Northern District of Iowa

DAVENPORT, IOWA – A Laurens man, Colton Eugene Cope, age 25, was sentenced on August 19, 2021, by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey to 46 months in prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a drug user on two occasions. Cope was ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow his prison term as well as pay $200 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

According to court documents, Cope was federally charged with drug user in possession of a firearm after officers stopped a vehicle he was driving related to a shots fired call in Davenport. Cope was found in possession of numerous firearms, ammunition, and methamphetamine. Cope admitted to using methamphetamine and possessing the firearms and ammunition. Cope further admitted to allowing Davion Gary, a felon, to possess one of his firearms. Officers located shell casings at an apartment complex in Davenport. The shell casings at the scene were consistent with being fired from one of Cope’s guns.

When Cope was arrested, he was again found in possession of firearms, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia – which led to Cope being federally charged in the Northern District of Iowa for unlawful possession of a firearm as a drug user.

Acting United States Attorneys Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa and Sean R. Berry of the Northern District of Iowa made the announcement.

These cases were investigated by the Davenport Police Department, Fort Dodge Police Department, and the Webster County Sheriff’s Office.

This case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhood, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

A man who escaped from custody in the Gerald R. Hinzman Center was sentenced on August 19, 2021, to two years in federal prison.

Justin Troendle, age 35, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the sentence after a February 26, 2021 guilty plea to one count of escape from federal custody.  At the plea hearing, Troendle admitted that, in May 2020, he was in custody at the Hinzman Center under a federal court order pursuant to his prior conviction for failure to register as a sex offender.  Troendle admitted that, between May 5 and May 15, 2020, he left custody without authorization by failing to return to the Hinzman Center as required.

Troendle was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Troendle was sentenced to 24 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 prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the United States Marshals Service, the Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force, and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.

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

The case file number is CR 20-87.

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A man who shot at an occupied vehicle in an apartment complex parking lot was sentenced today to more than eight years in federal prison.

Eric James Lyle, age 34, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 31, 2021 guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

At the guilty plea, Lyle admitted that on September 7, 2020, he possessed a Glock 42 .380 pistol, after previously being convicted of a felony offense.  An on-duty police officer parked near the Mead Apartment Complex observed the shooting and later recovered the firearm and six shell casings from the parking lot.  Surveillance video showed Lyle discharging the firearm multiple times towards a black SUV as the SUV left the parking lot. 

Lyle was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Lyle was sentenced to 105 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.

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

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams 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 21-CR-0001.

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A man who illegally possessed a loaded handgun pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

Timothy James Hensley, age 44, from Martell, Iowa, was convicted of one count of being an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm.

At the plea hearing, Hensley admitted that he unlawfully possessed a gun on October 19, 2020.  Evidence at a prior hearing showed that Hensley was stopped by a Linn County Sheriff’s Deputy for driving a truck with a license plate that belonged to a different vehicle.  During the stop, the Deputy learned that Hensley was barred from driving and had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear for court.  During a search of Hensley’s person, the Deputy found a container with methamphetamine, and during a search of a backpack found on the passenger’s seat, officers found approximately 27 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded .45 caliber handgun.

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.

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Hensley remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Hensley faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office and is being 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‑00036‑CJW-MAR.

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A man who was found in a rental van with ammunition and methamphetamine in a syringe pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

Joshua James Feye, age 36, from Hiawatha, Iowa, was convicted of one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition, and one count of possessing methamphetamine after three prior convictions for drug or chemical crimes.

In a plea agreement, Feye admitted that on February 17, 2020, he was in a rental van parked in the front yard of a property in Marion, Iowa, when the Marion Police Department contacted him in connection to a report of the vehicle being used to transport a minor illegally.  During the investigation, the officers found Feye had an outstanding arrest warrant.  When they arrested him, they subsequently found methamphetamine, a syringe to inject methamphetamine, and ammunition.  Feye had previously been convicted of possession of pseudoephedrine in 2015; possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine and manufacturing methamphetamine in 2009; theft in the second degree in 2006; and possession of anhydrous ammonia and lithium in 2018. 

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Feye remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Feye faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 90 days’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 13 years’ imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Reinert and was investigated by the Marion, Iowa, Police Department in concert with 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 21-CR-00024.  Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.

A convicted felon who was found with a firearm magazine on one day and a firearm for that magazine nine days later was sentenced on August 12, 2021, to more than five years in federal prison.

Mar’yo Doyuan Lindsey, age 26, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 18, 2021 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm as a felon.

In a plea agreement, Lindsey admitted he was in a vehicle on July 3, 2020, when the Iowa State Patrol stopped the vehicle for speeding.  Lindsey was a front seat passenger and had a baggie of marijuana protruding from in his pants pocket.  The trooper searched the vehicle and found a high-capacity magazine loaded with ammunition for a Canik firearm.  Later, on July 12, 2020, the Waterloo Police Department Violent Crime Apprehension team were conducting an unrelated firearms investigation and found Lindsey in a car in possession of a loaded Canik firearm that fit the magazine seized days earlier.

Lindsey was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Lindsey was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment, and must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Lindsey 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 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 prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Reinert and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department, the Iowa State Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

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

The case file number is 20-CR-2049.

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A man who distributed methamphetamine was sentenced on July 28, 2021, to more than 6 years in federal prison.

Jeremiah Bottjen, age 38, from Primghar, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 4, 2021, guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

In a plea agreement, Bottjen admitted that on September 24, 2020, he was the driver of a vehicle that led a Clay County Sheriff’s Deputy on a high-speed chase where he eventually drove through a stop sign going 60mph while construction workers were present and ultimately crashed his vehicle.  Deputies searched Bottjen and his vehicle and found a digital scale with methamphetamine residue and a torch.  They also found a grocery sack at the scene of the accident containing a softball-sized amount of methamphetamine.  Bottjen later admitted to distributing meth in Iowa from July of 2020 until his arrest.

Bottjen was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Bottjen 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.

Bottjen 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 Mikala M. Steenholdt and investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force, and the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office.  

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

The case file number is 21-CR-4009.

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A woman who laundered funds from her illegal business pled guilty August 9, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.  Yesenia Ledesma-Ledezma, age 23, from Albert City, Iowa, was convicted of money laundering and agreed to forfeit property she acquired with proceeds from her illegal business.

At the plea hearing, Ledesma-Ledezma admitted that on April 9, 2020, she engaged in money laundering by purchasing a home for approximately $65,000 with proceeds derived from her extensive business operations which involved smuggling counterfeit goods into the United States and trafficking those counterfeit goods.  The counterfeit goods known to law enforcement had an approximate domestic value of over $370,000, and defendant took in a profit of at least $65,000 from her counterfeit trafficking and smuggling activities.   

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Ledesma-Ledezma remains free on bond pending sentencing.  Ledesma-Ledezma faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Postal Inspection Service.  

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

The case file number is 21-4063.

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A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessed a firearm was convicted by a jury on August 6, 2021, after a 4-day trial in federal court in Sioux City.

Robert Nicholas Hansen, 42, from Hospers, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; three counts of distribution of methamphetamine; and one count of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.  The verdict was returned after four hours of jury deliberations.

The jury found that, from January 2017 through January 2021, Hansen was involved in a conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of mixed methamphetamine and more than 50 grams actual/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 three 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 two of 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, due to having a prior felony conviction and also being an unlawful user of methamphetamine, a firearm, a .223 caliber AR-15 style rifle.  Hansen was previously convicted of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver in 2003 in the Iowa District Court for Sioux County.

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Hansen remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  For all of his convictions, Hansen faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.  The firearm and drug offense convictions could be run consecutive or concurrently to each other, or concurrent in part and consecutive in part.

The case is being 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 number is 21-4014.  Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.

A man who unlawfully possessed a loaded handgun while awaiting sentencing on another federal firearms offense was sentenced today to 92 months in federal prison.  The court ordered the sentence to be served consecutively to a sentence imposed in November 2019 for another felon in possession conviction, meaning the entire sentence imposed for both offenses is more than 11 years in prison.

Shevin Caston, age 30, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea to possessing a firearm as a felon.  Statements at sentencing indicated that, just six days prior to being sentenced in federal court on another felon in possession conviction, Caston possessed the loaded weapon while in the backseat of a car in Waterloo.      

Caston was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Caston 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 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 prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jake Schunk and investigated by the Waterloo 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 for this matter is 20-CR-2033-CJW-MAR.  The case file number for the previous matter involving this defendant is 19-CR-2032-CJW-MAR. 

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An unlawful drug user who possessed a handgun was sentenced today to more than eight years in federal prison.

Oluwadurotim Orebiyi, age 29, from Florissant, Missouri, received the prison term after a May 20, 2019 guilty plea to one count of being an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm.

Information from the guilty plea and sentencing hearings showed that Orebiyi, who was an unlawful user of marijuana, possessed a gun that was found by Waterloo, Iowa, police during a traffic stop.  After pleading guilty to that offense, Orebiyi was pending sentencing in December 2019, but he failed to appear for sentencing.  Six days after his scheduled sentencing, he was arrested in Missouri after pounding on a residence door to try and get it, threatening to kill the person inside, and firing two rounds through the door. 

Orebiyi was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Orebiyi was sentenced to 103 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.

Orebiyi 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 Attorneys Jacob Schunk and Tony Morfitt and investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department. 

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

The case file number is 18-CR-2072.

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A man who maintained a long term online grooming relationship with a minor teenager via social media, which ended with him secretly driving her to Iowa and hiding her in a park while her parents tried to locate her, was sentenced today to more than ten years in federal prison.

Randy Abels, age 27, from Lowden, Iowa received the prison term after a guilty plea to receipt of child pornography.

At the guilty plea, Abels admitted he knowingly received visual depictions of child pornography from the victim.  At sentencing, the judge noted that Abels was a “predator” who “kidnapped” the victim from her home after grooming her online.  Abels pursued the victim and physically transported her from Minnesota to Iowa after being previously caught and confronted by her parents.  In an attempt to avoid being caught, he hid her at a park.   

Abels was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court C.J. Williams.  Abels was sentenced to 121 months’ imprisonment and fined $100.  He  must also serve a ten-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.”

Abels 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 the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cedar County Sherriff’s Department. 

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

The case file number is 21-CR-0002.

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A former employee of a federally licensed firearms dealer who stole a handgun from his employer while at work was sentenced today to a year in federal prison.

Raykwon Stevenson, age 25, from Marion, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 1, 2021, guilty plea to one count of theft of a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer.

Information from the guilty plea and sentencing hearing showed that Stevenson was employed by a federally licensed firearms dealer in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  While working at the dealer, Stevenson stole a .22 caliber handgun from the dealer’s inventory.  After discovering the theft, the dealer notified law enforcement, who confronted Stevenson and recovered the stolen handgun.

Stevenson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Stevenson was sentenced to 12 months and a day in prison.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Stevenson was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marshal on August 26, 2021.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives 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 12-CR-98.

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A man who broke into a house and stole an AR‑15-style rifle and marijuana was sentenced today to five years in federal prison.

John Christopher Jacobson, age 23, from Lowden, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 8, 2021 guilty plea to one count of possessing a stole firearm and one count of possessing a firearm as a drug user.

Court records show that in September 2018 Jacobson and an accomplice kicked in the back door of a residence in Springville, Iowa, and stole a Ruger AR‑15‑style rifle, a DVR security system, and marijuana.  Jacobson later claimed he had committed the burglary in retaliation for the man who resided at the home shooting at Jacobson’s truck, which occurred a few days after Jacobson had rear‑ended the man’s vehicle.  The rifle, as well as two other firearms, marijuana, and methamphetamine, were found in Jacobson’s residence.

Jacobson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Jacobson was sentenced to 60 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.

Jacobson 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 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 Jones County Sheriff’s Office and 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 20-CR-00105-CJW-MAR.

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A man who distributed a deadly cocktail of opioids was sentenced today to more than 15 years in federal prison.

Julius Gene Irvin, age 30, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 1, 2021 guilty plea to one count of distribution of controlled substances near a protected location resulting in death.

At the plea hearing, Irvin admitted that he distributed a mixture of heroin, fentanyl, and valeryl fentanyl to another person on May 19, 2019.  Court records reflect that Irvin was a long-time heroin and opioid user, facilitator, and distributor in Dubuque.  He admitted to obtaining at least 60 grams of heroin from Travis Gordon Jones in two months in 2019, much of which he supplied to two individuals.  On each day from May 17 to 19, 2019, Irvin supplied those individuals with heroin on three consecutive days, and each day one of those two individuals suffered an overdose.  It was later determined that the heroin Irvin was supplying them also contained fentanyl and valeryl fentanyl, an illicitly produced substance that has similar effects to fentanyl.  On May 19, 2019, Irvin obtained some heroin laced with fentanyl and valeryl fentanyl for one of his customers.  The customer took some of the substance to a local women’s shelter, where she had been staying.  She used the substance, overdosed, and was found dead by shelter staff the next morning. Jones previously pled guilty to conspiring to distribute the same drugs that caused the victim’s death, as well as two other deaths.  Jones is awaiting sentencing.

Irvin was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Irvin was sentenced to 183 months’ imprisonment.  He was ordered to make $8,325.67 in restitution to the victim.  He must also serve a 6-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Irvin 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 Dubuque Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration and 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-1011-CJW-MAR.  The case file number for Jones is 19-CR-1037-CJW-MAR.

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A man with multiple prior convictions involving violence was sentenced today to over seven years in federal prison. 

Charles Ware, age 47, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea to possessing a firearm as a felon.  The judge at sentencing noted that Ware engaged in a shootout with a co-defendant, also a felon, which was “not unlike the Wild West,” with bullets going through multiple windows and the co-defendant being shot in the leg.  The judge also noted Ware’s “fairly nonstop” criminal conduct, which included 30 adult convictions, six convictions for violent assaults on women, and violent misconduct while in prison.   

Ware was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Ware was sentenced to 90 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.  Ware 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 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 prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jake Schunk and investigated by the Waterloo 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 20-CR-2063-CJW-MAR.

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A Spirit Lake Man was sentenced July 30, 2021 to more than 5 years in federal prison.

Dylan Robert Hurd, age 30, from Spirit Lake, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 18, 2021, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon.

At the plea hearing, Hurd admitted to knowing he was restricted from possessing a firearm after being convicted in 2017 of assault causing serious bodily injury in Dickinson County, Iowa.  Hurd knowingly possessed a .380 ACP caliber Smith & Wesson M&P handgun.

Hurd was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 63 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.

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.

Hurd 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 Ron Timmons and was investigated by the Spirit Lake 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 20-4076.

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A man who possessed guns after being convicted of multiple misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence was sentenced August 3, 2021 to more than a year in federal prison.

Jamie Hansman, age 52, from Glidden, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 13, 2021, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a domestic violence misdemeanant.

Evidence at Hanman’s detention, change of plea, and sentencing hearings revealed that on April 18, 2020, law enforcement officers were advised of a possible domestic disturbance which led deputies to the residence of Jamie Hansman.  The other party involved in the domestic disturbance claimed that Hansman had previously threatened her with a gun.  When asked about this, Hansman admitted to possessing a shotgun.  Law enforcement was aware that Hansman could not legally possess guns due to his criminal history.  Hansman consented to let the officer see the shotgun and led the officer to his bedroom.  The shotgun was located out of the case and next to his bed.  Officers also saw a semi-automatic .22 caliber rifle in the same location.  It was loaded with fourteen .22 caliber long rifle rounds.

Hansman has five domestic violence convictions, one of which occurred after he was disarmed by police in the instant case.  Moreover, the current gun offense was discovered during the investigation of a possible domestic disturbance

Hansman was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Hansman was sentenced to 18 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.  

Hansman 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 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 Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The case 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 21-3005.

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A Storm Lake man who intended to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine in the Storm Lake area was sentenced on July 13, 2021, to 20 years in federal prison.

Christian Javier Ramirez, age 31, from Storm Lake, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

In January of 2020, Ramirez conspired with others to import methamphetamine from Mexico and distribute methamphetamine in Iowa.  According to the complaint filed in this matter, approximately 7 pounds of methamphetamine was intercepted in Colorado by the Colorado State Patrol and was destined for Storm Lake, Iowa, at the direction of Ramirez.  Ramirez also possessed firearms at various times during the conspiracy.      

Ramirez was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Ramirez was sentenced to 240 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.

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

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office, and Colorado State Patrol. 

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

The case file number is 20-4011.

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A California woman who traveled from California to Sioux City to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced July 30, 2021, to more than 10 years in federal prison.

Leslie Aranda-Moreno, age 27, from San Diego, California, received the prison term after a March 19, 2021, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

In a plea agreement, Aranda-Moreno admitted that in January 2020, she conspired to distribute methamphetamine in the Northern District of Iowa, and elsewhere.

  On or about January 30, 2020, Homeland Security Investigations agents were contacted by officers from the Colorado State Patrol regarding a vehicle being driven by Aranda-Moreno that had been stopped and searched in Colorado.  The officers found the vehicle contained approximately seven (7) pounds of methamphetamine.  It was determined that Aranda-Moreno would pick up large quantities of methamphetamine from Mexico in California and drive them to Sioux City for distribution.

Aranda-Moreno was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Aranda-Moreno was sentenced to 122 months’ imprisonment.  She must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Aranda-Moreno 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 Ron Timmons and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office, and Colorado State Patrol. 

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

The case file number is 20-4056.

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A Cresco man who cyberstalked a Minnesota woman for nearly two years was sentenced on July 30, 2021, to ten years in federal prison.

Michael Shawn McGuire, age 58, from Cresco, Iowa, received the prison sentence after a December 8, 2020 guilty plea to four counts of cyberstalking. 

Information disclosed at the sentencing and plea hearings showed that in the fall of 2017, the victim, who was living in Minnesota, met McGuire on an online dating website.  The two dated for approximately seven months before the victim broke up with McGuire.  At that point, McGuire began texting and emailing the victim consistently, sending her harassing messages.  In the summer of 2018, the victim obtained a no-contact order prohibiting McGuire from contacting her or anyone in her family.  McGuire went on to harass and torment the victim over the course of the next approximately two years. 

During that time, McGuire created five fake Facebook profiles.  The profiles contained the victim’s name or photo and contained sexually explicit messages about the victim.  The fake profiles sent over 80 friend requests to the victim’s friends and family.  McGuire also made dozens of flyers and yard signs, which contained sexually explicit messages, photographs of the victim, and sexually explicit photographs of women appearing to be the victim.  The flyers and yard signs contained the victim’s name, phone number, and address.  The flyers were delivered to dozens of people, including the victim’s children, extended family members, neighbors, friends, her employer, a priest, and businesses she associated with.  The yard signs were left in multiple places in the town the victim lived in, including her employer’s parking lot, her church lawn, and a popular local restaurant.  On one occasion, McGuire spray painted a sexually explicit message including the victim’s name on a business front in the victim’s hometown.  On another occasion, McGuire texted the victim that she should call the police because he was violating his restraining order, then proceeded to follow the victim around town in his car.  McGuire was arrested for that incident and spent a few days in a county jail. 

At the sentencing hearing, the judge pointed out that McGuire was undeterred by his arrest and continued to stalk and harass the victim for several months after his arrest.  In the fall of 2019, investigators searched McGuire’s place of business in Cresco.  There, they located and seized multiple items, including photos of the victim and her family and friends, her Facebook friends list, supplies used to make the flyers and yard signs, rubber gloves, and rope. 

McGuire was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Judge Williams described McGuire’s conduct toward the victim and her friends and family as “a form of mental torture” and “form of public terrorism in a way.”  McGuire 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.  McGuire must pay $400 to the special assessment fund, a $15,000 fine, and $17,500 in restitution to the victim.

“Michael McGuire tormented the victim for over two years,” said Acting United States Attorney Sean R. Berry following the sentence. “He will spend the next decade in federal prison, protecting both his victim and the public from his malicious behavior.  This sentence sends a strong message to all that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated.”  

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley Corkery, Kyndra Lundquist, and Lisa Williams and was investigated by the Kandiyohi County (Minnesota) Sheriff’s Office, Willmar (Minnesota) Police Department, Litchfield (Minnesota) Police Department, Renville (Minnesota) Police Department, Pipestone County (Minnesota) Sheriff’s Office, Kandiyohi County (Minnesota) Community Corrections, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Cresco (Iowa) Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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

The case file number is 19-CR-2075.

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A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced on July 28, 2021, to six years in federal prison. 

Derek Wilkens, 35, from Sioux City, Iowa, plead guilty on March 4, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that between about May 2019 through about August 28, 2019, Wilkens and others distributed at least 3 pounds of methamphetamine.  Evidence further showed that on August 28, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the residence of one of Wilken’s sources of supply in Sioux City, Iowa.  During the execution of the search, Wilkens possessed approximately 88 grams of methamphetamine which he intended to distribute to others.    

Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Wilkens remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.  Wilkens was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment and a term of 3 years of supervised release following imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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 20-4038. 

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A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced July 27, 2021, to 5 years in federal prison.

Donovan Lalor, 50, from Eagle Grove, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. 

At the plea hearing, Lalor admitted that he conspired to distribute more than 5 pounds of pure methamphetamine from January 2019 through March 2020 in the Wright and Webster County areas.  Lalor admitted he regularly obtained up to half-pound quantities of meth for redistribution along with other co-conspirators. Their source was a residence located within 1,000 feet of a protected location, namely, Greenwood Park in Eagle Grove, Iowa.    

Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Lalor remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.  Lalor was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment and must serve a term of 8 years of supervised release following imprisonment.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Wright County Sheriff’s Office, Eagle Grove Police Department, and Iowa Criminalistics Laboratory. 

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

The case file number is 20-3012. 

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A man with multiple prior convictions involving violence was sentenced today to eight years in federal prison. 

Trenton Sliekers, age 28, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea to possessing a firearm as a felon.  Statements at sentencing indicated that Sliekers used the firearm to shoot six times from a motorcycle at a residence that was then occupied by multiple people, including children.  Documents at sentencing noted that one of the bullets lodged in a couch cushion.   

At sentencing, the judge noted that Sliekers was a “violent man” and “very dangerous person” who had at least three prior crimes involving violence and who kept on “committing crime after crime after crime.”  The judge further found that Sliekers posed a “danger” and was “likely to reoffend.”    

Sliekers was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Sliekers was sentenced to 96 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.  Sliekers 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 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 prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jake Schunk and investigated by the Waterloo 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 20-CR-2062-CJW-MAR.

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A man who took photographs of a child performing a sex act was sentenced today to more than twenty-eight years in federal prison.

Terrance Sullivan, age 63, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 8, 2021 guilty plea to the sexual exploitation of a child.

At the guilty plea, Sullivan admitted that in September of 2019, he photographed a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct with a Nikon digital camera.  At sentencing, the judge noted that Sullivan “systematically groomed” the child to “obtain her trust” for his own sexual gratification.  Sullivan’s actions required thoughtful planning, as he locked the door behind him in order to orchestrate taking photographs of the child, which he admitted he knew he should not be doing but thought it was fun.

Sullivan was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Sullivan was sentenced to 346 months’ imprisonment and fined $100.  He was also assessed additional assessments of $5,000.  He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Sullivan 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 Elizabeth Dupuich and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department. 

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.”

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

The case file number is 20-CR-2021.

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A man who distributed methamphetamine in the Dubuque, Iowa, area was sentenced on July 14, 2021, to more than 15 years in federal prison.

Larry Osa Scott, age 44, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 6, 2021 guilty plea to two counts of distribution of a controlled substance near a protected location and two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

Evidence at sentencing showed that Scott began selling methamphetamine in June 2015.  Between June 2015 and January 2016, Scott obtained over 1,000 grams of methamphetamine.  On January 6, 2016, and October 25, 2019, Scott sold methamphetamine to another person within 1,000 feet of a park in Dubuque.  On October 29, November 4, and November 21, 2019, Scott sold methamphetamine to an undercover officer.  On November 30, 2019, law enforcement was watching Scott’s home because Scott had a warrant for his arrest.  After officers saw Scott arrived home, they approached Scott, who slammed the driver’s door of his truck shut and appeared as if he was going to flee.  Officers eventually took Scott into custody and recovered $740 in cash from his person and close to 14 grams of methamphetamine from his truck. 

Scott was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Scott was sentenced to 188 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.

Scott 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 Dubuque Drug Task Force. 

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

The case file number is 20-CR-01007.

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A felon who possessed a firearm pled guilty on July 19, 2021, in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

Leon Sheley, age 23, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was convicted of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  At the plea hearing, Sheley admitted that, on May 20, 2020, he knowingly possessed a pistol after having been convicted of three crimes punishable by more than one year of imprisonment.  Sheley admitted he had prior convictions for theft in the second degree in 2016, theft in the first degree in 2016, and escape from custody in 2017.

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Sheley remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Sheley 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 Cedar Rapids Police Department 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 21-17.

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A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced July 15, 2021, to more than 5 years in federal prison.

Ruby Blankenship, 45, from Brandon, South Dakota, received the prison term after a November 3, 2020, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from about November 2019 through March 2020, Blankenship and others conspired to distribute more than 22 pounds of methamphetamine.  Blankenship allowed others to store methamphetamine at her residence in the Iowa Lakes area.  Co-conspirators traveled to California, obtained 20 pounds of methamphetamine, which was brought back to Iowa, hidden in the gas tank of the vehicle for later distribution.  The meth was ultimately unloaded by co-conspirators in a detached building/garage at Blankenship’s residence.  In March 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Blankenship’s residence, including a detached building/garage, and seized a total of 20 pounds of methamphetamine from the property and vehicles leaving the property. 

Blankenship was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Blankenship was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment.  She must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Blankenship 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 Shawn S. Wehde and 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 20-4051. 

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A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced July 14, 2021, to more than 17 years in federal prison.

Russell Gentry, 32, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 7, 2021, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.  On January 8, 2018, Gentry was convicted in the Iowa District Court for Marshall County, of Possession of a Controlled Substance (cocaine) with Intent to Deliver.

Evidence at the hearings showed that between January 2020 and continuing to on or about July 27, 2020, Gentry and others distributed more than 25 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Webster County, Iowa area.  In July 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Gentry’s residence.  During the search, officers seized 15 pounds of methamphetamine, $3,700 cash and two ounces of marijuana.  Each pound of methamphetamine was individually wrapped.  Officers also seized drug trafficking paraphernalia including, packaging material, a digital scale and numerous cell phones.  Gentry admitted he intended to distribute some or all of the methamphetamine seized by law enforcement.           

Gentry was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Gentry was sentenced to 210 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.  Gentry 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 Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Dodge Police Department, and Iowa DCI Laboratory. 

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

The case file number is 20-3025. 

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A Waterloo man, who was involved in the importation and distribution of thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine was sentenced today, July 19, 2021,  to nearly 29 years in federal prison. 

Travis Charles Werkmeister, age 34, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison sentence after a February 8, 2021, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. 

Evidence at the plea and sentencing showed that in 2018, investigators conducted controlled buys of ounce-quantities of methamphetamine from Werkmeister.  The transactions took place at Werkmeister’s Waterloo residence.  In 2019, investigators conducted a wiretap investigation wherein they intercepted thousands of calls and messages between Werkmeister and other members of the drug-distribution organization.  Werkmeister was intercepted discussing methamphetamine shipments with co-conspirators, including the head out of the  organization, who was based out of Mexico.  Werkmeister would receive pound to kilogram quantities of methamphetamine at a time and would redistribute to multiple people in the Waterloo, Iowa, area, who would in turn sell to others.  Werkmeister has a lengthy criminal history, dating back to 2005.  He has at least three felony convictions and three convictions wherein he assaulted one other person. 

Werkmeister was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Werkmeister was sentenced to 346 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term and pay a $100 special assessment fee.  There is no parole in the federal system.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery.  This 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 Mid-Iowa Task Force (Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, Tama County Sheriff’s Office, Marshalltown Police Department), Iowa National Guard and Counter Drug Program, Tri-County Task Force (Cedar Falls Police Department, Waterloo Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, 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 20-CR-2034.

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A man that conspired to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessed firearms pled guilty July 15, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.

Diego Ayala, 31, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of distribution of methamphetamine, and one count of prohibited person in possession of firearms.

At the plea hearing, Ayala admitted that between September 2020 and continuing to on or about January 7, 2021, he and others conspired to distribute at least 1500 grams of methamphetamine. Over the course of several weeks, in four separate transactions, Ayala received 10-12 pounds of meth for further distribution in the Sioux City area.  On January 7, 2021, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of one pound of methamphetamine from Ayala.  Subsequently, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Ayala’s residence and seized about four more pounds of methamphetamine, an unloaded 9mm handgun and a loaded AR-15 rifle.  Law enforcement also seized 68 rounds of .380 caliber ammunition, 84 rounds of 9mm caliber ammunition, and 120 rounds of 5.56 ammunition from several different locations in Ayala’s residence.  Ayala admitted he planned on distributing the methamphetamine to other persons.  Ayala also admitted to being an unlawful user of methamphetamine while in possession of firearms.

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Ayala remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  On the conspiracy conviction, Ayala faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.  On the distribution conviction, Ayala faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, and a term of supervised release of at least four years.  On the firearm conviction, Ayala faces maximum penalties of not more than 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release of not more than three years.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde 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 21-4002. 

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A Sioux City couple who conspired to distribute methamphetamine were sentenced July 13, and 14, 2021, to federal prison.

Desiree Fredrickson, 36, and Shawn Hofer, 41, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison terms after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Evidence at the combined plea and sentencing hearings showed that Fredrickson and Hofer were involved in a conspiracy that distributed more than 6.5 kilograms of methamphetamine from June 2017 through August 2018.  The couple received pounds of meth via the mail from a local meth dealer.  Later they were receivers/distributors of several 5 pound packages of methamphetamine, plus some cocaine and marijuana in a drugs by mail scheme led locally with California source of supply.

Fredrickson and Hofer were sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Fredrickson was sentenced to 28 months’ imprisonment.  Hofer was sentenced to 35 months’ imprisonment.  Each must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Each 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 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 19-4065. 

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A Sioux City man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was found guilty by a jury on July 9, 2021, after a four-day jury trial in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa. 

Melroy Johnson, Sr., 66, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  The verdict was returned last Friday morning following about 2 ½ hours of jury deliberations. 

Evidence at the trial showed, that over the course of months in 2017-2018, Johnson, Sr. had two co-conspirators travel to California to obtain pounds of methamphetamine from a source and return with it to Sioux City, Iowa for further distribution.  Evidence at trial also showed that Johnson, Sr., over the course of about one year, from 2017 through 2018 had multiple pounds of meth repeatedly mailed from a source of supply in California to co-conspirators in Sioux City for further distribution.  The packages contained from 2-5 pounds of methamphetamine as well as cocaine and marijuana.

Sentencing before United States Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Johnson, Sr. was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the verdict was returned and will remain in custody pending sentencing.  Johnson, Sr. faces a sentencing enhancement based on his prior federal felony drug trafficking conviction in 2002.  On his conspiracy conviction, Johnson, Sr. faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, and at least 10 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.  On the possession conviction, Johnson, Sr. faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $8,000,000 fine, and at least 8 years of supervised release.

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 19-4065. 

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A methamphetamine dealer was sentenced on July 13, 2021, to more than seven years in federal prison.  Jason Wayne Persons, age 42, from Quimby, Iowa received the prison term after a guilty plea to distribution of a controlled substance.

Persons distributed methamphetamine in and around Sioux City, Iowa in August of 2020.  On August 17, 2020, Sioux City police officers executed a search warrant on Persons’ residence.  Officers recovered methamphetamine in his bedroom.  In a police interview, he admitted to selling methamphetamine to support his addiction to methamphetamine.  Persons was convicted in federal court in 2003 of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine.  

Persons was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Persons was sentenced to 90 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.

Persons 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 Ron Timmons and 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 20-4077.

A convicted sex offender pled guilty July 15, 2021, to failure to register as a sex offender in federal court in Sioux City.

Duane Levering, age 36, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was convicted of failure to register as a sex offender.

At the plea hearing, Levering admitted to being convicted of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska on April 25, 2005.  Levering knew he was required to register and continue to update his residence as a sex offender.  Levering moved from Nebraska to Sioux City, then again to Fort Dodge, Iowa where he was caught living in the attic of a home from Spring 2020 to the time of his arrest on December 9, 2020. At no time during that period did Levering update his sex offender registration.  

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Levering in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Levering faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and was investigated by the United States Marshal Service. 

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

The case file number is 21-3011.

Joshua Brown, age 49, of Iowa City, Iowa, has been charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.  The charges are contained in an Indictment unsealed on July 9, 2021, in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids. 

The Indictment alleges that, in July 2020, Brown possessed a pistol after having been convicted of unauthorized possession of an offensive weapon in Johnson County in 1995 and possession of a firearm by a felon in Cedar County in 1996.  The Indictment also alleges that the pistol was stolen and had an obliterated serial number.

If convicted, Brown faces a possible maximum sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment, a $750,000 fine, and three years on supervised release following any imprisonment.

Brown appeared for a detention hearing on July 14, 2021, in federal court in Cedar Rapids and was released on bond.  Brown’s next appearance for trial is set for September 7, 2021.

As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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 is being investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is CR 21-14.

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A convicted felon who unlawfully possessed a gun and led the police on a car chase was sentenced today to more than four years in federal prison.

Dennis Lawson, age 23, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 23, 2020 guilty plea to one count of being felon in possession of a firearm.

Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that, on February 23, 2020, Lawson was the driver of a car parked in a parking lot in Cedar Rapids.  A woman was in the car with him.  Both were seen using a needle to ingest drugs.  Officers approached Lawson’s car and he took off out of the parking lot.  Officers chased Lawson, who eventually crashed his car into two trees.  During the chase, Lawson forced his passenger to throw a gun out the window, which officers immediately recovered.  After the crash, Lawson tried to run, but slipped and fell.

Lawson has multiple prior felony convictions, including a conviction for burglary and two prior convictions in state court for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Additional evidence showed that, on May 16, 2021, Lawson was incarcerated in the Bremer County jail while awaiting sentencing.  On that day, Lawson used a sock with a bar of soap in it to assault another inmate.  Lawson also insulted and shoved a jail employee who was attempting to stop the assault.  As a result of this conduct, Lawson lost credit for accepting responsibility and received an increased sentence.

Lawson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Lawson 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 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.

Lawson 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 Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force.  The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Marion Police Department, and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.  

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

The case file number is 20-CR-63.

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A convicted felon, who possessed drugs he intended to distribute and a gun inside a Wal-Mart, was convicted by a jury on July 13, 2021, after a two-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

Sylvester Cunningham, age 41, from Blue Island, Illinois, was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing crack and powder cocaine with the intent to distribute, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  The verdict was returned following about six hours of jury deliberations.

The evidence at trial showed that at about 11:00 A.M. on August 7, 2020, Cunningham, who was in a wheelchair, entered the vestibule of a Wal-Mart store in Cedar Rapids.  Cunningham moved from his wheelchair into a Wal-Mart electric shopping cart.  A short time later, while helping Cunningham look for a lost cellphone, a Wal-Mart employee lifted the cushion of Cunningham’s wheelchair and saw a .357 caliber revolver.

The employee alerted an off-duty Cedar Rapids Police Department officer who was providing security for the store.  The officer retrieved the gun.  After finding out that Cunningham was on federal supervised release for a prior gun charge, police officers arrested him.  While searching him as part of the arrest, officers located thirteen individual baggies of crack and powder cocaine concealed in Cunningham’s clothing. 

Prior to August 7, 2020, Cunningham had received two felony convictions.  First, in 2004, Cunningham was convicted of felony operating while intoxicated in Illinois.  Second, in 2012, Cunningham was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm in the federal district court for the Northern District of Iowa.  In the 2012 case, Cunningham was found in possession of a rifle after he crashed the car he was driving in Cedar County, Iowa.

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.

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Cunningham was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the verdict was returned and will remain in custody pending sentencing.  Cunningham faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $1,500,000 fine, and up to life on supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra Hake and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force.  The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Marion Police Department, and the Cedar Rapids Police Department. 

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

The case file number is 20-CR-104.

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A Monticello woman, who enticed a minor to engage in sexual activity, pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Miranda Breeden, age 46, pled guilty to one count of enticement of a minor.  At the plea hearing, Breeden admitted that between November 2019 and January 2020, she used a cell phone to entice an individual under the age of 18 years old to engage in an illegal sex act.  Breeden admitted that based on the sexual activity that occurred, she could have been charged with sexual abuse in the third degree in Iowa state court. 

A criminal complaint filed in August 2020 alleged that Breeden was a mental health therapist for a school in the Cedar Rapids area in the fall of 2019 through at least January 2020.  During that time, Breeden counseled a 14-year old male and the two engaged in a sexual relationship.  Investigators located multiple Facebook messages between Breeden and the 14-year old, wherein Breeden arranged to meet the child for sex.  In December 2019, investigators determined that Breeden went to Theisen’s in Cedar Rapids and purchased a firearm for the 14-year old.  

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Breeden remains in custody of the United States Marshal.  Breeden faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life, a $250,000 fine, and at least 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Dupuich and Ashley Corkery and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Unit, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. 

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

The case file number is 20-CR-65.  Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.

A father and son duo dealing methamphetamine and heroin around Mason City were convicted by a jury on July 9, 2021 after a three-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

Charlton Maxwell, age 60, and his son, Antione Maxwell, age 33, from Mason City, Iowa were convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin. Antoine Maxwell was also convicted of three counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and one count of distribution of heroin. In addition to the conspiracy conviction, Charleton Maxwell was convicted of two counts of distribution of heroin, and one count of distribution of heroin and methamphetamine. The verdict was returned Friday, July 9, 2021.

The evidence at trial showed that Antione and Charleton Maxwell conspired to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and heroin in and around Mason City between January 2018 and October 2020.  Both Charleton and Antione were caught distributing methamphetamine and heroin.  Testimony at trial showed that both defendants were involved in a long-term conspiracy involving numerous others to distribute pounds of methamphetamine as well as heroin in the Mason City area.

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Antione and Charlton Maxwell both remain in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. 

For conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, Antione Maxwell faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, and 10 years up to life of supervised release following any imprisonment.

For the two counts of distribution of 5 grams or more of pure methamphetamine, Antione Maxwell faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and 8 years up to life of supervised release following any imprisonment for each count.

For distribution of 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine, Antione Maxwell faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, and ten years up to life of supervised release following any imprisonment. 

For distribution of heroin, Antione Maxwell faces a possible maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment, a $2,000,000 fine, and three years up to life of supervised release following any imprisonment. 

For conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, Charleton Maxwell faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, and four years up to life of supervised release following any imprisonment.

For distribution of three counts of distributing heroin, Charleton Maxwell faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, and three years up to life of supervised release following any imprisonment, for each count.  

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

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

The case file number is 20-3044.

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A Cedar Rapids man was sentenced July 12, 2021, to two years in federal prison for possessing a mechanically shortened weapon.   

Philip Maccani, age 50, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea to possessing an unregistered National Firearms Act firearm, specifically a weapon made from a shotgun with an overall length of less than 26 inches.  Evidence at sentencing demonstrated that the stock had been altered to shorten the weapon’s overall length. 

The judge noted that weapons like the one Maccani possessed were more dangerous than other weapons because they are both easier to conceal and more difficult to aim and control.  The judge also noted the bravery of one of the deputies from the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, who tried to de-escalate a dangerous situation by giving his rifle to another officer before approaching Maccani without knowing whether Maccani was then armed.   

Maccani was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Maccani was sentenced to 24 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.  Maccani 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 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 prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jake Schunk and investigated by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office. 

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

The case file number is 20-CR-00090-CJW-MAR.

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A Chicago felon who pretended to be a victim of the August 2020 derecho disaster in order to fraudulently obtain over $5,000 in FEMA disaster benefits was sentenced today to more than a year in federal prison.  Tavonte Donnell Stewart, age 23, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after a March 9, 2021, guilty plea to one count of Derecho Benefits Fraud.

On August 10, 2020, a severe storm, commonly known as a derecho, suddenly struck multiple counties in Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The derecho had long-duration winds over 100 miles per hour and caused an estimated total of $7.5 billion in damages across the affected states.  The derecho caused long-lasting power outages and millions of acres of crops were destroyed.  Cedar Rapids, Iowa, within the Northern District of Iowa, was particularly hard-hit from the derecho storm.  In response, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared a disaster, which allowed victims of the derecho storm to apply for and receive disaster benefits for losses not covered by insurance.

In a plea agreement, and at the sentencing hearing, Stewart admitted that, in October 2020, he applied for $5,927.40 in FEMA derecho disaster benefits on the false pretense that he was living in a Cedar Rapids residence at the time of the derecho storm.  FEMA paid Stewart these benefits for alleged personal property damage and rental assistance.  Stewart spent the funds on jewelry for his girlfriend and to purchase a duplicate identification card for himself from the Illinois Secretary of State.

Stewart also admitted that, around the same time, he had filed a similar fraudulent application for benefits intended victims of a disaster in California.  Stewart was not a resident of either Iowa or California, but instead was at all times a resident of Chicago, Illinois.  In fact, Stewart was on federal supervised release in the Northern District of Illinois following his conviction for Uttering Counterfeit Obligations or Securities and had notified his federal probation officer of his residences in the Chicago area around the time of the derecho storm. 

Stewart was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Stewart was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment.  He was ordered to make $5,927.40 in restitution to FEMA.  He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Stewart 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 Timothy L. Vavricek and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Inspector General. 

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

The case file number is 20-CR-114.

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An Armstrong man who participated in a scheme to defraud the United States out of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds, and conspired to launder over $1.3 million in fraud proceeds, was sentenced yesterday to more than three years in federal prison.

Donald Franklin Trosin, age 57, from Armstrong, Iowa, formerly of Champlin, Minnesota, received the prison term after a February 16, 2021 guilty plea to one count of Major Fraud Against the United States and one count of Money Laundering Conspiracy.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act is a federal law enacted in late March 2020 that provides emergency financial assistance, including PPP and EIDL loans, to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Evidence presented at Trosin’s guilty plea and sentencing hearings established that Trosin participated in a scheme to defraud the United States out of PPP and EIDL loan funds after more than 20 applications were submitted to the Small Business Administration (SBA) in the name of Trosin and another person.  The applications falsely represented that Trosin had 120 employees on his payroll and over $5 million in payroll expenses when, in truth, Trosin did not operate a business at all.  Trosin also admitted that, after receiving the funds through banks in Minnesota and Northwest Iowa, he transferred or attempted to transfer the proceeds from the scheme to other individuals in other states and countries, including China.

Trosin was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Trosin was sentenced to 40 months’ imprisonment.  He was ordered to make over $1.3 million in restitution to the Small Business Administration and the lender of the PPP loan.  Trosin must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID- 19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

Trosin was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. 

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

The case file number is 20-CR-4066.

A man who attempted to tamper with witnesses after he was facing charges related to an incident with a firearm was sentenced on July 2, 2021, to twelve years in federal prison.

Stephan Wayne Toliver, age 35, from Davenport, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 13, 2021 guilty plea to attempted witness tampering.

In a plea agreement, Toliver admitted that he struck a woman with a gun, knocking her unconscious.  Toliver also admitted to making false accusations against family members of the victim resulting in an investigation by DHS and the Dubuque Police Department that ultimately showed no wrongdoing by them.  Toliver also admitted that he sent a letter to the victim falsely telling her that if she or her family testified against him, DHS would use that information against her family. 

Toliver was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Toliver was sentenced to 144 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.

Toliver 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 Emily K. Nydle and investigated by the Dubuque Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

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

The case file number is 19-cr-1033.

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A Dickinson County man who conspired to distribute meth pled guilty July 7, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.

Jared Wolthuis, 32, from Milford, Iowa, was convicted of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.

At the plea hearing, Wolthuis admitted his involvement in a conspiracy that distributed more than three pounds of pure methamphetamine from July, 2018, through approximately March of 2020 in the Dickinson County, Iowa area. On March 17, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a co-conspirators residence and seized 20 pounds of methamphetamine from the residence.  During the course of the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement stopped Wolthuis leaving the residence in a vehicle.  Upon a search of the vehicle, law enforcement seized 3 pounds of pure meth that Wolthuis admitted he planned to distribute to other persons.

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Wolthuis remains free on bond previously set.  Wolthuis faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and 5 years up to life of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and 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 20-4050.  Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.

A man who used his credit union account to receive unemployment insurance money from the State of Washington to which he was not entitled was sentenced July 1, 2021, to federal prison.

Jerry D. Johnson, age 54, from Webster City, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 28, 2021, guilty plea to one count of mail fraud.

Information at Johnson’s plea and sentencing hearings showed that, in May 2020, Johnson’s credit union account received over $31,000 in unemployment funds from the State of Washington in the names of others.  He then withdrew the benefits in cash and mailed the cash through the United States Postal Service to others involved in the scheme.  Later, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts attempted to deposit over $20,000 in fraudulent unemployment benefits into Johnson’s account.  The credit union recognized the transaction as fraudulent and returned the money.

Johnson was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Johnson was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment.  He was ordered to make $31,062 in restitution to the State of Washington.  He must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

Johnson was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prison on a date yet to be set.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Morfitt and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. 

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

The case file number is 20-CR-3027.

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A man who possessed a loaded Glock .380 pistol and attempted to flee from law enforcement was sentenced today to more than three years in federal prison.

Anthony Redman, age 30, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after a December 18, 2020 guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

In a plea agreement, Redman admitted that on November 26, 2019, he was a passenger in a vehicle located at a motel in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  Law enforcement responded to the location based on a 9-1-1 call reporting shots fired.  When officers asked Redman to remain in the area, he attempted to flee to a hotel room.  He was stopped and a loaded Glock .380 semiautomatic firearm was located in his coat pocket.  Redman was previously convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm in Cook County, Illinois, in 2007.   

Redman was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Redman was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment and fined $100.  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.

Redman 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 Elizabeth Dupuich and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Sixth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services. 

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

The case file number is 20-CR-0039.

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A man who accessed child pornography was sentenced on June 29, 2021, to ten years in federal prison.

Jared Daily, age 35, of Belle Plaine, Iowa, received the sentence after a January 11, 2021 guilty plea to one count of accessing child pornography.  At the plea hearing, Daily admitted that, between January and June 2020, he used a cell phone to access child pornography, including depictions of prepubescent children.

Daily was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Daily was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment.  He was also ordered to make $5,000 in restitution to a victim depicted in child pornography he accessed.  He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term, and he must comply with all sex offender registration and public notification requirements.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

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.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is CR 20-73.

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A man who sexually assaulted a woman after he distributed methamphetamine to her was sentenced on June 25, 2021, to more than sixteen years in federal prison.

Herman Lee Ronnfeldt, age 56, from West Union, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 15, 2021 guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Information from sentencing showed that Ronnfeldt, a convicted sex offender, was living in West Union, Iowa, in late 2018.  In December 2018, law enforcement officers searched his apartment and located more than eighty grams of methamphetamine.  Witnesses testified at sentencing that Ronnfeldt regularly distributed methamphetamine to people at his apartment.  On one such occasion, Ronnfeldt distributed methamphetamine to a woman that caused her to feel ill.  He then sexually assaulted her.     

Ronnfeldt was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  In sentencing Ronnfeldt, Judge Williams noted that Ronnfeldt’s criminal conduct had not slowed down with age, and that Ronnfeldt had continued to distribute dangerous drugs and commit sexual assaults.  Judge Williams found that the appropriate sentence was 224 months’ imprisonment.  Judge Williams adjusted the sentence to account for time Ronnfeldt had spent in custody for related offenses to 194 months and 20 days’ imprisonment.  Ronnfeldt must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Ronnfeldt 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 Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the West Union Police Department, and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office. 

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

The case file number is 20-CR-2026.

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A man who possessed nearly a half-pound of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute pled guilty June 22, 2021, in federal court in Sioux City.

David Naberhaus, 57, Deloit, Iowa, was convicted of possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  In 2000, Naberhaus was convicted in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

At the plea hearing, evidence showed that on November 18, 2020, Naberhaus was stopped by law enforcement for traffic violations in Woodbury County, Iowa. Due to Naberhaus’ nervous behavior, a K-9 was deployed and indicated the presence of controlled substances from within the car.  Law enforcement then searched the car and discovered 222 grams (nearly a half-pound) of pure methamphetamine in 5 separate baggies, 12 grams of marijuana, 3 grams of cocaine, and $6,501 in 4 bundles.  On February 15, 2021, while on routine patrol, Iowa State Patrol noticed a disabled vehicle on the shoulder of Highway 20.  A check of the license of the registered owner revealed the owner to be Naberhaus, who had a federal warrant for his arrest.  A later search of Naberhaus’ car revealed bags of meth, bags of marijuana, lidocaine patches, a pipe a lighter, and Ziploc baggies.  

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Naberhaus remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Naberhaus faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Ida County Sheriff’s Department, Sioux City Police Department, Woodbury County Sheriff’s Department, and Iowa DCI Laboratory. 

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

The case file number is 21-4010. 

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