was sentenced on April 13, 2023, to more than 5 years in federal prison.

Devine Shawn Felder, aka “Ketchup”, 41, originally from Louisiana, received the prison term after a December 19, 2022, guilty plea to 1 Count of Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.

Evidence in the case showed on or about July 22, 2022, as Sioux City Police Officers attempted to contact Felder regarding an active felony warrant, he fled on foot. Felder was stopped a short distance away in possession of a loaded handgun with a round in the chamber.

Felder has previously been convicted of burglary on an inhabited dwelling, battery, felon in possession of a firearm, domestic abuse battery, assault causing bodily injury, criminal mischief, and aggravated assault. As a result, Felder is incapable of legally possessing a gun.

Felder was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 70 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Felder is being held in the custody of the United States Marshal’s until he can be transported to a federal prison.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-CR-04070.

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A man who possessed a firearm as a felon was sentenced yesterday to 78 months in federal prison.

Gabriel DeTrace Taylor, age 30, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 10, 2022, guilty plea to one count of possessing a firearm as a felon.  Taylor had previously been convicted of Robbery in the First Degree.

Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that Taylor fled from police and threw a loaded firearm from the window of the vehicle, as well as a backpack with cocaine and marijuana.  Evidence also showed that on a prior occasion in March 2021, Taylor had done the same thing, fleeing from police and throwing a firearm from the vehicle.

Taylor was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Taylor was sentenced to 78 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Taylor is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 22-CR-62.

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A man found unconscious, behind the wheel another person’s vehicle on a private landowner’s property while in possession of a shotgun and a handgun, was sentenced April 13, 2023, to 7 years in federal prison.

Nickolas Schwenn, age 42, from Denison, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 10, 2023, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and drug user.

Evidence in the case showed Schwenn was found on December 12, 2021, by a landowner on private farm ground, unconscious behind the wheel of a vehicle. When law enforcement arrived, they found Schwenn asleep in the driver’s seat of a Pontiac Bonneville which had license plates registered to a different vehicle. Law enforcement also observed a shotgun on the rear floorboard of the vehicle and a handgun in the door pocket of the driver’s side door. The deputy, who recognized Schwenn and knew him to be a felon, woke Schwenn and directed him to exit the vehicle, at which time Schwenn began to argue with the officer. Schwenn then put his vehicle in drive and rammed a cow gate in front of his vehicle. He then put his vehicle in reverse and rammed his vehicle into the front of the landowner’s vehicle. Officers, threatening Schwenn with a taser, got him out of his vehicle and placed him under arrest. Schwenn also advised that he had drugs in his pocket; however, no drugs were found on his person. 

Schwenn was not capable of legally possessing a gun as a result of a conviction for burglary. Schwenn has additional convictions for eluding law enforcement.

Schwenn was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 84 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Schwenn is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was investigated by Crawford County, Iowa Sheriff’s department and Monona County, Iowa Sheriff’s department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-04023.

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A man who distributed heroin and fentanyl in Dubuque, Iowa, was sentenced on April 18, 2023, to more than 15 years in prison in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

Deandre P. Davis, age 33, formerly of Dubuque, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl and distribution of heroin and fentanyl within 1,000 feet of Hilltop Park in Dubuque, Iowa.

At his plea hearing, Davis admitted to engaging in a drug-related conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl.  In the fall of 2020, Davis coordinated with Nicole Jarvis and personally distributed heroin and fentanyl throughout the city of Dubuque. 

Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Davis was sentenced to serve 188 months’ imprisonment and must serve a 12-year term of supervised release following his term of incarceration.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Davis remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to federal prison.

This case was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason D. Norwood.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 21-CR-1033-CJW.

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A Sioux City woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine with others was sentenced on April 14, 2023, to 37 months in federal prison.  

Kimberly Hansen, 58, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty on October 21, 2022, in federal court to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that Hansen was involved in a conspiracy with 7-8 other persons that distributed at least 15 kilograms of methamphetamine from June 2017 through August 2019.  On 12 occasions, Hansen received multiple pounds of meth through the mail from California for local drug dealer Melroy Johnson Sr.  Hansen also traveled to California and acquired multiple pounds of methamphetamine from the same California source, then transported the meth back to Sioux City, Iowa, for distribution.

Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Hansen was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment and must serve a 2-year term of supervised release following imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Hansen remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until she can be transported to a federal prison. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the United States Postal Service, and the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.   

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-4086.  Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa is joining with the FBI, the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission, the Linn County Attorney’s Office and others to host a forum designed to identify and address key issues related to hate crime reporting, investigation, prosecution and prevention.  The forum is designed to educate the public on how to respond to hate crimes or hate incidents, including who to contact should a member of the public be the victim of a hate crime or incident.

The forum is part of the Department of Justice’s United Against Hate initiative.  United Against Hate is a nationwide Department of Justice initiative to combat unlawful acts of hate.  This initiative will connect federal, state and local law enforcement with communities in order to build trust and encourage people to report hate crimes and incidents.

Event Details

When:       April 25, 2023

Where:      Cedar Rapids Downtown Public Library – Beems Auditorium B

Time:        6:00 P.M.

A press release will be provided and interview opportunities will be available. 

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A man who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced to over seven years in prison on April 17, 2023, in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Kayne Russell Donath, age 23, from East Dubuque, Illinois, was convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon.

At sentencing, the Court found that Donath received a ride from an individual in the community who was providing him a personal ride-sharing service.  During this service, Donath revealed his possession of a firearm.  After the individual was pulled over by law enforcement, officers discovered Donath had a warrant for his arrest.  The Court found that Donath pulled down the gear shifter and forced the individual to elude law enforcement.  Donath assaulted the individual with the firearm during the high-speed chase.  Officers recovered the firearm after it was discarded in a nearby alley.  The Court also found that Donath had previously committed assaults against law enforcement and another individual.

Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Donath was sentenced to serve 90 months’ imprisonment and must serve a three‑year term of supervised release following his term of incarceration.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Donath remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason Dorval Norwood and was investigated by the City of Dubuque Police Department’s Drug Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-CR-1028.

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The owner of a Sergeant Bluff, Iowa construction firm was sentenced on Friday, April 14, 2023, to two years in federal prison for his role in tax evasion offenses, including for evading payment of his company’s employment taxes, his personal income taxes, and evading payment of a company’s employment taxes which he kept in the name of another.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Kevin Alexander, 62, of Sioux City, owned K&L Construction, Inc., a landscaping and construction company.  As the sole shareholder and president of K&L Construction, Alexander was responsible for filing quarterly employment tax returns and collecting and paying over to the IRS payroll taxes withheld from employees’ wages.  From the second quarter of 2014 through the first quarter of 2017, K&L Construction paid approximately $3.8 million in wages to its employees and withheld approximately $1 million in payroll taxes, but the company did not pay over any of these withholdings to the IRS. 

During IRS collection proceedings, Alexander accepted responsibility for paying K&L Construction’s outstanding tax balance.  Alexander, however, submitted a false form to the IRS that concealed some of his assets.  Alexander admitted that he submitted the false form for the purpose of concealing assets and evading payment of K&L Construction’s outstanding payroll tax liability.  He evaded payment of K&L Construction’s tax debt by operating it through another company, Circle A Construction, Inc. and keeping ownership of Circle A Construction in another’s name.  Alexander was found liable, for sentencing purposes, of at least $757,314.74 in tax liability for Circle A Construction.  Alexander also willfully evaded paying his personal income taxes for 2014, 2015, and 2016, totaling $667,544 in personal income tax loss.  

Alexander was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 24 months’ imprisonment.  He was ordered to make $1,678,722.39 in restitution.  He must also serve a 2-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

“Mr. Alexander admitted that he purposely hid his assets to avoid paying his company’s outstanding payroll tax liability,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Thomas F. Murdock, IRS Criminal Investigation’s St. Louis Field Office. “Employers cheat their employees when they fail to meet that obligation. That’s a serious offense that harms the employee and all the honest taxpayers who’ve paid their fair share of taxes in a timely manner.”

U.S. Attorney Timothy T. Duax of the Northern District of Iowa and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.

IRS-Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Timmons of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa and Trial Attorney Meredith Havekost of the Justice Department’s Tax Division prosecuted the case.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 21-4092.

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A Sioux City, Iowa man who brutally robbed a marijuana dealer was sentenced April 5, 2023, to 7 years in federal prison for robbery.

Alejandro Bautista, age 21, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 24, 2022, guilty plea.

Evidence in the case showed that on October 28, 2020, Bautista tricked a marijuana dealer into allowing him into his home to buy marijuana. Once inside, Bautista shouted a signal and armed gunman entered the home. The marijuana dealer, a 20-year old man, his brother and girlfriend were home at the time, where they were restrained, beaten, brutalized and robbed of marijuana, cash, a firearm and other valuables.

Bautista was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 84 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Bautista is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 21-04029.

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A man who violated the terms of his federal supervised release was sentenced April 7, 2023, to more than one year in federal prison.

Rahmaan El Herman, 41, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a Judge found him guilty of violating the terms and conditions of his supervised release.  El Herman was sentenced in October 2008 to 180 months imprisonment with 5 years of supervised release following for his conviction of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute crack cocaine.

Evidence at the hearings showed El Herman violated multiple conditions of his supervised release which included multiple failures to report for drug testing and possessing a firearm during an assault of another person.

El Herman was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  El Herman was sentenced to 12 months’ plus one day imprisonment.  He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

El Herman is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the U.S. Probation Office and the Sioux City Police Department. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 04-4042.  Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.

A man who distributed heroin and fentanyl in Dubuque, Iowa, was sentenced April 13, 2023, to more than 13 years in prison in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

Menelaeus C. Watson, age 35, from Chicago, Illinois, was convicted of distribution of heroin and fentanyl within 1,000 feet of a protected location.

In a plea agreement, Watson admitted to engaging in two transactions to distribute heroin and fentanyl in Dubuque.  The transactions took place within 1,000 feet of a local college and two parks.  Watson was previously convicted for unlawfully delivering illegal controlled substances on two separate occasions in Illinois.

Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.

Watson was sentenced to serve 164 months’ imprisonment and must serve a 6-year term of supervised release following his term of incarceration.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Watson remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to federal prison.

This case was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason D. Norwood.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 21-CR-1033-CJW.

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A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced on April 5, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City, to 117 months’ imprisonment.

Amber Miller, 35, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, pled guilty on November 2, 2022, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed Miller’s involvement in a conspiracy scheme that distributed more than 15 kilograms of methamphetamine from January 2020 through April 2022.  On two separate occasions in January and March 2021, Miller distributed a total of 140 grams of methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement, during controlled purchase operations.  Miller also admitted conduct obstructing justice.   

Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Miller was sentenced to 117 months’ imprisonment and must serve a four-year term of supervised release following the imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Miller remains in custody of the United States Marshal until she can be transported to a federal prison. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, DCI Laboratory. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-3015.  Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.

A man who violated the terms of his federal supervised release was sentenced April 10, 2023, to three years in federal prison.

Jeremiah Preston, 40, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after a Judge found him guilty of violating the terms and conditions of his supervised release.  Preston was previously convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and distribution of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment.  Preston began his term of supervised release in October 2022.

Evidence at the hearings showed Preston began violating multiple conditions of his supervised release shortly after his release from prison.  In January 2023, during a traffic stop, Preston was found with two ounces of methamphetamine which he intended to distribute to others.

Preston was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Preston was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Preston is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the U.S. Probation Office, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fort Dodge Police Department. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file numbers are 15-3048 and 16-3028.  Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.

An Iowa man was sentenced today to two years in prison for evading payment of employment taxes owed by his company.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Kevin Alexander of Sioux City owned K&L Construction, Inc. (K&L), a landscaping and construction company. Alexander was responsible for filing quarterly employment tax returns and collecting and paying to the IRS taxes withheld from employees’ wages. Between 2014 and 2017, K&L paid approximately $3.8 million in wages to its employees, of which approximately $1 million in income and Social Security and Medicare taxes was withheld. Alexander did not pay those withholdings over to the IRS. When the IRS attempted to collect K&L’s unpaid employment taxes, Alexander sought to conceal his income by submitting a form to the IRS concealing the full amount of K&L’s available assets.

In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand ordered Alexander to serve two years of supervised release and to pay approximately $1.7 million in restitution to the United States.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Timothy T. Duax for the Northern District of Iowa made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Meredith Havekost of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Timmons for the Northern District of Iowa prosecuted the case.

A Waterloo man that distributed fentanyl and heroin was sentenced April 12, 2023, to twenty years in federal prison.

Damien L. Cobbins, age 43, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 30, 2022 guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance after a prior conviction for a serious drug felony.          

In a plea agreement, Cobbins admitted that on May 10, 2022, and May 17, 2022, he distributed fentanyl to another person in Waterloo.  On May 19, 2022, law enforcement stopped Cobbins’s vehicle, and they recovered over $2,200 from Cobbins, which Cobbins admitted were proceeds from the sale of fentanyl and heroin.  Cobbins continued to distribute fentanyl and heroin.  On August 18, 2022, law enforcement again stopped Cobbins’s vehicle, and they recovered over $2,700, which Cobbins admitted were proceeds from the sale of fentanyl and heroin.  Cobbins was arrested and, during a search at the Waterloo Police Department, officers seized over 60 grams of a fentanyl, heroin, and metonitazene mixture from Cobbins’s person. 

Information disclosed at sentencing showed that Cobbins had four previous convictions for distributing controlled substances, including a prior federal conviction in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. 

Cobbins was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Cobbins was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment, and he must also serve an eight‑year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Cobbins is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.            

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and investigated by the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force consisting of the Waterloo Police Department, Cedar Falls Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department, Evansdale Police Department, Waverly Police Department, Hudson Police Department, La Porte City Police Department, and the Bremer County Sheriff’s Department. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-CR-02048-LTS.

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A man who punched the mother of his children in the face twice was sentenced today to over a year in federal prison.

Dawson Davenport, age 42, from Tama, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 21, 2022 guilty plea to assault of an intimate partner resulting in substantial bodily injury.

Information from the case showed that on January 24, 2022, Davenport was intoxicated and involved in a fight with another man.  The victim, who was the mother of three of Davenport’s children, tried to separate the two men.  She then retreated into a nearby house and sat on the couch.  Davenport entered the home and punched the victim in the face twice, striking near her left eye each time.  He attempted to punch her a third time but missed and fell onto the victim.  Davenport has previously been convicted of domestic assault five times in state court. 

Davenport was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Davenport was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Davenport is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Meskwaki Nation Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-cr-66.

A man who possessed a firearm as a felon was sentenced today to ten years in federal prison.

Daniel Arsenio Rodgers, age 34, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 31, 2022, jury verdict finding him guilty on one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. 

The evidence at trial showed that Rodgers knowingly possessed a Beretta 9mm handgun on June 25, 2021.  On that date, Rodgers shot at a residence on West Locust in Dubuque before ditching the car he was driving.  Later that day, Rodgers shot at a residence on W. 11th Street as a passenger in a different vehicle.  Dubuque police officers were able to track that vehicle using traffic cameras from W. 11th Street to a local restaurant where Rodgers was arrested on an outstanding warrant a short time later.  The Beretta used in both shootings was found in the vehicle in which Rodgers traveled to the restaurant.

Rodgers was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Rodgers was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Rodgers is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and was investigated by the Dubuque Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-CR-1013.

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Two men from Chicago were sentenced to prison terms after coming to Iowa to purchase firearms illegally.

Artin Thomas, age 29, from Chicago, Illinois, received a prison term after a November 7, 2022 guilty plea to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.  In a plea agreement, he admitted buying firearms in May, June, and July 2022 in Iowa and lying about his address at each purchase.  He also admitted that he was a marijuana user at the time he purchased the firearms, which he did not disclose at the time of the purchases.  He also admitted that he purchased the guns to resell them.

Thomas was sentenced on April 3, 2023, to 41 months’ imprisonment. 

Javon Jones, age 27, from Chicago Illinois, received a prison term after a November 7, 2022 guilty plea to two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon.  In his plea agreement, Jones admitted possessing firearms following felony convictions on two separate dates in July 2022.  Thomas was previously convicted of mob action - fail to withdraw, simple assault, aggravated battery/peace officer, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use or possession of a weapon by a felon, resisting a peace officer/correctional officer/firefighter, and felon in possession or use of a firearm.   

Jones was sentenced on April 11, 2023, to 46 months’ imprisonment.      

Both Thomas and Jones were sentenced by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  They were each ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Thomas and Joes are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle and investigated by the Dubuque Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-cr-1025.

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A Carrol, Iowa man that utilized Kik, an online messaging app, to receive and distribute visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct was sentenced April 7, 2023, to 9 years in federal prison.         

Wyant Unruh, 37, received the prison term after a November 7, 2022, guilty plea to Possession of Child Pornography.

In the plea agreement, Unruh admitted that between November 2019, and July 2021, that he knowingly possessed child pornography, and that he used the messaging app Kik to knowingly receive and attempt to receive visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  He further admitted to using the app to distribute child pornography to others.

Unruh was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 108 months’ imprisonment and fined $500.  He was also ordered to pay $8,500 in restitution to the victims.  Unruh must also serve a 5-year term of supervised released following the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

The case was investigated by the Iowa Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.

Unruh is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

 Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-3016.

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A convicted felon who possessed a firearm and attempted to elude police in his vehicle, and on foot, was sentenced today to more than four years in federal prison.

Daniel Straw, age 33, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 3, 2022 guilty plea to bring a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

At the guilty plea, Straw admitted he possessed a Glock 9mm pistol when he was prohibited because he was previously convicted of a felony, previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, was a drug user, and was subject to a no-contact order.  In July of 2022, Straw took the Cedar Rapids Police Department on a chase while driving his vehicle.  After going over a curb, Straw abandoned his car and took off on foot.  He scaled a fence and ran through residential backyards while being chased by police.  He was ultimately apprehended in the backyard of a residential neighborhood and a loaded Glock 9mm pistol was located in his bag, as well as an extended magazine and marijuana.  

Straw was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Straw was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Straw is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Liz Dupuich and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force.  The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-cr-77-LTS.

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A prohibited person who possessed a firearm was sentenced today to 64 months in federal prison.

Tylon Randolph, age 22, of Cedar Rapids, received the sentence after a November 7, 2022 guilty plea to one count of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.  At the plea hearing, Randolph admitted that, on June 1, 2022, he possessed a Hi-Point 9 mm pistol after having been convicted of a felony and while he was an unlawful user of marijuana and alprazolam.

Randolph was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by Chief United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Randolph was sentenced to 64 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is CR 22-71.

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A Mason City woman was sentenced April 10, 2023, to more than 7 years in federal prison.

Kari Ann Peters, age 36, from Mason City, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 31, 2023, guilty plea to distribution of methamphetamine.

In a plea agreement, Peters admitted to distributing methamphetamine around the Mason City, Iowa area.

Peters was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Peters was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment.  She must also serve a 4-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Peters is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jack Lammers and investigated by the Cerro Gordo Sheriff’s Office, Mason City Police Department, Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, and the North Central Iowa Drug Task Force. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 21-3033.

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A man who possessed a firearm as a felon was sentenced today to almost five years in federal prison.

Timothy Tirrell Brown, age 34, from Manchester, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 14, 2022, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

At the guilty plea, Brown admitted that, on July 24, 2021, he knowingly possessed a firearm, a Smith & Wesson M&P-15, 5.56 NATO AR pistol with an attached 30-round magazine, as a prohibited person.  A Hardin County deputy sheriff found the loaded firearm behind the front passenger seat of the car Brown was driving following a traffic stop.  Brown was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he was previously convicted in Jackson County, Mississippi, of one count of Felony Sale or Transfer of Cocaine and two counts of Felony Possession of Cocaine in July 2007, and one count of Felony Hindering Prosecution in the First Degree in May 2014.

Brown was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Brown was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Brown is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and was investigated by the Hardin County Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-CR-40.

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A felon who possessed a firearm pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Jamie Swanson, age 32, of Colona, Illinois, was convicted of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  At the plea hearing, Swanson admitted that, in March 2022, he possessed a pistol after having been convicted of a felony.

Sentencing before Chief United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Swanson remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Swanson faces a possible maximum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Anamosa Police Department, the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is CR 22-100.

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A man who possessed or distributed over a pound of ice methamphetamine and was found with more than $45,000 of drug proceeds was sentenced today to more than seven years in federal prison.

Matthew Daniel Birch, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 6, 2022 guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. 

Information disclosed at the sentencing hearing demonstrated that between 2019 and 2021, Birch sold approximately 194 grams of ice methamphetamine in Dubuque.  Law enforcement officers seized another 315 grams of ice methamphetamine before Birch had the opportunity to sell it.  One on occasion, officers found Birch with over $6,000 of drug proceeds.  Later, after Birch attempted to flee from a traffic stop, officers found over $39,000 of drug proceeds.  Birch has a history of fleeing from the police.  Birch’s criminal history includes several violent convictions, including going armed with intent, false imprisonment in which he hit someone in the face and nose several times, assault with injury, domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury, and harassment in the first degree.

Birch was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Birch was sentenced to 95 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a 4-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Birch is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force, Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, and the Dubuque Police Department.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-CR-1002.

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A man who spent over 20 years as a reserve deputy sheriff who amassed a large collection of child pornography over seven years was sentenced today to 12 years in federal prison.

Gordon Grabau, age 51, from Marion, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 17, 2022 guilty plea to receiving child pornography.

Information from a plea agreement and information disclosed at sentencing showed Grabau collected child pornography using peer-to-peer software from 2014 to 2021.  In July 2021, law enforcement agencies searched Grabau’s home, seizing numerous electronic devices such as computers and hard drives.  While examining those devices, law enforcement found 168,780 files containing child pornography.  The files included both still images and videos.  The files depicted children as young as infants and included prepubescent children involved in sadistic and masochistic conduct, some involving an adult.

Grabau had no prior criminal history.  He had previously served as a volunteer reserve deputy sheriff for Linn County beginning in 2000.  The Linn County Sheriff terminated his ability to serve as a reserve deputy on the same day law enforcement searched Grabau’s home. 

Grabau was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Grabau was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.  For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

Grabau is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Marion Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-CR-53.

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A man who was selling drugs and bought stolen firearms while he was on supervised release from a 2020 firearm conviction was sentenced on April 6, 2023, to more than seven years in federal prison.

Timothy Rabineau, age 48, from Oxford Junction, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 1, 2022 guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Information from the sentencing hearing showed that on July 1, 2022, law enforcement officers searched Rabineau’s residence and found a drug ledger that showed Rabineau was distributing marijuana, THC vape cartridges, Xanax, Valium, and acid.  Officers also found two mason jars that held approximately thirty-five baggies containing 78.8 grams of marijuana.  Six days later, officers searched Rabineau’s residence again after receiving information that he had bought two handguns that were stolen from Theisen’s in Maquoketa by another individual on July 3, 2022.  Officers recovered a case containing the two stolen firearms and an additional firearm.  Rabineau admitted he bought the two stolen firearms.  At the time, Rabineau was still on supervised release from his 2020 conviction for possession of a firearm by a felon.      

Rabineau was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Rabineau was sentenced to a total of 88 months’ imprisonment comprised of 64 months’ imprisonment for the new crimes and a consecutive sentence of 24 months’ imprisonment for the supervised release violations.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Rabineau is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

These cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kyndra Lundquist and Lisa Williams and investigated by the Jones County Sheriff’s Office and the Maquoketa Police Department. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file numbers are 22-CR-0069 and 19-CR-0102.

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A convicted felon who possessed five firearms, including two that were stolen, was sentenced today to six years in federal prison.

Jordan Johnson, age 24, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 20, 2022 guilty plea to felon in possession of firearms.

Information from the case showed that on September 22, 2020, Johnson was on probation following a conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm in state court.  Officers of the High Risk Unit from the Sixth Judicial District’s Department of Correctional Service visited Johnson at his apartment.  The officers believed Johnson was hiding something and Johnson eventually left the apartment while the officers were looking around.

After Johnson left, the Cedar Rapids Police Department responded and conducted a search of the apartment.  They found four handguns hidden in a clothes’ hamper in a child’s bedroom.  They also found a rifle in another part of the apartment.  One of the handguns and the rifle had previously been reported stolen.  One of the handguns also had a serial number that someone had attempted to scratch off.

Johnson has multiple prior criminal convictions, including convictions involving violence and firearms.  He had also previously been convicted in state court of carrying weapons and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Johnson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Johnson was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Johnson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and Sixth Judicial District’s Department of Correctional Service’s High Risk Unit. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-CR-97.

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A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced today to more than two months in federal prison.

Jesus Mira-Pineda, age 31, a citizen of Honduras illegally present in the United States and residing in Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 9, 2023, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported.

At the guilty plea, Mira-Pineda admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government.  Mira-Pineda was previously deported in March 2014 and illegally reentered the United States in 2015.  On December 19, 2022, immigration officials learned Mira-Pineda had illegally returned to the United States and found Mira-Pineda at the Black Hawk County Jail following his arrest for assault causing bodily injury.

Mira-Pineda was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Mira-Pineda was sentenced to 73 days’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Mira-Pineda is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 23-CR-2001.

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A man who possessed over 3,500 photographs and 25 videos of child pornography was sentenced today to more than 5 years in federal prison.

Jeff Gruber, age 60, from Sumner, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 13, 2022 guilty plea to possession of child pornography.

At the guilty plea, Gruber admitted he possessed child pornography on his computer between November 2016 and March 2017.

Gruber was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Gruber was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment.  He was also ordered to make restitution.  He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.  For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

Gruber is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Liz Dupuich and investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Sumner Police Department.. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-cr-2054.

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