Northern District of Iowa

Gordon Lasley, Jr., 25, from the Meskwaki Nation Settlement, Iowa, has been charged with two counts of first degree murder in “Indian country.”  The charges are contained in Indictment filed on April 9, 2014, in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids. 

 The Indictment alleges that, on or about February 5, 2014, Lasley murdered two people, Gordon Lasley, Sr. and Kim Renee Lasley, by striking them with a machete.  

If convicted of one or both counts, Lasley faces a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment.  Under federal law, unless the governing body of a federally recognized tribe has elected to have the death penalty apply to offenses that occur on the tribe’s “Indian country,” the death penalty is not available as a punishment in federal court.  The Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa, the tribe that resides on the Meskwaki Nation Settlement, has not elected to have the death penalty apply to offenses committed on the Settlement.­

Lasley appeared today in federal court in Cedar Rapids for arraignment.  Lasley was previously ordered held without bond and will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals service.  Lasley’s trial has been scheduled for June 9, 2014.

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

In 2010, the Department of Justice launched an initiative making public safety in tribal communities a top priority.  The goal of the initiative is to help tribes build and sustain safe and secure communities across the country.  Information about the initiative is available at http://www.justice.gov/tribal.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys CJ Williams and Anthony Morfitt and was investigated by the Meskwaki Nation Tribal Police Department, the Tama County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/.  The case file number is 14-CR-00045.

Jonathan Curtis Youngbear, age 20, from the Meskwaki Nation Settlement, Iowa, has been charged with murder in “Indian Country.”  The charge is contained in a Complaint filed on April 8, 2014, in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids. 

The Complaint alleges that, on or about February 24, 2014, Youngbear murdered a person on the Meskwaki Nation Settlement near Tama, Iowa.

If convicted, Youngbear faces a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.

Youngbear appeared today in federal court in Cedar Rapids and was held without bond.  Youngbear’s next appearance for preliminary and detention hearings is set for April 14, 2014, at 1:00 p.m.

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

In 2010, the Department of Justice launched an initiative making public safety in tribal communities a top priority.  The goal of the initiative is to help tribes build and sustain safe and secure communities across the country.  Information about the initiative is available at http://www.justice.gov/tribal.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Peter Deegan and Anthony Morfitt and was investigated by the Meskwaki Nation Tribal Police, the Tama County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/.  The case file number is 14-mj-105.

United States Attorney Kevin W. Techau presented the 15th Annual Iowa Law Enforcement Victim Service Awards to three Iowa law enforcement officers.  The awards were presented at a press conference held today at the United States Attorney’s Office in Cedar Rapids.  Techau presented the awards on behalf of his office and the office of United States Attorney Nicholas Klinefeldt of the Southern District of Iowa.            
The Law Enforcement Victim Service Awards are the highest federal honors in the State of Iowa for victim services provided by law enforcement.  The awards are presented to law enforcement officers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to show compassion and care for victims of crime.  The Continuous Service Award recognizes a nominee who has provided help to victims for many years or developed an innovative program or policy that continues to serve crime victims.  The Single Act Award recognizes officers who have provided exceptional assistance to crime victims in a specific case.  Two awards are presented each year during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week; observed this year the week of April 6 through April 12.

The Continuous Service Award

This year’s Continuous Service Award was presented to Investigator Corey Peiffer from the Cedar Rapids Police Department.  Investigator Peiffer has worked for the Cedar Rapids Police Department for over sixteen years and, during that time, has proven himself as someone who is very caring and compassionate to those victimized by crime.  Recently, Investigator Peiffer’s work investigating a reported sexual assault on a minor led to the arrest and conviction of Lucas Robinson.  Robinson was an Internet predator who convinced young girls, between the ages of 10 and 17 years, to produce and send pornographic images of themselves to Robinson over the Internet.  Due in large part to Investigator Peiffer’s work on this case, several other victims of Robinson’s were discovered.  Robinson is now serving a 42-year prison sentence.  Investigator Peiffer worked with law enforcement agencies across the country to make personal contact with Robinson’s victims and their families and ensure them that Robinson had been identified and arrested.  His hard work and dedication in this case exemplifies the way he works with all victims of all types of crimes.  Investigator Peiffer has a true passion for helping crime victims and holding their offenders accountable for their actions. 

The Single Act Award

Single Act Awards were presented to Special Agent Darrell Simmons from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and Investigator Rodney Fiser from the Hiawatha Police Department for their work investigating the death of 17 month-old Kamryn Schlitter.  Special Agent Simmons and Investigator Fiser combined their efforts to ensure that those responsible for her death were identified, charged and convicted.  During their investigation, they never lost sight of the impact this crime had on Kamryn’s grieving family.  “This team met with Kamryn’s family members and navigated the tender balance between consoling grief-stricken loved ones and gathering the factual information they needed to uncover the truth about what happened to Kamryn,” said U.S. Attorney Techau.  As a result of their unyielding dedication of seeking justice for Kamryn, Zyriah Schlitter and Amy Parmer were charged and convicted.  Both are now serving 50-year prison sentences.  First Assistant Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks said in nominating Special Agent Simmons and Investigator Fisher for this award, “We are eternally proud to have worked beside them.” 

Without a doubt all of these law enforcement officers go “above and beyond” the call of duty to assist crime victims.  Because of their dedication, our communities are better served.  The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in Iowa are proud to present the 2014 Law Enforcement Victim Service Awards to these individuals.

A man who possessed child pornography was sentenced April 4, 2014, to over nine years in federal prison.

James Sullivan, age 32, of Marion, Iowa, received the sentence after a January 7, 2014, guilty plea to one count of possession of child pornography.  At the guilty plea hearing, Sullivan admitted that, in 2011, he knowingly possessed child pornography.

Sullivan was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Sullivan was sentenced to 110 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed, and Sullivan must also serve an eight-year term of supervised release.  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 Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion 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 is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is CR 13-76.

A man who attempted to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity was sentenced April 3, 2014, to over twelve years in federal prison.

Michael Glawe, age 31, formerly of Marion, Iowa, received the sentence after a December 16, 2013, guilty plea to one count of attempted enticement of a minor.  At the guilty plea hearing, Glawe admitted that, between 2010 and 2011, he attempted to entice an undercover officer who was posing as a minor to meet for the purpose of unlawful sex with a minor.

Glawe was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Glawe was sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed, and Glawe must also serve a ten-year term of supervised release.  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, the Marion Police Department, and the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office.

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 is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is CR 13-79.

Judge calls Randy Beltramea an "Unrepentant Flim Flam Artist"

A former investment broker was sentenced today, to more than nine years in federal prison.

Randy Beltramea, age 49, from Marion, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea to making false statements to banks, defrauding investors, and evading taxes.

In a plea agreement, Beltramea admitted that in 2009 and 2010, he devised a scheme to defraud former investors by soliciting money from them under false pretenses.  In particular, Beltramea admitted telling former investors that their money was to be invested in Subway sandwich shop restaurants, when he actually intended to, and did, use their money in his own real estate investment and for his own personal expenses.  In connection with soliciting money from one of the investors, Beltramea provided the investor with a promissory note on which he forged the signature of another person who was involved in buying a Subway restaurant.  In fact, that other person did not give Beltramea permission to use or sign his name to the promissory note.  Beltramea also admitted that he moved some of the proceeds from the fraud into a bank account under his mother’s name for the purpose of trying to hide the source of the money and in an effort to evade taxes.  The IRS had previously imposed a tax lien in excess of $320,000 against Beltramea because he had not filed tax returns or paid taxes since 2001.  Finally, Beltramea admitted that he obtained loans and loan extensions from two banks by providing them with false financial statements and with tax returns he falsely represented had been filed with the IRS.

Beltramea was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Noting Beltramea was an “unrepentant flim flam artist,” Chief Judge Reade sentenced to 111 months’ imprisonment.  He was also ordered to make $376,488.27 in restitution to his victims.  He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Beltramea 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 C.J. Williams and Jacob Schunk and investigated by the Internal Revenue Service. 

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 13-20-LRR.

A man who transported two minor girls from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Iowa for purposes of having them engage in prostitution was sentenced today to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Robert Jackson, age 32, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, received the prison term after a November 5, 2013, guilty plea to one count of transporting minors across state lines with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. 

At the guilty plea hearing, Jackson admitted that on July 16, 2013, he transported two females from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for the purpose of having them engage in prostitution.  The girls were each under 18 years of age at the time. 

At the sentencing hearing, the government proved one girl was 15 years old, and the other 17 years old, at the time of the offense.  The evidence showed that Jackson threatened to kill the 15 year-old child and her family if she ever attempted to leave him.  On one occasion when both girls left him for a time, Jackson beat the 15 year-old with a belt and raped her, and beat the 17-year-old in her face with his fists.  Jackson had both girls engage in prostitution in Milwaukee and Iowa, and kept the money they earned.  The evidence further showed that he coerced by threats and force both girls to travel to Iowa for purposes of prostitution.  The evidence disclosed that Jackson later bragged to other inmates about using force and sexual abuse of the girls to keep them in line and control them as his prostitutes.

Jackson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Jackson was sentenced to life in prison.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed.  There is no parole in the federal system.

“This defendant preyed on vulnerable young girls and exploited them for prostitution,” said United States Attorney Kevin W. Techau.  “The underground nature of human trafficking makes it hard to fight and it can be especially dangerous for young people and disadvantaged kids in both big cities and rural areas.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate human trafficking, as well as working with our local non-governmental, community-based and faith-based organizations to identify, rescue and assist victims of trafficking.”

Jackson 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 C.J. Williams and was investigated by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Intelligence, and the Marion Police Department, with the assistance of the Milwaukee Human Trafficking Task Force. 

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 13-cr-0063.

A man who distributed child pornography was sentenced today to twenty years in federal prison.

Robert Buss, age 50, of Dubuque, Iowa, received the sentence after a January 9, 2014, guilty plea to one count of distribution of child pornography.  At the guilty plea hearing, Buss admitted that, in 2012, he used the Internet to distribute child pornography.  Information provided at the sentencing hearing indicated that defendant also attempted to entice three minors to send him sexually explicit depictions of themselves, including a boy he met while on a mission trip to Haiti.

Buss was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Buss was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed, and Buss must also serve a ten-year term of supervised release.  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 Homeland Security Investigations, the Dubuque Police Department, and the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

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 is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is CR 13-1020.

A man who caused a fire while attempting to manufacture methamphetamine in his Dubuque apartment was sentenced today to six and one­‑half years in federal prison.

Jeremiah Shaw, 42, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 11, 2013 guilty plea to one count of attempting to manufacture methamphetamine near a playground.

Information disclosed at the plea and sentencing hearings indicated that Shaw attempted to cook methamphetamine at his apartment on April 28, 2013.  Shaw’s attempted cook caused a fire to ignite in the apartment.  Two other people were present in the apartment, which was located within 1,000 feet of three separate playgrounds. 

Shaw was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Shaw was sentenced to 78 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed.  He must also serve a 6-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Shaw 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 Justin Lightfoot and investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force. 

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/ login.pl.  The case file number is CR 13-1014.

A man who received child pornography was sentenced today to sixteen years in federal prison.

Jason Smith, age 21, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the sentence after an October 7, 2013, guilty plea to one count of receipt of child pornography.  At the guilty plea hearing, Smith admitted that, between 2011 and 2013, he used the Internet to receive child pornography.  Information provided at the sentencing hearing indicated that defendant also posed as a female on the Internet, enticed minors to masturbate for him on webcam, and saved videos of these minors on his computer.

Smith was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Smith was sentenced to 192 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed, and Smith must also serve a ten-year term of supervised release.  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, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Cedar Rapids 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 is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is CR 13-54.

There will be a press conference held on Wednesday, April 9, 2014, at 2:00 p.m., at the federal courthouse located at 111 Seventh Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  The press conference will be held in the United States Attorney’s second floor conference room.  United States Attorney Kevin W. Techau will present awards to three individuals being honored for outstanding service to crime victims as part of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.  The honorees are: Investigator Corey Peiffer, Cedar Rapids Police Department; Special Agent Darrell Simmons, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation; and Investigator Rod Fiser, Hiawatha Police Department.

 Press releases and interview opportunities will be available.

United States Attorney’s Office staff will be available beginning at approximately 1:30 p.m. to escort members of the press with any camera equipment directly to the conference room upon entering the courthouse.  Camera equipment will not be allowed in any other areas of the building.  No mobile telephones will be allowed in the building.

A woman who collected over $78,000 from State Farm Insurance for losses stemming from the arson of a rental dwelling she owned in Fort Dodge, Iowa, pled guilty today in federal court in Sioux City. 

Shirley Weimer, age, 67 a Fort Dodge, Iowa, landlord pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to knowingly use fire to commit wire fraud in violation of federal law. 

At the plea hearing, the evidence revealed Weimer had recruited a tenant of hers, Lisa Young, to burn down the home that Weimer owned and rented to Young.  Weimer promised Young $10,000 of the insurance money for her role in the crime.  Eventually, Weimer recruited Ashley and Gerald Straight and others into her scheme to defraud the insurance company. The scheme was executed, and the rental dwelling was intentionally (and completely) destroyed by fire.

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Weimer remains free on bond previously set pending sentencing.  Weimer faces a 120 month sentence, a $250,000 fine, $100 in special assessments, and 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.  Lisa Young will be sentenced for her role in the crime on April 22, 2014.  Ashley Straight will be sentenced for her role in the crime on April 22, 2014, and Gerald Straight will be sentenced for his role in the crime on April 29, 2014.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 13-3035.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Otho Volunteer Fire Department, the Iowa Department of Public Safety -- State Fire Marshal's Division, the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fort Dodge Police Department.  The case was prosecuted Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild

A man who started a fire in his home while cooking methamphetamine was sentenced on April 1, 2014, to more than fourteen years in federal prison.

Christopher Mayne, 34, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 18, 2013, guilty plea to one count of possession of pseudoephedrine knowing or having reasonable cause to believe it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine.

According to information disclosed during the prosecution, during a March 23, 2013, traffic stop, police seized 180 pills of pseudoephedrine from Mayne as well as items used to manufacture methamphetamine.  At the time of the traffic stop, police were investigating Mayne in connection with a fire at his residence on December 4, 2012.  The fire started in Mayne’s basement, where he was manufacturing methamphetamine, and spread to other areas of the house.  Three minor children were present in the home at the time of the fire.  The fire ultimately consumed the entire home.     

Mayne was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Mayne was sentenced to 169 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams and investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force, the Dubuque Police Department and the Dubuque Fire Department. 

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 13-CR-1017.

A Sioux City gang member, who possessed a firearm after having been convicted of three previous felonies, was sentenced March 26, 2014, to 70 month’s imprisonment in federal prison.

Ramon Olague, III, age 23, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of possessing a firearm having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.  Federal law prohibits felons from possessing firearms.

According to information presented at Olague’s change of plea and sentencing hearings by the United States, Olague’s firearm possession was discovered on October 17, 2013, when Sioux City Police Officers responded to a domestic disturbance.  Officers learned Olague had become angry with his paramour, shoved her, screamed at her, and brandished a gun.  He ran off before police arrived, but he was soon apprehended.  A search of the area revealed Olague had attempted to hide the firearm at another nearby property.

Olague was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett.  Olague was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed.  He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 13-4098.

The case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a cooperative local, state, and federal program aimed at the enhanced prosecution of gun crimes.  The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Sioux City Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild. 

Earl James Ramos, age 26, from Waterloo, Iowa, has been charged with distributing a synthetic drug called pentedrone.  The charges are contained in a Complaint unsealed today in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.

The Complaint alleges that, on or about October 2 and October 8, 2012, Ramos distributed pentedrone to another person at the convenience store in Waterloo where Ramos worked as manager.  The Complaint alleges that pentedrone is in the class of substances commonly referred to as “bath salts,” and is a form of synthetic methcathinone.

If convicted, Ramos faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, $100 in special assessments, and life years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

Ramos appeared today in federal court in Cedar Rapids and was released on bond.

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

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham and 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 Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force; the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA; the Linn County Sheriff's Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; and the Sixth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Department of Homeland Security; and the Internal Revenue Service.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 1:14-mj-00057-JSS.

A man who shot someone in a bar fight pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids to unlawful possession of a firearm.

Tyrone Clifton, age 27, from Dubuque, Iowa, was convicted of one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

In a plea agreement, Clifton admitted that on the morning of November 22, 2013, he was involved in an altercation in a Dubuque bar and shot someone.  Clifton fled before the police arrived but was apprehended later that day in a car with a loaded 9mm pistol.  Clifton had previously been convicted in Cook County, Illinois, of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver in 2005, possession of a controlled substance in 2006, delivery of a controlled substance in 2008, escape in 2008, and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a felon in 2011, all felony offenses.

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Clifton remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Clifton faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, $100 in special assessments, and 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

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

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 14-CR-1003.

Gordon Lasley, Jr., 25, from the Meskwaki Nation Settlement, Iowa, has been charged with murder in “Indian country.”­ The charge is contained in a Complaint filed on March 7, 2014, in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids. 

The Complaint alleges that, on or about February 5, 2014, Lasley murdered two people at their home on the Meskwaki Nation Settlement near Tama, Iowa.

If convicted, Lasley faces a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.

Lasley appeared today in federal court in Cedar Rapids and was held without bond.  Lasley’s next appearance for preliminary and detention hearings is set for March 13, 2014, at 12:00 p.m.

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

In 2010, the Department of Justice launched an initiative making public safety in tribal communities a top priority.  The goal of the initiative is to help tribes build and sustain safe and secure communities across the country.  Information about the initiative is available at http://www.justice.gov/tribal.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys C.J. Williams and Anthony Morfitt and was investigated by the Meskwaki Nation Tribal Police, the Tama County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

            Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/.  The case file number is 14-mj-00065.

Janelle Zoch, age 47, and Darwin Zoch, age 45, both of Storm Lake, Iowa, and Brandon Hinesly, age 35, of Truesdale, Iowa, have pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Sioux City, Iowa, to one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice.  Janelle Zoch and Brandon Hinesly pled guilty on February 28, 2014.  Darwin Zoch pled guilty on March 3, 2014.  Mark Hill, age 48, of Storm Lake, Iowa, also pled guilty on August 13, 2013 to one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice,

Information presented by the United States at the plea hearings revealed that on May 19, 2011, Darwin Zoch was arrested on a warrant for allegations that he was a felon (and an armed career criminal) in possession of firearms in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) (and 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)).  On May 19, 2011, Darwin Zoch appeared before Chief United States Magistrate Judge Paul A. Zoss for an initial appearance and arraignment.  On May 19, 2011, Darwin Zoch was released on a personal recognizance bond, and conditions of pretrial releases were imposed. 

Darwin Zoch was also on State of Iowa probation at the time and was, thereby, required to wear a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) monitoring system bracelet, and was subject to an 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily curfew.

On November 16, 2011, Darwin Zoch was convicted after a jury trial of being a felon (and an armed career criminal) in possession of firearms in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) (and 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)).  On November 16, 2011, Darwin Zoch was released by the trial judge, to await sentencing upon the same conditions of release as were imposed earlier while Darwin Zoch awaited his November 2011 trial. 

Instead of awaiting sentencing as he promised the court, Darwin Zoch, and  Janelle Zoch, Brandon Hinsely, Mark Hill and others plotted Darwin Zoch’s flight from justice.  They, among other things, researched countries without extradition treaties, boats he might buy to sail out of the country, obtained and pre-positioned a getaway car at his parent’s farm, acquired mobile phones with which to communicate secretly, and assembled more than $5,000 in cash.  Then they executed the plan, and Darwin Zoch escaped as far as a marina in Corpus Cristie Texas, where he was captured.

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Janelle Zoch, Brandon Hinesly and Mark Hill remain free on bond previously set; Darwin Zoch remains in custody of the United States Marshal;  Janelle Zoch, Darwin Zoch,. Hinesly, and Hill each face a possible maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, $100 in special assessments, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 13-3047.

            The case was investigated by the United States Marshal’s Service; special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Sheriff and Deputies of the Buena Vista County Sheriff=s Office, and Officers of the Storm Lake, Iowa Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.

Two men who crossed state lines to commit sex acts with a minor were sentenced February 25, 2014, to federal prison.

Mensur Malik, age 23, from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, received a sentence of 151 months’ imprisonment after a September 23, 2013, guilty plea to one count of transporting a minor across a state line with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.  Salim Issa, age 23, from Sioux Falls, received a sentence of 46 months’ imprisonment after a September 13, 2013, guilty plea to one count of traveling across a state line for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct. 

At his plea hearing, Malik admitted that, in July 2012, he transported a minor female from Clear Lake, Iowa, to Sioux Falls with the intent to engage in sexual activity with her.  At his plea hearing, Issa admitted that, in July 2012, when he and Malik traveled from South Dakota to Iowa, he intended to have sex with the minor female.

Malik and Issa were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Malik was sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment, a special assessment of $100 was imposed, and he must serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  Issa was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment, a special assessment of $100 was imposed, and he must serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Both Malik and Issa 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 Clear Lake Police Department, the Sioux Falls Police Department, and 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 and click on the tab “resources.”

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is CR 13-3024.

Kevin W. Techau today took the United States Attorney’s oath of office as the newest United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa.  Techau succeeds Stephanie M. Rose as the District’s presidentially appointed United States Attorney and Sean R. Berry as the District’s court appointed United States Attorney.  He was nominated by President Barack Obama on November 7, 2013, and was confirmed by the full Senate on February 12, 2014.

A public investiture ceremony for Mr. Techau is planned for the future but no date or details have yet been determined.

“I am honored and excited to serve as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa.  This is a great office, full of smart and passionate people.  I look forward to working with other members of the District’s exceptional legal and law enforcement communities.  I thank President Obama for nominating me and Senator Harkin for his recommendation and unwavering support through this process,” Techau said.

Techau most recently served as Associate General Counsel at American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company, where he worked since 2007.  Prior to that, Techau served as a Commissioner of the Iowa Department of Public Safety from 2002 to 2007 and as Director of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals from 1999 to 2002.  He was an Assistant Federal Public Defender with the Iowa Federal Defender’s Office from 1996 to 1999 and worked in private practice at the law firm of Grefe & Sidney from 1992 to 1996. 

From 1985 to 1992, Techau served as a Judge Advocate with the United States Air Force.  After leaving active duty, he served with the Iowa Air National Guard from 1993 to 2011.  In 2011, he retired from the Iowa Air National Guard as a Colonel with 27 years of military service. 

Mr. Techau was born in Iowa City and graduated from Marion High School. He received his law degree in 1984 from the University of Iowa College of Law and his undergraduate degree in 1981 from the University of Iowa.

For a photograph, go to http://www.justice.gov/usao/ian/meetattorney.html.

A registered sex offender who attempted to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity was sentenced today to more than 37 years in federal prison.

Wayne Carlisle, age 38, of Oelwein, Iowa, received the sentence after a November 12, 2013, guilty plea to one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of committing a felony offense involving a minor by a person required to register as a sex offender.  At the guilty plea, Carlisle admitted that, in 2012, he attempted to entice an undercover officer who was posing as a minor to meet for the purpose of unlawful sex with a minor.  Carlisle was required to register as a sex offender based on his convictions for two counts of lascivious acts with a child in Linn County in 1996.

Carlisle was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Carlisle was sentenced to 447 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $200 was imposed, and Carlisle must also serve a life term of supervised release.  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, the Hiawatha Police Department, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Oelwein 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 is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is CR 13-75.

An Omaha, Nebraska, man was convicted by a federal jury on February 13, 2014, after a three and one-half day trial in federal court in Sioux City.   

Michael Clayton, age 44, from Omaha, Nebraska, was convicted of one count of bank robbery.  The verdict was returned following about five hours of jury deliberations. 

The evidence at trial showed that, on February 7, 2013, Clayton robbed the Citizens’ State Bank in Fort Dodge, Iowa, taking $11,284.  That day, Clayton asked Christopher Anderson to drive him to a location near the bank and wait for him.  Clayton robbed the bank, returned to Anderson’s car with a bag, and urged Anderson to drive away quickly.  Anderson drove Clayton to Omaha, Nebraska, in order to help Clayton escape arrest, prosecution and imprisonment for the Fort Dodge, Iowa, robbery.  Clayton paid Anderson $1,000 for his role in the offense.

On June 27, 2013, Anderson pled guilty to being an accessory after the fact to the bank robbery and will appear before United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett for sentencing on March 5, 2014.  He faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment, up to $125,000 in fines, a $100 special assessment, and up to five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

Clayton’s sentencing before United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Clayton remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Clayton faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Fort Dodge Police Department, the Omaha Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.  Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl

The case file number is 13-3022.

A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced February 12, 2014, to more than 4 years in federal prison.

Jose Lopez, Jr., 25, from Estherville, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 23, 2013, guilty plea to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.

At the guilty plea, Lopez, Jr. admitted his involvement in a conspiracy from 2009 through May 2013 that distributed more than 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine.  Lopez, Jr. and a co-defendant traveled to Wisconsin and Minnesota to obtain methamphetamine for later distribution in Iowa.  On multiple occasions Lopez, Jr., distributed methamphetamine to undercover officers. 

Lopez, Jr. was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett.  Lopez, Jr. was sentenced to 59 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed.  He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 13-4048.

A man who sold “ice” methamphetamine from his rural Benton County home was sentenced on January 30, 2014 to just under four years in federal prison.

Kenneth Gragg, 54, from Garrison, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 2, 2013 guilty plea to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm as an unlawful drug user.

In a plea agreement, Gragg admitted he sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant on two occasions in late 2012.  A search warrant was executed on Gragg’s home in January 2013.  During the search, officers seized additional quantities of methamphetamine, which Gragg admitted he had intended to distribute to others.  A shotgun was also seized from Gragg’s residence.  Gragg could not legally possess the firearm because he was an unlawful user of both methamphetamine and marijuana.

Gragg was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Gragg was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment and fined $5,000.  A special assessment of $200 was imposed.  Gragg must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Gragg 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 Justin Lightfoot and investigated by the Rural Area Interdiction Detail (“RAID”) Task Force with assistance from the Tama County Sheriff’s Office.  The RAID Task Force is comprised of officers from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office and Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/ cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 13-CR-59.

A Waterloo man who imported MDMA (also known as “ecstasy” or “Molly”) he ordered through the internet pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

Adam Lawin, age 23, from Waterloo, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (also known as MDMA or “Molly”).

In a plea agreement, Lawin admitted that he obtained the MDMA by utilizing the highly encrypted drug trafficking marketplace website, Silk Road.  Lawin also admitted he insulated himself from detection by law enforcement by having the packages delivered to friends or acquaintances, and paying those individuals a nominal fee (either a small amount of MDMA or cash) for delivering the packages to him.  During a search of Lawin’s Waterloo residence on April 26, 2013, law enforcement seized over 1.3 kilograms of MDMA.  During earlier searches, officers had seized over 250 grams of MDMA destined for Lawin.

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Lawin was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the guilty plea and will remain in custody pending sentencing.  Lawin faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, $100 in special assessments, and at least 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham and was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Securities Investigations, and the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force. 

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is No. CR13-2040-1-LRR.

A woman who used Craigslist to try to hire someone to commit murder was sentenced on February 5, 2014, to more than seven years in federal prison.

Megan Schmidt, 23, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 20, 2013, guilty plea to one count of using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder for hire. 

In a plea agreement, Schmidt admitted that two advertisements were posted on the website “Craigslist” from her Apple iPhone, soliciting for someone to do a “one time job.”  In response to the advertisements, multiple individuals contacted defendant by email, including an individual also from Dubuque.  During an exchange of emails between Schmidt and this individual, Schmidt stated that she wanted a man killed.  Eventually, using her cell phone, Schmidt called and spoke to a man in she thought was the individual she had emailed.  However, Schmidt was actually talking to an undercover deputy from the Dubuque County Sheriff’s office.  During this phone call, Schmidt agreed to pay $10,000 to have a man killed.  The undercover deputy then arranged to meet Schmidt at a location in Dubuque in order to see a picture of the man Schmidt wanted killed.  Following this meeting, Schmidt was arrested.

Schmidt was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Schmidt was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed.  Schmidt must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and was investigated by the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office and the Dubuque Police Department. 

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov.  The case file number is 13-CR-1013.

A man who, along with his brother, stole scientific calculators from Wal-Mart stores in multiple states and shipped the calculators to New York City, was sentenced on February 4, 2014, in federal court in Cedar Rapids to thirty months in federal prison.

Jacob Nelson, 31, from Wichita, Kansas, received the prison term after a November 19, 2013, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to transport stolen goods in interstate commerce. 

 At the November 19, 2013 plea hearing, Nelson admitted to agreeing with others to transport over $5,000 in stolen scientific calculators.  Nelson further admitted that on August 13, 2013, he and a co-conspirator drove from Wisconsin into Iowa in possession of over 200 stolen scientific calculators valued at more than $26,000.  Nelson also admitted that on August 13, 2013, he and a co-conspirator stole fourteen scientific calculators valued at $1,295 from the Wal-Mart in Maquoketa, Iowa.  Nelson and his co-conspirator were arrested driving away from the Wal-Mart.  Police officers then searched Nelson’s car and found hundreds of stolen calculators and two loaded handguns.

Nelson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Nelson was sentenced to thirty months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed, and he was ordered to make $163,974.96 in restitution to Wal-Mart.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Nelson’s brother, Caleb Nelson, 29, also from Wichita, Kansas, previously pled guilty on January 21, 2014 for his role in the conspiracy to transport stolen calculators.  Caleb Nelson’s sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Reade will be set after a presentence report is prepared.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Maquoketa Police Department. 

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/.  Jacob Nelson’s case file number is 13-CR-1021.  Caleb Nelson’s case file number is 14-CR-1001. 

Two men who conspired to distribute methamphetamine were sentenced on November 14, 2013, and January 31, 2014, each to one year in federal prison.

Robert Skarin, 54, and William Meisner, 54, both from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after July 23, 2013, and August 26, 2013, guilty pleas to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

At the guilty pleas, each admitted that from the beginning of 2013 through April 2013 they distributed more than 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine in the Sioux City, Iowa area.  Each further admitted that on at least two occasions they traveled together to Omaha, Nebraska, to obtain methamphetamine for later distribution in Sioux City.  On April 3, 2013, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Skarin with Meisner as passenger.  A search yielded a brown paper bag rolled up and hidden inside Skarin’s right sock.  The bag contained over 80 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine.  Skarin and Meisner intended to distribute some or all of this methamphetamine.

Both were sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett.  Skarin was sentenced to 12 months’ and one day imprisonment.  He must also serve a five year term of supervised release after the prison term.  Meisner was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a five year term of supervised release after the prison term.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed to each of them.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Skarin and Meisner 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 Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, which 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 the Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.   

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 13-4035.

Februay 4, 2014  

A man who sexually exploited four children and possessed child pornography was sentenced February 3, 2014, to 110 years in federal prison.

Benton Stong, age 76, of Oran, Iowa, received the sentence after a September 17, 2013, jury verdict finding him guilty of one count of sexual exploitation of children and four counts of possession of child pornography.

The evidence at trial showed that, in 2012, Stong used, persuaded, induced, and enticed four children to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of this conduct.  The evidence also showed that, between 2009 and 2012, Stong possessed child pornography at his residence in Oran.

Stong was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Stong was sentenced to 1,320 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $500 was imposed, and Stong must also serve a life term of supervised release.  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 Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

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 is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is CR 13-2014.

A man who enticed a minor to engage in sexual activity and possessed child pornography was sentenced February 3, 2014, to almost 30 years in federal prison.

Timothy Koenck, age 54, of Fenton, Iowa, received the sentence after a September 26, 2013, guilty plea to one count of enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity, one count of committing a felony offense involving a minor by a person required to register as a sex offender, and two counts of possession of child pornography.  Koenck previously had been convicted of enticement of a minor and possession of child pornography in 2001-2002.

Koenck was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett.  Koenck was sentenced to 355 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $400 was imposed, and Koenck must also serve a ten-year term of supervised release.  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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mower County, Minnesota, Sheriff’s Office.

 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 is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is CR 13-3016.

A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced February 3, 2014, to twelve years in federal prison.

Ryan Hansen, 32, from Algona, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 6, 2013, guilty plea to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.

At the guilty plea, Hansen admitted his involvement from September 2012 through March 2013 in a conspiracy that distributed at least 500 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine.  Hansen admitted to obtaining ounces of methamphetamine in Minnesota on multiple occasions and distributing it in Iowa.  On March 16, 2013, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle Hansen was driving.  Officers located and seized several bags of “ice” methamphetamine totaling 14.76 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine.  Hansen admitted he had traveled to Minnesota to obtain the methamphetamine, transported it back to Iowa, and sold some of the methamphetamine in the Mason City area prior to being stopped by law enforcement.

Hansen was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett.  Hansen was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed.  He must also serve a ten-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa DCI Criminalistics Laboratory. 

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 13-3010.

A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced January 8, 2014, to ten years in federal prison.

Leroy Raffaelli, 44, from Sheldon, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 25, 2013, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

At the guilty plea, Raffaelli admitted his involvement in a conspiracy that distributed at least 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine from February 2011 through February 2013.  On one occasion in January 2013, in Sheldon, Raffaelli distributed 9.76 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement.

Raffaelli was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett.  Raffaelli was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100.  He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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

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

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 13-4013.

A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced January 22, 2014, to more than 10 years in federal prison.

Hector Ramirez, 29, residing in South Sioux City, Nebraska, received the prison term after an October 25, 2013, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

At the guilty plea, Ramirez admitted his involvement in a conspiracy that distributed more than 500 grams of methamphetamine from 2010 through May 2013.  On April 24, 2013, law enforcement conducted a controlled buy with Ramirez who distributed over 25 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine.  

Ramirez was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett.  Ramirez was sentenced to 128 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed.  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.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by 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 is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 13-4052.

Former Agriprocessors’, Inc., manager Hosam Amara was sentenced today to more than three years in federal prison.  Amara, age 49, received the prison term after an August 30, 2013, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to harbor undocumented aliens for profit.

In a plea agreement, Amara admitted he was a manager of the poultry side of Agriprocessors’ Postville facility.  Amara admitted that, during at least the five years leading up to May 2008, he and several other Agriprocessors’ managers knowingly and willfully conspired to harbor undocumented alien workers at Agriprocessors’ Postville facility.  Among Amara’s coconspirators was Agriprocessors’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO).  Amara admitted the conspiracy was for the purpose of commercial advantage. 

In the plea agreement, Amara also admitted that, in the Fall of 2007, an immigration agent warned Agriprocessors’ human resources manager that certain expired versions of resident alien cards should no longer be accepted as proof that alien employees were authorized to work in the United States.  The human resources manager stopped accepting the cards, and Agriprocessors soon had a shortage of workers.  Amara complained to the CEO about the worker shortage, and the CEO began causing new undocumented alien workers to be placed on the payroll of a separate company, Hunt Enterprises, to make it appear the undocumented aliens were not Agriprocessors’ employees.  Knowing this, Amara told existing undocumented alien workers to encourage their family members to come to Agriprocessors for work.

In the plea agreement, Amara also admitted he fled to Israel in the wake of a May 12, 2008 immigration enforcement action at Agriprocessors in Postville.  The CEO encouraged Amara to leave, telling him, “[j]ust go ahead and leave and forget about everything here.”  The CEO gave Amara $4,000 to use for expenses including airfare.  Amara was extradited to the United States in April 2013.

Amara was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Amara was sentenced to 41 months’ imprisonment – a sentence at the top of the sentencing range recommended by the United States Sentencing Guidelines -- to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Amara 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 Peter Deegan, C.J. Williams, and Matthew Cole.  The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Prior assistance was provided by the United States Marshals Service; United States Postal Inspections Service; Iowa Department of Public Safety; Iowa Department of Transportation; Federal Protective Service; Internal Revenue Service B Criminal Investigations; United States Department of Labor; Public Health Service; United States Department of Agriculture; United States Environmental Protection Agency; Iowa Department of Natural Resources; Drug Enforcement Administration; Waterloo Police Department; and Postville Police Department.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is CR 08-1324 LRR.

A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and possessed a firearm in furtherance of the drug conspiracy was sentenced January 30, 2014, to more than 10 years in federal prison.

James Edward Poole, 34, from Boone, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 13, 2013, guilty plea to one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

At the guilty plea, Poole admitted his involvement in a conspiracy from 2012 through January 2013 that distributed more than 1000 grams of mixed methamphetamine which contained at least 150 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine.  On January 8, 2013, officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle occupied by Poole and his wife, Shannon Poole.  During a search of the vehicle, officers located and seized about over 134 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine, $377.74 in U.S. Currency, and a loaded handgun (namely a Kel-Tec .380).  Poole admitted he had just obtained the methamphetamine from his source near Webster City, Iowa, and planned to distribute it to other person(s). 

Poole was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett.  Poole was sentenced to 126 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $200 was imposed.  He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Poole is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster City Police Department, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Wright County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.      

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov /cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 13-3003.

The head of a heroin distribution conspiracy was sentenced January 30, 2014, to more than 27 years in federal prison.

Dwayne Appling, 37, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after an August 26, 2013, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and one count of distributing heroin near a school.

According to information disclosed at the sentencing hearing, between 2007 and March of 2010, Appling headed an organization responsible for distributing thousands of grams of heroin throughout the Waterloo area.  Appling recruited at least eight other individuals to sell heroin on his behalf.  Appling’s organization was extensive, involving over thirty other individuals who have been prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office. 

Appling was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Appling was sentenced to 327 months’ imprisonment on each count to run concurrently.  The Court also imposed a special assessment of $200.  He must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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

The case was being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams and was investigated by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Cedar Rapids Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force and the Tri-County Drug Task Force.  The Cedar Rapids DEA Task

Force consists of the DEA; Linn County Sheriff's Office; Cedar Rapids Police Department; Marion Police Department; Iowa City Police Department; Clinton
Police Department; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Sixth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services.  The Tri-County Drug Task Force consists of the Waterloo Police Department; Cedar Falls Police Department; Waverly Police Department; Bremer County Sheriff’s Office; Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office; LaPorte City Police Department; Evansdale Police Department; Hudson Police Department; and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is CR-11-2025.

Brady Verlo, age 22, of West Branch, Iowa, has been charged with one count of receipt of child pornography.  The charge is contained in an Indictment filed on January 28, 2014, in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids. 

The Indictment alleges that, in August 2013, Verlo received child pornography.

If convicted, Verlo faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and at least five years and up to life on supervised release following any imprisonment.

Verlo appeared today in federal court in Cedar Rapids and was held without bond.  Verlo’s next appearance for a detention hearing is set for February 5, 2014.

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

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Iowa City Police Department, and the West Branch 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 is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is CR 14-9.

A former employee of a financial brokerage firm in Mason City, Iowa, who stole $391,725.31 from multiple firm clients was sentenced today to more than five years in federal prison.

 Teresa Dorenkamp, 42, from Mason City, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 26, 2013, guilty plea to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

In a plea agreement, Dorenkamp admitted that, while employed by the financial brokerage, she fraudulently obtained money from the firm’s clients by falsely depositing money belonging to the clients into Dorenkamp’s or her husband’s bank accounts.  Dorenkamp admitted one such false deposit occurred on June 3, 2011, when Dorenkamp had $36,139.60 wire transferred from a client’s investment account into Dorenkamp’s own bank account.  Dorenkamp further admitted she forged the signature of that client in order to complete the false deposit.  Dorenkamp further admitted she caused $391,725.31 in fraudulent transfers and deposits from May 2007 through August 2011.

Dorenkamp was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Dorenkamp was sentenced to 65 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $200 was imposed, and she was ordered to make $391,725.31 in restitution.  She must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mason City Police Department. 

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov.  The case file number is 13-CR-03032.

A man who attempted to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity and distributed child pornography was sentenced January 16, 2013, to fourteen years in federal prison.

Kevin Trittien, age 35, of Eldora, Iowa, received the sentence after an October 9, 2013, guilty plea to one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of distribution of child pornography.  At the guilty plea, Trittien admitted that, in 2012, he attempted to entice an undercover officer who was posing as a minor to meet for the purpose of unlawful sex with a minor.  He also admitted that, in 2012, he distributed child pornography.

Trittien was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Trittien was sentenced to 168 months’ imprisonment and fined $8,000.  A special assessment of $200 was imposed, and Trittien must also serve an eight-year term of supervised release.  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 Garner Police Department, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, and the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office.

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 is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is CR 13-67.

Three people who were part of a methamphetamine manufacturing ring operating in northwestern Iowa were sentenced to a combined 26 years in federal prison. 

Chad Root, 42, from Waukon, Iowa, Enrique Manzo, 37, from Fredericksburg, Iowa, and Jessica Manzo, 31, from Fredericksburg, Iowa, received the prison terms after separate guilty pleas.  Root pled guilty on August 19, 2013 to conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine after a prior drug felony conviction, and possession of firearms as a felon.  Enrique and Jessica Manzo each pled guilty on October 4, 2013 to conspiracy to possess and distribute pseudoephedrine knowing that it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine.

Court records, along with information disclosed at their guilty plea and sentencing hearings, indicate that Root admitted he and others agreed to manufacture methamphetamine between April 2012 and April 2013.  Root also admitted he possessed ten firearms, including one with an obliterated serial number.  Root has multiple prior felony convictions.  Enrique and Jessica Manzo each admitted that, over approximately the same time period, they obtained pseudoephedrine from other people and provided it for the manufacture of methamphetamine. 

All three individuals were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Enrique Manzo was sentenced on November 26, 2013 to 100 months’ imprisonment.  Jessica Manzo was sentenced on January 6, 2014 to 81 months’ imprisonment.  Root was sentenced on January 7, 2014 to 141 months’ imprisonment.  Each was ordered to pay a special assessment of $100.  Enrique and Jessica Manzo must each serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  Root is required to serve an 8-year term of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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

The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Lightfoot and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Iowa State Patrol, the Decorah Police Department, the Monona Police Department, the Waukon Police Department, the Postville Police Department, and the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office. 

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number for Chad Root is 13-CR-1007.  The case file number for Enrique and Jessica Manzo is 13-CR-2019.

A man who started a fire while trying to manufacture methamphetamine was sentenced on January 13, 2014 to 19 ½ years in federal prison.

Cory Cole, 47, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 9, 2013 guilty plea to the attempted manufacture of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school.  

Information disclosed at the guilty plea and sentencing indicates that Cole admitted he attempted to cook methamphetamine on May 30, 2013, at a Dubuque residence.  The methamphetamine lab caused a fire to erupt in the house.  Two other individuals—neither of whom were involved in the methamphetamine activity—were present inside the residence.  The residence was located within 1,000 feet of Fulton Elementary School. 

Cole was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Cole was sentenced to 234 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed.  He must also serve a 6-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Cole 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 Justin Lightfoot and investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force, the Dubuque Police Department, and the Dubuque Fire Department. 

            Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 13-CR-1015.

A man who possessed a homemade bomb was sentenced today to more than seven years in federal prison.

Bjorn Luster, age 34, from Cresco, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 19, 2013, guilty plea to one count of possession of an unregistered firearm, a destructive device. 

The evidence in the case showed that during the execution of a search warrant at Luster’s residence in January 2013, law enforcement officers found a destructive device, specifically, a homemade bomb and a container of explosive powder.  Luster admitted that he made the bomb and that he wrapped it with shrapnel (BBs and nails) to make it more destructive.

Luster was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Luster was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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

The case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a cooperative local, state and federal program aimed at the enhanced prosecution of gun crimes.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and was investigated by the Cresco, Iowa, Police Department, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 13-CR-2021.

Text of the pA man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced on December 19, 2013, to more than twelve years in federal prison.

Kevin Schimerowski, 46, from Odebolt, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 28, 2013, guilty plea to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.

At the plea hearing, Schimerowski admitted his involvement in a conspiracy from about 2012 through April 2013 that distributed more than five grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine.  On three occasions in February 2013, Schimerowski distributed over five grams actual (pure) methamphetamine to individuals cooperating with law enforcement.   

Schimerowski was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett.  Schimerowski was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed.  He must also serve an eight-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Schimerowski must also serve an additional 6 months’ imprisonment for revocation proceedings on a prior federal conviction of conspiracy to distribute at least 50 grams of methamphetamine.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Denison Police Department, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, Sac County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa Division of Criminalistics Laboratory.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 13-4038.

A felon who unlawfully possessed two firearms was sentenced today to more than eight years in federal prison.

Daniel Campbell, age 30, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 5, 2013, jury verdict finding him guilty of one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

The evidence at trial showed that around 11:00 p.m. on June 10, 2013, officers from the Dubuque Police Department responded to a 911 call regarding a man with a firearm on Bluff Street.  As officers approached the area, they spotted Campbell who matched the description provided in the 911 call.  When an officer asked Campbell to stop, Campbell ran away and pulled two guns from his pants.  Campbell tossed one gun as he ran through an alley behind a church.  Campbell took the second gun and fired a shot over his shoulder at the pursuing officers before tossing the gun into a fenced-in area behind the church.  Campbell hid from officers in a trash pile a couple of blocks away before being apprehended around 12:30 a.m.  Campbell had previously been convicted in United States District Court in 2007 of providing a false statement to a federal firearms licensee, a felony offense.

Campbell was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge James E. Gritzner from the Southern District of Iowa.  Campbell was sentenced to 97 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Campbell is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

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

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 13-CR-1010.

An illegal alien who attempted to obtain a U.S. passport using fraudulent and illegally obtained documents was sentenced November 25, 2013, to three years in federal prison.

Eduardo Rodriguez-Ayala, age 39, a citizen of Mexico, living in Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 14, 2013, jury verdict finding him guilty of one count of unlawful possession of an identity document, one count of making false statements in a passport application, two counts of making a false claim of United States citizenship, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. 

The evidence at trial showed that on August 10, 2012, Rodriguez-Ayala, claiming to be a U.S. citizen, used a fraudulent Arizona birth certificate in his brother=s name to obtain an Iowa identification card and to register to vote.  Three days later, on August 13, 2012, Rodriguez-Ayala used the falsely procured Iowa identification card and the fraudulent birth certificate to apply for a U.S. passport.  Rodriguez-Ayala later gave a false name and date of birth to State Department agents investigating the passport application.  Rodriguez-Ayala eventually admitted he used false documents and his brother=s identity to apply for the U.S. passport. 

Rodriguez-Ayala was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Rodriguez-Ayala was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $600 was imposed.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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

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

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is CR 13-2009.

A Dubuque man who sold cocaine from his residence near a playground was sentenced November 25, 2013, to more than four years in federal prison.

Shannon Huntington, age 43, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 20, 2013, guilty plea to two counts of distribution of cocaine near a protected location and one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute near a protected location.

At the plea hearing, Huntington admitted he twice sold cocaine to law enforcement officers in January 2013 from his residence near Flat Iron Park in Dubuque.  On January 18, 2013, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Huntington’s residence and found 396 grams of cocaine which Huntington intended to sell in Dubuque.

Huntington was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Huntington was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $300 was imposed.  He must also serve a six-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force consisting of officers from the Dubuque Police Department and the Dubuque County Sheriff=s Office.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 13-CR-1006.

A man who provided a gun to a felon was sentenced November 25, 2013, to more than three years in federal prison.

Demetrius Hardiman, age 19, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 6, 2013, guilty plea to one count of transferring a firearm to a prohibited person.

At the plea hearing, Hardiman admitted that on May 8, 2013, he knowingly gave a gun to his brother, a convicted felon who was prohibited from possessing firearms.  Cedar Rapids Police Officers encountered Hardiman and his brother at 1:15 a.m. and discovered that Hardiman=s brother, a felon, unlawfully possessed a cocked and loaded 9mm handgun.  Hardiman told officers that he stole the gun the year before and had his brother carry the gun that night for protection.  Hardiman had been breaking into unlocked cars that night and intended to use the gun if confronted by the cars’ owners. 

Hardiman was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Hardiman was sentenced to 41 months’ imprisonment.   A special assessment of $100 was imposed.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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

The case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a cooperative local, state and federal program aimed at the enhanced prosecution of gun crimes.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is CR 13-0037.

A woman who embezzled nearly $70,000 from a Mason City bank was sentenced today to more than one year in federal prison.

Margaret Marie (Peggy) Sheese, age 54, from Mason City, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 16, 2013 guilty plea to one count of embezzlement by a bank employee.

In a plea agreement, Sheese admitted that, between about October 2011 and January 2013, she stole $69,200 from Northwood State Bank in Mason City.  At the time, Sheese was a teller at the bank.  Sheese admitted making twenty-nine secret withdrawals from accounts belonging to a particular bank customer.  Sheese altered the bank’s records to falsely show that the bank customer’s mailing address had changed to a Post Office Box under Sheese’s control.  By changing the mailing address, Sheese caused the bank to send the customer’s account statements to Sheese rather than to the customer.  Sheese also admitted that, on January 15, 2013, she stole $2,000 in cash from the bank.

Sheese was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Sheese was sentenced to fourteen months’ imprisonment to be followed by five years of supervised release.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed, and she was ordered to make $71,680 in restitution to the victim bank and its fraud insurer.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Sheese was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marshal on December 16, 2013.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter Deegan and was investigated by the Mason City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is 13-3026 LRR.

A man who downloaded and possessed child pornography was sentenced today to over seventeen years in federal prison.

Brian Lynch, age 47, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the sentence after an August 1, 2013, guilty plea to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.  At the guilty plea, Lynch admitted that, between March 2010 and March 2013, he used the Internet to download child pornography.  He also admitted that, between November 2004 and April 2013, he possessed child pornography.  In a plea agreement, Lynch admitted that he possessed over 350 videos and over 175 images of child pornography, including depictions of prepubescent children.

Lynch was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Lynch was sentenced to 210 months’ imprisonment.  A special assessment of $200 was imposed, and Lynch must also serve a ten-year term of supervised release.  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, the DeWitt Police Department, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service.

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 is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  The case file number is CR 13-29.

A woman who formerly operated her own tax return preparation business and prepared and filed fraudulent federal tax returns was sentenced November 19, 2013, to over a year in federal prison. 

Victoria Jones, 49, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 16, 2013, guilty plea to one count of aiding and assisting the preparation and filing of a false and fraudulent tax return.

In a plea agreement, Jones, who owned and operated a tax return preparation business in Waterloo, admitted she prepared and filed a false tax return on behalf of a client, fraudulently increasing the amount of the client’s refund by falsely claiming inflated business expenses and itemized deductions and falsely claiming the client was entitled to a tax credit.  Jones further admitted she filed multiple other similarly false tax returns between 2007 and 2010.  Finally, Jones admitted that the false and fraudulent tax returns she prepared and filed resulted in at least $30,000 in unwarranted refunds for her clients.

Jones was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Jones was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment and fined $15,000.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed, and she was ordered to make $4,833 in restitution the Internal Revenue Service.  She must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

"Tax return preparers have a duty to their clients to prepare tax returns that comply with the law and are accurate," said Sybil Smith, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge.  "Taxpayers should not pay good money for bad advice."

Jones was released on conditions previously set by the United States District Court and is to surrender to the United States Marshal on December 16, 2013.         

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division. 

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/.  The case file number is 13-CR-02015.