Southern District of Iowa

DES MOINES, IA – Chase Anthony Duncan, age 38, formerly of Grimes, was sentenced on August 11, 2022, to a total of 324 months in prison for Receiving and Possessing Child Pornography. Following completion of his prison term, Duncan will be on supervised release for ten years. There is no parole in the federal system. Duncan pleaded guilty in March 2022 to these offenses.

In July 2021, law enforcement received multiple cybertips alerting them that a Google account associated with Duncan contained suspected child pornography. Des Moines Police detectives obtained a search warrant for the Google account and discovered videos and images of child pornography in Duncan’s Google Photos account. In September 2021, Detectives obtained and executed a search warrant at Duncan’s Grimes residence. From Duncan’s bedroom police seized dozens of printed 8-by-10-inch images of child pornography and several electronic devices. A forensic examination of the devices revealed hundreds of images and videos depicting child pornography that Duncan had downloaded from the internet. In addition, police discovered several videos of Duncan sitting in his car in Des Moines area parking lots while Duncan recorded minor girls walking nearby who were unaware of his presence. Duncan was masturbating and narrating his sexual attraction to the girls. Police also located several videos from a “spy camera” that Duncan placed in the bathroom of a Des Moines area hotel guestroom while Duncan and two middle-school aged girls stayed at the hotel in March 2021. Duncan’s spy camera captured these two minors in various states of undress.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI)’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nationwide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Geno Lee Campos, age 50, was sentenced on Friday, August 5, 2022, to 84 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

On July 4, 2021, Campos was the front seat passenger of a car stopped by the Iowa State Patrol for speeding on Interstate 80 in Council Bluffs. In Campos’ backpack, law enforcement found approximately 17 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Campos was also in possession of a loaded revolver that he placed underneath the passenger’s seat. Campos was prohibited from possessing firearms.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa State Patrol, Council Bluffs Police Department, Pottawattamie County Sheriff Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Jesse Dean Seifert, age 33, was sentenced on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, to 77 months in prison for charges of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm and Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. This sentence is consecutive to any state prison sentence. Seifert must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

In September 2021, police attempted to stop Seifert who was driving stolen dump truck. Seifert eluded officers and abandoned the truck in a residential neighborhood and fled on foot. Seifert dropped a firearm—a loaded sawed off shotgun—as he eluded police. Seifert was apprehended a short distance from the firearm. He was also in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department, Pottawattamie County Sheriff Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

Des Moines, IA – A Keswick man made his initial appearance today in federal court in Des Moines for tax and bank fraud charges.

Thomas Sieren, age 59, is charged in a 24-count indictment returned on July 19, 2022. According to court documents, Sieren was the Vice President of TCS Fabricating, Inc., a local fabrication company. TCS Fabricating, Inc. was required by law to withhold taxes from employee wages and to pay the withheld amounts to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on a periodic basis. These withheld taxes, sometimes known as “trust fund taxes,” include income taxes and Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes that fund Social Security and Medicare. It is alleged that Sieren failed to pay the IRS over $440,000 from 2016 to 2020. On TCS Fabricating, Inc.’s behalf, Sieren also allegedly submitted two Paycheck Protection Program loan applications in which he falsely represented that the company had employees for which it paid payroll taxes.

“Business owners are required to withhold income taxes for their employees and remit those taxes to the IRS,” said Special Agent in Charge, Tyler Hatcher. “IRS-Criminal Investigation takes these crimes very seriously not only because of the impact on federal revenue, but more importantly because of the way employee benefits are impacted.”

Sieren is charged with twenty counts of Failure to Collect, Account for, and Pay Over Trust Fund Taxes, two counts of Bank Fraud, and two counts of False Statements to a Financial Institution. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa and made the announcement. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Essley is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

DES MOINES, IA – Eastern Iowa Dermatology, PLC, located in Bettendorf, and Dr. Manish Kumar have agreed to pay $1.66 million to resolve allegations for violations of the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to Medicare for dermatology office visits and the destruction or removal of skin tags and lesions. The False Claims Act considers “up-coding”—the practice of exaggerating the amount or complexity of medical services rendered in order to achieve a higher level of reimbursement—a form a fraud.

Dr. Kumar and Eastern Iowa Dermatology, PLC also agreed to an Integrity Agreement and will submit to ongoing monitoring by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“Health care providers that try to boost their profits by submitting fraudulent claims to Federal health care programs threaten the integrity of those programs and drive up prices for everyone,” said Tamala E. Miles, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “We work tirelessly alongside our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of Federal health care programs and to ensure the appropriate use of taxpayer dollars.”

The resolutions obtained in this matter were the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). False Claims Act cases can also be brought under the qui tam provisions of the Act, which encourage whistleblowers to bring suit on behalf of the United States and share in any financial recovery.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Faith and Investigative Analyst Connie Benton.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – An Omaha, Nebraska woman, Anisha Ilene Luna, age 33, was sentenced on August 3, 2022, to eight years in prison, following her plea to a charge of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

In March 2021, the Mills County Sheriff’s Department received information that Luna and her co-defendant, Ronald Wayne Reed II, were planning to deliver an ounce of methamphetamine to a confidential source at a McDonald’s parking lot in Glenwood, Iowa. Deputies surveilled the McDonald’s and saw Luna and Reed arrive in a car. After a probable cause search, deputies found over five grams of methamphetamine in possession of Luna and Reed, which they intended to distribute. Investigation showed that Luna and Reed had distributed over a pound of methamphetamine.

Ronald Reed is scheduled to be sentenced October 5, 2022 in Council Bluffs.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Mills County Sheriff’s Department, Iowa State Patrol, and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, IA – Bradley Earl Ewart, age 51, of Wapello, was sentenced Monday, August 1, 2022, to 6 months in prison for failing to file income tax returns. Ewart pleaded guilty on March 24, 2022, to two counts of failure to file income tax returns, one for each of the calendar years 2016 and 2018. The Court imposed a three-month prison sentence on each count, to be served consecutively. Following completion of his prison term, Ewart will be on supervised release for one year. The Court imposed a $20,000 fine.

Since approximately 2004, Ewart has owned and operated Louisa County Millwright, LLC, a business that specializes in grain elevator work, material handling, steel building installation, and fabrication. Ewart failed to file federal income tax returns for the years 2004 to 2014. As part of his plea, Ewart admitted that he knowingly and willfully failed to file tax returns for the years 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Ewart remains responsible for paying his tax liability in full.

“Mr. Ewart admitted that he repeatedly failed to file his federal income tax returns the majority of the time his business was in operation,” said Tyler Hatcher, Special Agent in Charge for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) – Criminal Investigations. “Earning prison time and a $20,000 fine for this offense sends a clear message that we all have the responsibility to file accurate returns on time and pay our fair share of taxes.”

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigations investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Kerndt.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – On July 25, 2022, a Davenport man, Darion Daquan Gardner, age 27, pleaded guilty to Assault With a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering, Causing Death Through Use of a Firearm, and Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering.

In 2016 and 2017, as a member of Savage Life Boys (SLB), a Davenport-based street gang, Gardner was involved in multiple shootings, including at a dice game in December 2016, and at the Hotel Davenport in February 2017. On December 16, 2016, Gardner and other SLB members robbed and physically assaulted another male, including pistol-whipping him. SLB members also shot at the male’s vehicle as the male and an associate fled the area.

On February 12, 2017, at a concert at the Hotel Davenport, Gardner and several other SLB members started a physical altercation with an individual they believed had disrespected their gang. During the altercation, Gardner fired several shots, striking and killing one male and striking and injuring another.

Gardner committed these acts with the intent to maintain or increase his position in the gang.

Gardner is scheduled to be sentenced on November 29, 2022. As part of the plea agreement, the government and Gardner have agreed to recommend a sentence of 450 months in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal stated “This plea was the result of a dedicated and long-term investigation that highlights our commitment with local law enforcement to combatting violent crime. The families and friends of the victims in this investigation continue to feel the pain that acts of gun violence can inflict. We will continue to pursue every available law enforcement tool and partnership towards the common goal of community safety.”

Davenport Police Chief Paul Sikorski said “Investigators from the Davenport Police Department have been diligently working on this case for several years with the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Iowa and other collaborative partners. Their persistence and dedication to bringing justice and accountability in the 2017 homicide at the Hotel Davenport and several other shootings and violent encounters this subject was involved in is admirable. I am incredibly proud of the dedication to public safety that is demonstrated in this case and every day by officers and investigators at the Davenport Police Department. This case is a great example of the incredible partnership we have with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and their commitment to justice for our community and the victims of violent crime.” Peoria, Illinois Police Department assisted in the investigation.

DES MOINES, IOWA – On July 18, 2022, Pierre Fontain Black, age 31, originally of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced to 192 months in prison for his role in a large-scale heroin and fentanyl conspiracy.

Black was charged in July 2021 along with 27 individuals as the result of a months’ long investigation into heroin and fentanyl distribution within Des Moines that included the use of court-authorized wiretaps. According to court documents, Black had a large drug distribution network, which he helped run and control. Black prepared and stored the drugs containing heroin and fentanyl, controlled how and to whom drugs were delivered, and monitored drug proceeds. Black and his co-conspirators utilized several phones to communicate solely with drug customers. Black would travel to and from Chicago with large quantities of drugs containing heroin and fentanyl for redistribution in Des Moines. Black and several individuals involved in the drug conspiracy are members of the Black P. Stone Nation criminal street gang. Black pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl in February 2022.

At sentencing, Chief United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose found that Black maintained his Des Moines residence for drug trafficking and that he was an organizer or leader of the drug trafficking organization.

U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Omaha, the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force (MINE), and the Central Iowa Gang Task Force (CIGTF).

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

DES MOINES, IOWA – A federal grand jury in Des Moines returned an indictment on July 20, 2022, charging a West Des Moines man with exploiting minors to produce child pornography and attempting to entice and persuade other minors to do the same thing.

According to court documents, Jonathan Francis Speidel, age 30, used the social media application Snapchat to manipulate and entice numerous children to produce child pornography for him. Speidel had multiple Snapchat usernames, including “Letssbang” and “SD_Backupacct.”

Speidel is charged with twenty-eight crimes, including seven counts of Sexual Exploitation and Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, eight counts of Enticement and Attempted Enticement of a Minor, four counts of Transportation of Child Pornography, five counts of Receipt of Child Pornography, one count of Possession of Child Pornography, and three counts of Transfer and Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor.

Speidel has been ordered to remain in custody until his trial or sentencing. If convicted, Speidel faces a mandatory minimum fifteen-year prison sentence and a maximum penalty of life in prison.

If you have information relevant to this investigation, please contact JSpeidel@fbi.gov, an email account dedicated to identifying possible victims.

The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the North Olmsted (Ohio) Police Department, and the Gladstone (Oregon) Police Department. The investigation remains ongoing.

U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Essley is prosecuting the case.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – On July 19, 2022, a Lost Nation, Iowa man, Gary Dale Smith, age 50, was sentenced to 126 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine and Felon in Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition. Following his prison term, Smith was ordered to serve five years of supervised release. Smith pleaded guilty in February 2022.

In June 2021, Clinton County Sheriff’s deputies observed stolen items on Smith’s property. Deputies obtained a search warrant and recovered the stolen property. Upon their arrival, deputies observed Smith run into an outbuilding and found Smith in possession of a knife, a firearm, and methamphetamine. Deputies obtained an additional search warrant for an RV on the property, in which Smith resided, and located approximately 100 grams of methamphetamine, ammunition, a money counter, a video surveillance system, and other evidence of drug trafficking. Defendant had prior drug trafficking-related convictions in Arizona and Illinois, which prohibited him from possessing a firearm.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement.

The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Kevin Emmett Toomey, age 70, of Iowa City, was sentenced Tuesday, July 19, 2022, to 180 months in prison for Receiving Child Pornography. Toomey was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release following his prison sentence and was assessed a special assessment immediately payable to the Crime Victims Fund. Toomey pleaded guilty in February 2022 to this offense.

Law enforcement received a cybertip in March 2020 alerting them to an email address that had uploaded suspected child pornography. Detectives obtained and executed a search warrant at Toomey’s residence and seized several electronic devices. A forensic examination of those devices revealed over 4,000 images and nearly 300 videos depicting child pornography. Toomey began accessing child pornography shortly after his release from prison for a prior federal child pornography conviction and continued until the time of his arrest in 2020.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Iowa City Police Department and the Joint Forensic Analysis Cyber Team.

This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nation-wide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Brett Thomas Kriz, age 32, was sentenced on July 19, 2022, to 260 months in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine and Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine. Kriz was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow his prison term. Kriz pleaded to the charges in December 2021.

According to court documents, law enforcement in Washington County, Iowa initiated a traffic stop on Kriz’s car, which resulted in a search of the vehicle. Officers discovered two backpacks containing ice methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia. In post-Miranda statements, Kriz admitted to regularly purchasing methamphetamine, which he distributed in various places in eastern Iowa.

U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This matter was investigated by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Johnson County Drug Task Force and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Jose Luis Escundino Romayor, age 37, was sentenced on July 19, 2022, to 210 months in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine. Romayor was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow his prison term. Romayor pleaded to the charge in February 2022.

According to court documents, in July and August of 2017, law enforcement in Des Moines County utilized a police informant to purchase “ice” methamphetamine from Romayor on multiple occasions. During the investigation, law enforcement seized more than 2 kilograms of methamphetamine and a pistol. After his arrest, Romayor admitted regularly receiving large amounts of methamphetamine for resale.

U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This matter was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Southeast Iowa Drug Task Force and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, IA – On July 13, 2022, Nathan Mason Nosley, age 31, of Montezuma, Iowa, was sentenced to 92 months in prison for assaulting law enforcement officers with a firearm. Nosley’s sentencing followed his earlier guilty plea to that offense.

The assault occurred on November 20, 2020, when officers attempted to arrest Nosley for unrelated child pornography crimes. As the officers tried to take Nosley into custody, he pulled a loaded handgun from his waistband and fought with officers as they tried to get control of the firearm. During the struggle, Nosley bit an officer’s hand, causing the officer to bleed. The officers ultimately were able to secure the gun and take Nosley into custody. Nosley’s gun contained a loaded magazine and a live round in the chamber. A search of Nosley’s person revealed additional ammunition in his pocket.

Nosley was later convicted at trial of the child pornography offenses and was sentenced to 140 years in prison in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa. The 92-month sentence for assaulting the officers was imposed consecutively to Nosley’s sentence in the child pornography case.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This matter was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, IOWA – A Fulton, Missouri man, Chad Alan Craghead, 45, was sentenced on July 7, 2022, to 360 months in prison for Production of Child Pornography and Interstate Communications with Intent to Extort. Following his prison term, Craghead was ordered to serve five years of supervised release. Craghead will also be required to register as a sex offender.

Craghead engaged in “sextortion” over a period of nearly two years. At the time he committed these offenses, he was an elementary and middle school teacher and high school track coach. Craghead posed as a teenage boy online and obtained nude images of Minor Victim 1, a sixteen-year-old. After obtaining those images, he created a second false identity and demanded additional nude images of Minor Victim 1, threatening to disseminate the nude images he already had to her friends and family if she did not comply. Craghead extorted Minor Victim 1 over the course of several months, including sending photos of her home, referencing her parents and sister by name, and sending a photo of her sister.

Craghead also extorted Minor Victim 2. Craghead threatened to disseminate Minor Victim 1’s nude images if Minor Victim 2 did not comply with his demands for nude images and videos. Minor Victim 2 complied, sending Craghead sexually explicit videos of herself. Even then, Craghead continued to extort Minor Victim 2 by threatening to disseminate her images and videos if she did not continue to send him sexually explicit material.

Through several Snapchat accounts associated with Craghead, the FBI located numerous other minor female victims across the country, some as young as 12 and 13 years old, who either sent Craghead nude images or from whom he extorted or attempted to extort nude images. In one instance, Craghead took on the minor females’ identity, created a social media account, and obtained child pornography material with the intent to blackmail the senders, all while acting as the minor victim. Craghead told the victim he did it because she refused his demands. The FBI observed the same “sextortion” pattern of conduct with all identified victims. The victims reported feeling fear, distrust, and distress due to Craghead’s conduct.

U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Muscatine Police Department investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nationwide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.

DES MOINES, IOWA – On Tuesday, June 28, 2022, Marcus Andrew Burrage, age 36, originally of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced to a total of 375 months in prison. In two separate jury trials, Burrage was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute heroin, and assaulting a correctional officer.

According to evidence presented at the drug trafficking trial, shortly after his 2017 release from prison on a prior federal heroin distribution conviction, Burrage began selling heroin to numerous customers in the Ames and Nevada, Iowa areas.

During this time, Burrage regularly traveled to Chicago to purchase his supply of heroin. On April 9, 2018, while in Chicago, police officers stopped Burrage’s car, which had been reported stolen. Burrage was the front seat passenger. Officers asked all occupants to exit the car. Burrage refused to get out of the car and told officers they could not search him. Officers ultimately removed Burrage from the car and searched his person. Officers found 18 grams of heroin and over $6,000 cash in Burrage’s pockets.

At the time of his arrest in Chicago, Burrage was already the subject of an investigation by officers with the Central Iowa Drug Task Force. That investigation involved multiple controlled buys of marijuana from Burrage. On April 10, 2018—the day after Burrage’s arrest in Chicago—officers executed a search warrant at Burrage’s apartment in Nevada, Iowa. During the search, officers located a locked safe in a bedroom. Inside the safe officers found 21 grams of heroin, a half-ounce of marijuana, three digital scales, and other drug trafficking paraphernalia. Elsewhere in the apartment, officers found plastic baggies and drug notes. On April 11, 2018, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Burrage. Burrage was taken into custody in May 2019 after the United States Marshals Service tracked Burrage to a motel in West Des Moines. Officers found Burrage hiding in the room’s bathtub.

While awaiting trial on his drug trafficking charges, Burrage assaulted a correctional officer at the Polk County Jail. According to evidence presented at trial on that charge, Burrage punched a correctional officer in the back of the head causing serious injury and then bragged about it.

At sentencing, Chief United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose found that Burrage used violence in his drug trafficking, obstructed justice by attempting to influence a witness to lie, utilized fear and affection to further his drug trafficking, and maintained a residence for drug trafficking. As a result, Burrage was sentenced to 324 months in prison on the drug charges and a consecutive 51 months in prison for assault on a correctional officer, for a total of 375 months in prison.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The investigation was conducted by the Central Iowa Drug Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Mallory Weiser and Kyle Essley prosecuted the case with the assistance of Victim Witness Specialist Charlotte Kovacs.

Des Moines, Iowa – A Des Moines man was sentenced today to 27 months in prison following his pleas of guilty to two counts of a federal indictment charging conspiracy to wrongfully obtain and disclose individually identifiable health information, and wrongfully obtaining individually identifiable health information.

According to court documents, Dustin James Ortiz, 49, conspired with a then employee of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Des Moines to obtain individually identifiable health information of an individual which were maintained by the VAMC. The records Ortiz sought to and did obtain pertained to the victim’s mental health conditions and medications. Ortiz obtained this information without authorization required by law. Ortiz then disclosed the records to a third party. Because the conduct involved the intent to transfer and use the health information for personal gain and malicious harm, it was a felony under federal law.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law that requires standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge.

In addition to the 27-month term of imprisonment, the Court ordered the payment of $2,000 in restitution, and a 3-year term of supervised release to follow the prison sentence.

“Our office is committed to giving real meaning to HIPAA’s right-to-privacy protections,” said United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal. “HIPAA-covered entities should continue to remind everyone that the privacy provisions of HIPAA are important and have significant consequences if violated.”

“Unlawfully obtaining and releasing veterans’ health records will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Billingsley with Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Central Field Office. “This breaches the integrity of the VA healthcare system and is an egregious violation of privacy.”

The co-defendant, a former employee of the VAMC, is set for sentencing on August 4, 2022.

The Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General investigated the case.

Council Bluffs, Iowa – Five Cass County, Iowa residents were arrested on federal indictments charging Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl. The arrests are the result of a six-month investigation into a series of fentanyl overdose cases occurring in Cass and Shelby Counties. The investigation identified a fentanyl distribution network that covered Western Iowa and Eastern Nebraska. The investigation into this distribution network remains ongoing.

According to court documents, 19-year-old Mason Blaine Loudermilk of Atlantic, Iowa; 28-year-old Chase Daniel Jahnke of Lewis, Iowa; 26-year-old Kelsi Marie Thurman of Lewis, Iowa; 25-year-old Colby Ray Clarken of Atlantic, Iowa; and 19-year-old Collin Jacob Clarken of Atlantic, Iowa appeared on June 24, 2022. Trial is set for each defendant on August 8, 2022.

The potential penalty for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance as charged in these indictments is a minimum of twenty years up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case has been investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics, along with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Atlantic Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Omaha Police Department, Fourth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services, Iowa Division of Intelligence, and Drug Enforcement Administration. This case will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

United States Attorney Richard Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Aaron Allen Tripses, age 33, was sentenced on June 22, 2022, to 360 months in prison for Production of Child Pornography. Following his prison term, Tripses was ordered to serve seven years of supervised release. Tripses will also be required to register as a sex offender.

According to court documents, law enforcement responded to Tripses’ residence in reference to a welfare check. It was discovered that Tripses had assaulted an adult female. Law enforcement later received information suggesting that Tripses’ phone contained evidence of his sexual abuse of a minor. Multiple search warrants were executed on Tripses’ devices and accounts. Officers located over 1,400 images and videos depicting Tripses engaging in sex acts with a minor, including depictions of acts of violence such as prolonged strangulation. Officers also located dozens of videos of women in public places being filmed without their knowledge. On January 18, 2022, Tripses pleaded guilty to Production of Child Pornography. Tripses had a prior adjudication for sexual assault against a minor as well as other convictions for assaulting a child and woman. As a part of sentencing, the Court found that Tripses had engaged in a pattern of activity involving prohibited sexual conduct.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This matter was investigated by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office; the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Two Iowa City men were sentenced in federal court for firearms charges.

Olajude Liron Krebs, age 22, was sentenced on Wednesday June 22, 2022 to 27 months in prison for Drug User in Possession of a Firearm, Making False Statements During a Firearm Purchase, and Conspiracy. Krebs must serve a 3-year term of supervised release following his prison sentence.

Dwayne Vadim Scott, age 28, was sentenced on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 to 18 months in prison for Conspiracy. Following his prison sentence, Scott must serve a 3-year term of supervised release.

For approximately one year, Krebs, Scott, and others conspired to illegally obtain firearms. Krebs and Scott used straw purchasers, including John Vest-Walker, to illegally purchase firearms on their behalf. In April 2022, Vest-Walker was sentenced to 37 months in prison. Law enforcement recovered one of the guns Krebs obtained from Vest-Walker at the residence of a convicted felon. Just one day after Vest-Walker purchased another gun, Scott sold that illegally purchased firearm to a third-party. Two of the guns Krebs and Scott obtained through a second straw purchaser were later recovered in Indiana and Illinois.

Krebs obtained a permit to purchase firearms and quickly purchased five firearms and made false statements in connection with those purchases. Law enforcement recovered one of those firearms from Krebs while he was under the influence of marijuana.
Scott trafficked the firearms he obtained to other people who were also prohibited from possessing them. At least one firearm was recovered by law enforcement following a shots-fired incident.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa City Police Department investigated the case.

DES MOINES, IA – The Department of Justice commemorated World Elder Abuse Awareness Day by emphasizing its commitment to protecting elderly individuals against abuse, fraud, and neglect by advancing elder justice. Elder abuse takes many forms, including financial exploitation (abuse and fraud), caregiver neglect, and physical, sexual, and psychological abuse.1

Attorney General Merrick Garland stated, “The Department has a strong elder justice history that I continue to fully support. We all know an older family member or friend who has been the victim of financial fraud, either domestically or internationally, and we’ve witnessed first-hand how financial loss impacts older adults. Some older adults cut down on their prescription medications harming their health or they are unable to pay their rent and may have to move into senior subsidized housing, impacting their sense of independence. That is why the Department has devoted significant personnel and resources specifically to combat financial fraud committed against older Americans.”

1. What is Elder Abuse (Elder Justice Website); Overview of Elder Abuse (National Institute of Justice).

To prevent and prosecute crimes against the elderly, each of the 94 U. S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide have appointed Elder Justice Coordinators assigned to prosecute crimes against elderly individuals and educate the public about elder abuses. To assist older victims in recovering from crime victimization, the Department provides Victims of Crime Act funding to states for crime victim services programming, with a significant portion of those funds assisting older victims. At the federal level, Victim Specialists serve alongside Elder Justice Coordinators in facilitating services for older victims.

“Ensuring the safety and security of elderly individuals is of the highest priority for this office,” stated U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal. “Significant efforts have been made in the Southern District of Iowa to educate seniors about harmful fraud schemes and to prosecute the perpetrators of such scams. Our office regularly meets with members of the public and employees of financial institutions to inform them about elder financial exploitation and we have had recent success in criminally prosecuting fraudsters who stole from seniors.”

In January 2022, Chelsea Lynn Gless, of Princeton, Iowa, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for mail fraud and ordered to pay over $2.9 million in restitution to victims. The majority of Gless’ 71 victims were elderly individuals. Gless was the manager and part-owner of Royal Metals Group, a business that purported to buy and sell precious metals for customers. Over a period of nearly four years, Gless made false representations to clients and instead of delivering and paying clients for precious metals, Gless misappropriated clients’ funds and precious metals.

In March 2022, Jeffrey M. Carley, of Treynor, Iowa, was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay $1,364,163.02 in restitution to the victims of his wire fraud scheme. Carley was a financial investment counselor. Carley encouraged his clients to move money from their traditional IRA accounts to a “self-directed” IRA. Carley then advised his clients to move their money from the “self-directed” IRA to investment opportunities Carley owned or had ownership interest in and advised clients they would receive a financial return. Carley never told his clients that he owned or had an interest in the investments he promoted. Carley also failed to invest the clients’ money and instead used the funds for his personal expenses. Nine of the eleven victims of this investment scheme were elderly. The sentencing judge noted the length of time the scheme lasted and the harm and age of the victims as some of the aggravating factors in imposing the five-year sentence.

To learn more about the Department’s elder justice efforts, please visit the Elder Justice website.

If you need assistance or to report elder abuse, please contact the Iowa Adult Protective Services Hotline at 1-800-362-2178. To report elder fraud, Iowa Adult Protective Services may be contacted, as well as the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center , or contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A Woodbine man, Curtis Lee Jensen, age 47, was sentenced on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, to twelve years in prison for Receipt of Child Pornography.

In January of 2021, a cyber tip was sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding child pornography being uploaded to a KIK Messenger account. The email address was traced to Jensen and law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant for Jensen’s email and KIK account. The investigation revealed that Jensen received and distributed child pornography using his KIK account.

Jensen was sentenced to 144 months in prison. He must also serve an eight-year term of supervised release after the prison term and register as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Internet Crimes Against Children Unit investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and resources about internet safety, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A Cass County man, Aaron William Butcher, age 34, was sentenced on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, to seven years in prison for Receipt of Child Pornography.

In February of 2021, a cybertip was sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding child pornography being uploaded to a Dropbox account. The email address was traced to Butcher and law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant for his Dropbox account and his residence in Atlantic, Iowa. Butcher’s electronic devices were forensically analyzed and contained images and videos of child pornography. Forensic examination also located numerous conversations between Butcher and individuals he believed to be teenagers. Butcher asked for images and videos of child pornography in exchange for money.

Butcher was sentenced to 84 months in prison. He must also serve a seven-year term of supervised release after the prison term and register as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal system. Butcher was also ordered to pay $12,000 in restitution.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Internet Crimes Against Children Unit investigated the case.

This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and resources about internet safety, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.

DES MOINES, IA – Kevin Jeffrey Stiller, age 59, of Ankeny, was sentenced Tuesday, June 7, 2022, to 18 months in prison for failing to file income tax returns. Stiller pleaded guilty on February 3, 2022, to two counts of failure to file income tax returns, one for each of the calendar years 2015 and 2017. Senior Judge James E. Gritzner imposed a 9-month prison sentence on each count, to be served consecutively, that is one after the other. Following completion of his prison term, Stiller will be on supervised release for one additional year. Stiller is responsible for paying his tax liability in full.

Stiller is the owner and operator of Spruce Hill Tree Service and he received taxable income from this business. Stiller knew he was required to file federal income tax returns for the years 2015 and 2017 and he willfully failed to do so. Stiller additionally failed to file federal income tax returns for the years 2008 – 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2019.

“The foundation of our tax system is the voluntary filing of tax returns by each citizen required to do so. Mr. Stiller flagrantly disregarded this basic duty for nearly 15 years”, stated Tyler Hatcher, Special Agent in Charge for IRS Criminal Investigation. “This sentence highlights the seriousness of filing income tax returns timely and accurately as prescribed by law otherwise you will be held accountable for not doing so.”

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Kerndt.

DES MOINES, IA – Chad Allen Williams, age 47, of Johnston, was sentenced Friday, June 3, 2022, to 60 months in federal prison for Making a Destructive Device and Unlawful Drug User in Possession of a Firearm. His term of imprisonment will be followed by three years of supervised release. Williams pled guilty to the charges on January 20, 2022.

According to court documents, Williams admitted to detonating homemade explosive devices on a public street in Ankeny on May 12 and June 7, 2021. A third explosive device was found in the same location on the morning of June 9, 2021. The device, which did not detonate in spite of apparent attempts to do so, was found to contain a significant amount of metallic shrapnel. With the assistance of neighbors and other community members, law enforcement worked together to trace the devices to Williams, and executed a search warrant at his Johnston residence on June 18, 2021.

As a result of the search warrant, Agents located controlled substances and items consistent with the manufacture of explosive devices, including the specific explosive devices located in Ankeny. Agents also seized a loaded Ruger, Model P89, nine-millimeter pistol in Williams’ vehicle. Subsequent to execution of the search warrant, Williams admitted to manufacturing and placing the explosive devices on the Ankeny street. Williams also admitted to being a user of methamphetamine, which disqualified him from the right to possess a firearm.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Ankeny Police Department, the Iowa Department of Public Safety Intelligence Division, the Iowa State Fire Marshall, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Chelsey Renae Lira, age 31, of Davenport, was sentenced on June 1, 2022, to 180 months in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Following her imprisonment, Lira was ordered to serve five years of supervised release and pay a $200 Special Assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

In fall 2020, law enforcement was investigating a large-scale drug conspiracy in Davenport, involving eight people, including Lira. On November 10, 2020, law enforcement initiated a traffic stop on vehicle driven by Lira, but she fled at a high rate of speed, before exiting and fleeing on foot. Officers failed to apprehend her, but in Lira’s car they recovered 45.16 grams of ice methamphetamine, a stolen, loaded nine-millimeter Springfield XDS handgun, a loaded magazine for the handgun, additional ammunition, and other evidence consistent with drug trafficking. On December 15, 2020, law enforcement arrested Lira on outstanding warrants and recovered 13.61 grams of ice methamphetamine and other evidence consistent with drug trafficking. After bonding out of jail, Lira continued to traffic methamphetamine with one of her co-conspirators. Due to her participation in the conspiracy, Lira was responsible for distributing more than five kilograms of methamphetamine. Lira pleaded guilty on January 26, 2022.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement.

This matter was investigated by the Davenport Police Department and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, Iowa –Justin Marion Woods, age 48, of Davenport, was sentenced on June 2, 2022, to 77 months in prison after pleading guilty to being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Woods was ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow his prison term and immediately pay a $100 Special Assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

According to court documents, on July 4, 2020, Davenport police were dispatched to a disturbance involving weapons. After further investigation, a loaded Hi-Point .45 caliber pistol was found in Woods’ possession. On February 4, 2022, he pleaded guilty to the charge. Woods admitted he had been convicted of multiple felonies and he knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This matter was investigated by the Davenport Police Department and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

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

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Kaleb Alan Shannan, age 22, of Burlington, was sentenced on June 1, 2022, to 108 months in prison for being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition. Shannan was ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow his prison term and was assessed a $100 Special Assessment immediately payable to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

According to court documents, Shannan was identified as an individual who had communicated numerous threats towards law enforcement and their families both in electronic communication and personal contact. During a traffic stop search, law enforcement seized nine-millimeter rounds of ammunition from Shannan’s backpack. On January 18, 2022, Shannan pleaded guilty to the charge.

U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This matter was investigated by the Des Moines County Sheriff and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man, Marius Lamar Avant, 27, was sentenced on Thursday, June 2, 2022, to 16 months in prison for Escape from Custody, to be served consecutively to his previously imposed 60-month sentence for Felon in Possession of a Firearm in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois. Following his imprisonment, Avant was ordered to served three years of supervised release and pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ fund.

In September 2020, while serving the remainder of a term of imprisonment for a prior federal escape conviction, Avant left the Davenport Residential Reentry Center (RRC) without authorization and failed to return. He was not apprehended for over four months. When he was arrested in February 2021, Avant was found in possession of a firearm in Rock Island, Illinois. Avant pleaded guilty to the escape offense on January 10, 2022, following his conviction for the firearm offense in the Central District of Illinois.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement.

The United States Marshals Service investigated the case.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Christopher Michael Wilson, age 45, was sentenced on June 1, 2022, to 210 months in prison for Receipt of Child Pornography. Wilson was ordered to serve fifteen years of supervised release to follow his prison term, as well as pay $3,000 in restitution to his victims. Wilson was also assessed a $100 Special Assessment immediately payable to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

According to court documents, the investigation into Wilson began when law enforcement received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The CyberTip indicated that files suspected to be child pornography were uploaded from specific IP addresses. A phone number included with the tip traced back to Wilson. During the execution of a search warrant at Wilson’s known residence, numerous electronic devices were seized, which contained images and videos of child pornography. On January 20, 2022, Wilson pleaded guilty to the charge.

U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nation-wide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Victor Alberto Elias Rodriguez, age 40, of Mount Pleasant, was sentenced Wednesday, June 1, 2022, to 342 months in prison for Production of Child Pornography. Elias Rodriguez was also ordered to serve ten years of supervised release following his imprisonment and was assessed a $100 Special Assessment immediately payable to the Crime Victims Fund.

According to court documents, officers initiated an investigation into Elias Rodriguez after receiving information regarding his possible sexual abuse of a minor female. The investigation revealed that Elias Rodriguez had been sexually assaulting the minor victim from the age of five, up to this incident when the victim was seventeen years old. In addition, Elias Rodriguez took a video of the sexual assault with his cell phone. On January 21, 2022, Elias Rodriguez pleaded guilty to the one-count Indictment.

U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.

This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nation-wide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Kevin Lorenzo Perry, age 33, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death. Perry was ordered to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term and immediately pay a $100 Special Assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

According to court documents, the case involved Perry’s distribution of fentanyl to two individuals, in Iowa City, on May 12, 2020. Both individuals overdosed as a result of their ingestion of the fentanyl. One of the individuals died and the other was able to be resuscitated. The surviving individual identified Perry as the source of the fentanyl, which was corroborated by text messages with Perry. On January 11, 2022, Perry pleaded guilty to the charge.

U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This matter was investigated by the Iowa Department of Public Safety and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Julian Darnell Black, age 28, was sentenced today to 150 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Five Grams or More of Methamphetamine and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime. Black was ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow his prison term and immediately pay a $200 Special Assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

According to court documents, the investigation into Black began when law enforcement was dispatched to a domestic incident where Black was identified as the suspect. A subsequent search of Black resulted in the seizure of two baggies containing methamphetamine and a loaded Draco rifle. Law enforcement also confirmed that Black had multiple state warrants outstanding. On January 24, 2022, Black pleaded guilty to the charges.

U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This matter was investigated by the Davenport Police Department and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

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

DES MOINES, IA – Troy John Pitzen, age 58, of Peru, Iowa, was sentenced May 26, 2022, to 24 months in prison following his guilty plea to making false statements to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Pitzen’s term of imprisonment will be followed by three years of supervised release.

Between 2006 and 2017, Pitzen stole approximately $371,356 in Social Security survivors benefits belonging to his three minor children. Those benefits were paid to Pitzen, as the children’s representative payee, following the death of the children’s mother. During that time, Pitzen repeatedly submitted paperwork to the SSA falsely claiming the children were living with him and he was using the children’s survivors benefits to care for the children. In fact, the children were living with and being cared for by other individuals while Pitzen continued to receive the children’s benefits and converted most of those benefits to his own use.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This matter was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, IA – Gary Dale Elliott, Sr., age 62, of Des Moines, was sentenced May 27, 2022, to 660 months in prison. That sentence followed Elliott’s guilty pleas to production of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, and felon in possession of a firearm.

The investigation of Elliott began in early 2021, when a woman reported to law enforcement that she had found thumb drives containing child pornography in Elliott’s Des Moines residence. Elliott, a felon, later threatened the woman while armed with a loaded gun.

In February 2021, officers executed a search warrant at Elliott’s residence and seized computers, thumb drives, and other electronic devices. Officers searched those devices and located thousands of images and videos of child pornography. The investigation also revealed that Elliott produced child pornography in 2018 by filming three minor victims with a camera hidden in the bathroom of his residence.

Elliott’s criminal history includes a 1988 conviction resulting from the death of Elliott’s infant son. Elliott spent approximately 27 years in prison for that offense before being paroled in 2015.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This matter was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department, Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Antonio Larvell Thomas, Jr., age 25, of Chicago, Ill., was sentenced on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, to 294 months in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death. Thomas was ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow his prison term and immediately pay a $100 Special Assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

According to court documents, in 2019, law enforcement initiated an investigation into Thomas for his involvement in a heroin and methamphetamine conspiracy operating in the Quad Cities area. Multiple controlled buys were conducted where Thomas arranged to distribute fentanyl purported to be heroin to a cooperating individual. Thomas was implicated in multiple drug and gun seizures conducted by law enforcement. On January 5, 2020, Thomas’s girlfriend was found unresponsive in a Davenport hotel room she shared with Thomas. She was pronounced dead and an autopsy revealed she died of a fentanyl overdose. The fentanyl she ingested belonged to Thomas. Thomas was arrested in possession of additional fentanyl.

On December 18, 2020, Thomas pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge and admitted that death resulted from the fentanyl he was distributing.

U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This matter was investigated by the Bettendorf Police Department, Davenport Police Department, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Laroy Dashun Redmond, age 29, of Burlington, was sentenced yesterday in federal court to 120 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Five Grams or More of Methamphetamine and Less Than 50 Kilograms of Marijuana, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Redmond was ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow his prison term and immediately pay a $300 Special Assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

According to court documents, the investigation into Redmond began when the Burlington Police Department responded to a shooting incident at Redmond’s residence in January 2021. During the search, law enforcement seized ammunition, over 400 grams of marijuana, and methamphetamine. In May and June of 2021, Redmond was stopped twice by police for driving while impaired. Law enforcement seized a nine-millimeter handgun from Redmond during the May encounter and a .40 caliber handgun and a distribution amount of cocaine from Redmond’s vehicle in June. In post-Miranda statements, Redmond admitted ownership of the nine-millimeter gun and stated his fingerprints would be found on the .40 caliber handgun. Redmond also admitted that he carried the gun in furtherance of his drug trafficking. On January 3, 2022, Redmond pleaded guilty to the charges.

U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This matter was investigated by the Burlington Police Department and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, IA – Lonnie Allen Hill, age 53, of Ames, was sentenced May 12, 2022, to 216 months in prison following his guilty pleas to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm. Hill’s term of imprisonment will be followed by five years of supervised release.

Between May and July 2020, law enforcement officers in Polk and Marshall Counties repeatedly encountered Hill with drugs and firearms. In two incidents, Hill led officers on high-speed vehicle pursuits in Marshalltown, including one in which Hill crashed into an occupied vehicle. In the course of these incidents, officers seized large quantities of marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin, two firearms, and thousands of dollars in cash. The investigation revealed Hill was trafficking drugs, including methamphetamine, in the Marshalltown area.

Hill has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple prior felony drug trafficking convictions. Hill was serving a state term of parole when he committed the offenses charged in this case.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, Marshalltown Police Department, Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa – In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Richard D.Westphal recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, and local law enforcement. Thisyear, the week is observed Wednesday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 17, 2022.

“This week, we gather to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to our country,” said Attorney General Garland. “We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. We recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives. On behalf of a grateful Justice Department and a grateful nation, I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the entire law enforcement community.”

U.S. Attorney Westphal stated, “This week we pause to recognize the daily commitment of law enforcement officers for their dedication and courage in protecting and serving our communities in Iowa. In particular, we honor the lives of Iowa State Troopers Ted Benda and Sergeant Jim K. Smith, who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting and serving Iowans. We stand together in remembering the brave men and women who have died in the line of duty and will continue to support all law enforcement in their efforts to keep our communities safe.”

Trooper Ted Benda and Sergeant Jim Smith were honored at the 2022 Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony in Des Moines. Trooper Benda served the Iowa Department of Public Safety for 15 years and died in the line of duty while assisting a local law enforcement agency with the 1 apprehension of a wanted subject in Clayton County. Trooper Benda is survived by his wife and four children. Sergeant Smith was a 27-year veteran of the Iowa State Patrol and was killed while attempting to arrest a subject who assaulted and disarmed another law enforcement officer during a traffic stop. Sergeant Smith is survived by his wife and two children.

Nationally, the names of the 619 fallen law enforcement added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., starting at 7:00 p.m. Those who wish to view the vigil live online, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF .

In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Dalton Theodore Holland, age 30, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced Tuesday, May 10, 2022, to 51 months in prison for Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. His term of imprisonment will be followed by three years of supervised release. According to court documents, Holland pleaded guilty to the firearm charge on November 18, 2021. Holland’s co-defendant, Joshua Michael Holmes, age 26, also pleaded guilty to Prohibited Person on Possession of a Firearm on April 15, 2021, and was sentenced on August 31, 2021, to 63 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

In November of 2020, officers observed Holland and Holmes arrive at a home in Council Bluffs driving stolen vehicles. As officers attempted to approach Holland and Holmes, they attempted to flee in one of the stolen trucks but the truck got stuck. Officers boxed the truck in and apprehended Holmes. Holland ran from the bed of the truck and was stopped a short distance away by a police dog. Holland and Holms were found in possession of stolen items and firearms. Officers located a firearm on Holmes in a hip holster and another in his coveralls pocket. Two firearms were also located in the stolen Silverado that Holland drove to the home.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Cole Jacob Bergantzel, age 20, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced Thursday, May 12, 2022, to 48 months in federal prison for Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. His term of imprisonment will be followed by three years of supervised release. According to court documents, Bergantzel pleaded guilty to the charge on January 5, 2022.

In March of 2021, Bergantzel attempted to sell firearms on Snapchat and in September of 2021, Bergantzel was arrested after he discharged a firearm in a residential area. Bergantzel was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition as he is a drug user and addicted to a controlled substance.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Andrew Russell White, age 34, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced Thursday, May 12, 2022, to 42 months in prison for Possession of Child Pornography. White’s term of imprisonment will be followed by five years of supervised release and he will be required to register as a sex offender. According to court documents, White pleaded guilty to the charge on January 5, 2022.

In March of 2019, a cybertip was sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding child pornography being uploaded to a Google account. The email address was traced to White and law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant for White’s Gmail account and his residence in Council Bluffs. White admitted to law enforcement he downloaded images of child pornography onto his phone from the Internet. White was arrested and was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2021.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Kendall Dean Kipp, age 53, of Yale, was sentenced today in federal court to three years of probation for making a False Statement. He was also ordered to pay a $9,500 fine and perform 180 hours of community service over a three-year period. According to court documents, Kendall pleaded guilty to the charge on December 16, 2021.

Kipp submitted falsified documents to the State of Iowa concerning the quality of water produced for the residents of the City of Yale. This violated the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act and, in turn, the False Statement statute. “As a certified drinking water operator, the defendant was entrusted not only with ensuring compliance with our environmental laws, but with the health and safety of the community,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Cate Holston of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in Lenexa, KS. “His actions betrayed that trust, and today’s sentencing demonstrates that EPA will pursue and hold accountable those who intentionally violate the law.”

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Criminal Division of the Environmental Protection Agency and The Iowa Department of Natural Resources investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Jeremy Joel Binns, age 44, of Omaha, was sentenced yesterday in federal court to 144 months in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. His prison term will be followed by five years of supervised release. According to court documents, Binns pleaded guilty to the charge on November 18, 2021.

In March of 2021, Binns was arrested for selling methamphetamine at a gas station in Council Bluffs. The following month, Binns was again arrested with methamphetamine in Omaha following a high-speed chase. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2021.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Nebraska State Patrol, and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Burlington man, Quanathan Naiji Knox Ivery, age 33, was sentenced on Monday, April 25, 2022, to 110 months in prison for Felon in Possession of Firearms. Ivery was ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow his prison term and immediately pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

In Spring of 2020, law enforcement investigated felons shooting firearms at an indoor shooting range in Burlington. Law enforcement observed Ivery outside of the range and determined he was a felon and was ineligible from possessing firearms. When Ivery left the range, law enforcement stopped his vehicle and located three firearms, including a rifle, and a large amount of ammunition. Law enforcement also located a drum magazine, capable of holding 100 rounds of ammunition. Surveillance video from the range showed Ivery shooting all three of the firearms. On December 20, 2021, Ivery pleaded guilty to the charge.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has appointed Mary R. Jensen as the Acting U.S. Trustee for the judicial districts established for the States of Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota effective May 7, 2022, the Executive Office for U.S. Trustees (EOUST) announced today. She will replace James L. Snyder, who is retiring after more than 32 years of government service.

Ms. Jensen has been with the U.S. Trustee Program (USTP) for 13 years, first as a Trial Attorney in the Madison, Wisconsin, office before being appointed as its Assistant U.S. Trustee in 2014. She received her law degree summa cum laude from Duquesne University and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology magna cum laude from the University of Dallas and a master’s degree in professional writing with a concentration in management from Carnegie Mellon University.

“Ms. Jensen is an established leader within the USTP who will bring great focus and energy to this broader role,” said EOUST Acting Director Ramona D. Elliott. “I extend my best wishes and sincere thanks to Mr. Snyder for his immeasurable contributions to the Program and Region 12 over his long tenure with us.”

The U.S. Trustee Program is the component of the Justice Department that protects the integrity of the bankruptcy system by overseeing case administration and litigating to enforce the bankruptcy laws. The USTP has 21 regions and 90 field office locations. Region 12 has offices in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines, Iowa, and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

DES MOINES, Iowa -- The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (“OVC”) and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa will join federal, state, and local communities nationwide in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and celebrating victims’ rights, protections, and services. This year’s observance takes place April 24-30 and features the theme, “Rights, access, equity, for all victims.”

As part of this observance, the Southern District of Iowa recognizes the courage and bravery of victims, and the outstanding work of law enforcement, victim advocates, and community service partners throughout Iowa. In particular, four individuals are recognized for outstanding service to victims. “These awards proudly recognize the exceptional efforts of four individuals providing assistance to federal and state victims in the Southern District of Iowa,” said United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal. “Advocacy for the rights and safety of victims is a cogent reminder of the long-term human impact of these crimes. The service of these four individuals, and other state and federal victim advocates, are a vital component of our criminal justice system.”

The 2022 Award for Excellence in Victim Services is awarded to Mills County Attorney’s Office Victim Witness Coordinator Sarah McGinnis. Sarah’s dedication to victims is inspirational and unmatched. She has been there for each victim at every step of the criminal process, and has provided hope, support, and advocacy to numerous victims in sex abuse cases. Sarah has tirelessly worked to raise community awareness of sexual abuse and human trafficking, including producing a sexual assault awareness video where victims describe in their own words how abuse has affected them, and how they survived abuse. Sarah has clearly made a difference in multiple victims’ lives.

The 2022 Award for Excellence in Victim Services is awarded to Polk County Crisis and Advocacy Services Victim Advocate Sara McMillan. Sara continues to provide selfless and dedicated advocacy to state and federal crime victims. Sara provided the highest quality of victim advocacy in support of two minor victims and their families in a federal hate crimes prosecution. Also, she spent countless hours with, and provided empathy and support for, sex trafficking victims in the federal prosecution of a sex trafficker. Based on her skills and experience, Sara was able to provide valuable guidance to the prosecution team and victims, and never stopped offering her time and attention. Throughout her career, Sara has always been and continues to be a fierce advocate for victims.

The 2022 Award for Excellence in Victim Services is awarded to Audubon County Crime Victim Coordinator Angie Baylor. Angie’s self-motivated passion for victims and survivors has been described as “second to none.” She continues to go above and beyond to raise public awareness for victims of crime with community outreach, brochures, events, and public speaking. Angie has partnered with Catholic Charities to host the Survivor Statements awareness project during April - Sexual Assault Awareness month. She has organized efforts to wear blue and support the Pinwheels for Prevention project for April - National Child Abuse Prevention month. “Shedding Light on Domestic Violence” was Angie’s creative theme for the Purple Porch Project in recognition during October - Domestic Violence Awareness month. Most importantly, Angie has exemplified passion in her support of crime victims, to be their advocate, and provided a listening ear and a helping hand at a time when it was most needed. Angie has provided hope to victims, and clearly raised public awareness in Audubon County.

The 2022 Law Enforcement Victim Service Award recognizes the performance of Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Investigation, Special Agent Richard Vale. Special Agent Vale showed outstanding work in the federal sex trafficking investigation and prosecution of Darrius Redd. He epitomized exceptional dedication in locating multiple victims brutalized and trafficked by Redd. He not only performed his role as an investigator, but also demonstrated patience, empathy, and understanding with victims. As a result, this evidence provided a compelling case resulting in a guilty verdict at trial. Special Agent Vale went beyond the call of duty to assist victims in the Redd case, and the resulting conviction was largely the result of his commitment and service.

Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first Victims’ Rights Week in 1981, putting crime victims' rights, needs, and concerns in a prominent spot on the American agenda. He also established the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime, which laid the groundwork for a national network of services and legal safeguards for crime victims.

For more information on how to create your own public campaigns to raise awareness about crime victims’ rights online and at events throughout the year, please visit: https://ovc.ojp.gov/ncvrw2022/overview.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – James Anthony Rogers, age 57, of Davenport, was sentenced Tuesday, April 26, 2022, to 214 months in prison for Production of Child Pornography, Distribution of Child Pornography, and Attempted Enticement of a Minor (two counts). Rogers was ordered to serve seven years of supervised release to follow his imprisonment and pay a $400 Special Assessment immediately payable to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

According to court documents, the Davenport Police Department initiated an investigation into Rogers after receiving information regarding his possible involvement in the sexual solicitation of a minor male. Multiple search warrants revealed that Rogers had attempted contact with over fifty minor males and engaged in sexually explicit conversations with them. Rogers attempted to persuade the minors to send nude photographs of themselves and to meet in-person to engage in sex acts for money or alcohol. A cellphone seized from Rogers contained numerous images of child pornography. On October 12, 2021, Rogers pleaded guilty to all charges.

U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This matter was investigated by the Davenport Police Department.

This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nation-wide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man, Monterious Deshawn Bullock, age, 22, was sentenced on April 21, 2022, to 90 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime and Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Bullock was ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow his prison term and immediately pay a $300 Special Assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

According to court documents, this investigation began when law enforcement executed two search warrants, which resulted in the seizure of two loaded handguns-one with an extended magazine-multiple rounds of ammunition, and bags of marijuana. In a post-Miranda interview, Bullock admitted ownership to the items located in the residence. On November 10, 2021, the defendant pleaded guilty to the charges.

U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This matter was investigated by the Davenport Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.