Southern District of Iowa

DAVENPORT, Iowa — On Tuesday, December 22, 2020, United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey sentenced Anthony David Collins, age 30, of Burlington, to 144 months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Following his prison term Collins was ordered to serve five years of supervised release, as well as pay $300 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

This investigation began in 2017 when law enforcement identified Collins as a distributor of methamphetamine in the Burlington area. Law enforcement purchased ice methamphetamine from Collins on seven separate occasions between 2017 and 2019. Collins was found to be in possession of a firearm in connection with his drug trafficking activities. Collins has a history of violence and was on court supervision at the time of these offenses.

This matter was investigated by the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, Burlington Police Department, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, Iowa — On Tuesday, December 22, 2020, United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey sentenced Scott Michael McAllister, age 37, of Burlington, to 230 months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Following his prison term McAllister was ordered to serve five years of supervised release, as well as pay $200 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

In the spring of 2018, McAllister was identified as a methamphetamine supplier in southeast Iowa. McAllister admitted to being involved in the distribution of more than ten pounds of ice methamphetamine in the Burlington area. McAllister also admitted to possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.

This matter was investigated by the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Taskforce, Burlington Police Department, Des Moines County Sherriff’s Office, Quad City Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

DES MOINES, Iowa – Three defendants who pleaded guilty to sex trafficking children were sentenced in December 2020 announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. The cases were presided over by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose.

On December 7, 2020, Tommy Tate Collins of Cedar Rapids was sentenced to 210 months in prison following a guilty plea to one count of child sex trafficking. Collins admitted in his plea agreement that he trafficked a minor child, who was 15 and 16 years old at the time, by paying her for sex acts with money and drugs.

On December 18, 2020, Albert Kelly Price was sentenced to 348 months imprisonment. Price pleaded guilty to trafficking two minors and admitted to trafficking a total of three minors who were between 14 and 16 years old. Price paid all three minors for sex acts and used physical force on each minor. Price resided in Iowa City and North Liberty.

On December 21, 2020, Arrion Marcus West, Jr. of Iowa City was sentenced to 210 months imprisonment for trafficking two minors, who were 15 and 17 years old at the time of the offenses. West trafficked the minors by advertising them on escort websites, arranging prices and sex acts with customers, transporting them to engage in sex acts, and taking proceeds from the commercial sex acts. West also used physical violence towards one victim.

Co-defendants that were previously sentenced include Isaiah Patterson, sentenced to 144 months imprisonment in January 2020 for trafficking a 15 year old by posting advertisements of her for commercial sex acts, and Kendall Andrew Streb, who was sentenced in September 2020 to 268 months imprisonment for trafficking three minors and additional offenses.

“The defendants in these cases were buyers and sellers of children in our community,” stated Krickbaum. “They exploited vulnerable teenage girls for their own sexual gratification, and collectively they will serve many decades in federal prison. Federal law does not distinguish between ‘johns’ who will pay for sex with a minor, and pimps who offer minors for sex. Both groups are serious criminals, and we will treat them as such.”

Human trafficking is defined as a crime involving the exploitation of youth under the age of 18 for commercial sex; the exploitation of adults for commercial sex through the use of force, fraud, or coercion; and the exploitation of any individual for compelled labor. Human trafficking does not require the transportation of individuals across state lines, or that someone is physically restrained. Signs that a person is being trafficked can include working excessively long hours, unexplained gifts, physical injury, substance abuse issues, running away from home, isolation from others, or having a person in their life controlling them or monitoring them closely. Anyone who suspects human trafficking is occurring, be it a minor engaging in paid sex acts, or anyone being coerced into prostitution or labor, is urged to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

The case was investigated by the Iowa City Police Department, with assistance from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, and the Coralville Police Department. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on December 15, 2020, James Michael Willett, Sr., age 48, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger to 135 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Willett was ordered to serve ten years of supervised release to follow his prison term and pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund. Willet pleaded guilty to the offense on August 04, 2020.

The Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force opened an investigation on Willett and other co-conspirators for distributing methamphetamine in the Council Bluffs metro area in 2019. On November 5, 2019, staff at a hotel in Omaha, Nebraska, contacted law enforcement after an employee observed drugs in a room where Willet had been staying. Law enforcement searched the room and located methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana.

The investigation was conducted by the Council Bluffs Police Department, Omaha Police Department, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on December 15, 2020, John Randall Parson, age 37, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey to 51 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Parson was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund. Parson pleaded guilty to the offense on July 24, 2020.

The investigation was conducted by the Council Bluffs Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on December 15, 2020, Dmitry Alexander Borisov, age 35, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey to 60 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Borisov was ordered to serve four years of supervised release to follow his prison term and pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund. Borisov pleaded guilty to the offense on August 21, 2020.

On January 1, 2020, Borisov was driving a rental truck on Interstate 80. He was stopped for speeding by the Council Bluffs Police. While issuing a citation, a police dog alerted to the presence of a controlled substance in Borisov’s vehicle. Law enforcement discovered that the truck contained over 1,200 pounds of marijuana.

The investigation was conducted by the Council Bluffs Police Department and the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, IA – On December 3, 2020, United States District Judge Stephanie M. Rose sentenced Joseph Lee Fultz, age 52, of Des Moines, to 324 months in prison for Production of Child Pornography announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Fultz was ordered to serve ten years of supervised release to follow his prison term and comply with sex offender registry requirements upon release.

The investigation began in May of 2019 when the Des Moines Police Department received a report that Fultz produced child pornography of four minors, ages 10 and under, while they were under his care. Subsequently, Des Moines police officers executed a search warrant at Fultz’s apartment where they seized his computers and electronic devices. The investigation showed that Fultz produced and possessed child pornography images of the four minors, as well as two additional children, including an infant. All six children were located and identified.

This matter was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal  Investigation’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 as part of the United States 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 December 8, 2020, John Edward Miller, age 39, of Cedar Rapids, appeared in federal court before United States Northern District of Iowa Magistrate Judge Mark A. Roberts on a Complaint charging him with influencing, impeding or retaliating against a federal official by threatening a United States official, a United States judge, or a federal law enforcement officer; malicious damage to federal property; and interstate communications with the intent to injure, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum.

This matter will be prosecuted by Southern District of Iowa Assistant United States Attorney Melisa Zaehringer, who has been designated as Special Assistant United States Attorney, based on the recusal of the Northern District of Iowa United States Attorney’s Office.

According to the Complaint, Miller is alleged to have sent a threatening message via Facebook to a federal prosecutor and named several other federal employees in the message. Miller is additionally accused of firing a flare gun at the Cedar Rapids United States Courthouse, causing a fire that needed to be extinguished.

The public is reminded that charges contain only accusations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.

Miller’s detention hearing will be held at the Cedar Rapids United States Courthouse on December 11, 2020, at 1 p.m.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Explosives and Firearms, United States Marshals Service, and the Cedar Rapids Police Department. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa will prosecute this case.

DES MOINES, IA – On December 7, 2020, United States District Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger sentenced Bryant Dale Voss, age 33, of West Des Moines, to 84 months in prison for Possession of Child Pornography announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Voss was ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow his prison term and comply with sex offender registry requirements upon release.

The investigation began in July 2017 when law enforcement were operating a law enforcement version of the file sharing program BitTorrent in an undercover capacity. Agents located child pornography files available for sharing from Voss’ computer and downloaded multiple files from him in July 2017. Voss knew that his file sharing program made certain child pornography files on his computer available to others to download. Subsequently, investigators executed a search warrant at Voss’ West Des Moines residence where they seized his computers and electronic devices. The investigation showed that Voss knowingly possessed hundreds of images and ten videos of child pornography on an external hard drive and used his computer to knowingly access and view videos of child pornography.

This matter was investigated by the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation’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 as part of the United States 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 -- Twenty-five defendants are facing federal criminal charges as part of a joint federal and state investigation of a methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana drug trafficking organization. Most of these defendants were arrested on November 18, 2020, during the execution of 45 federal search warrants in and around Des Moines. Those warrants resulted in the seizure of 37 firearms, three pounds of cocaine, one ounce of methamphetamine, 18 pounds of marijuana, 1.5 ounces of heroin and approximately $50,000 in cash.

The defendants are charged across three criminal indictments and eight criminal complaints with federal drug or firearms offenses:

 

• Jerome Valentino Wilson, 32, of Des Moines
• Derek Shantell Thompson, 41, of Des Moines
• Kenee L. Triplett, 39, of Des Moines
• Cory Andrew Turner, 33, of Des Moines
• Coty Arnez Turner, 31, of Des Moines
• Daryl Stephen Jones, Jr., 45, of Des Moines
• Jerome Jamar Hall, 35, of Des Moines
• Ornandes Raeshon Bennett, 41, of Des Moines
• Antoine Moishawn Williams, 49, of Des Moines
• Dewayne Allen Haynes, 40, of Des Moines
• Marcus Antonio-Shay Hall, 25, of Des Moines
• Kenny Eugene Smart, Jr., 47, of Des Moines
• Michael Lindell Teasley, 32, of Des Moines
• Jerron Tandre Johnson, 30, of Des Moines
• Nolan Hamilton-Allen, 32, of Des Moines
• Richard Lee David Brown, 45, of Des Moines
• Anthony Levon Robinson, Jr., 35, of Des Moines
• Leon Dale Edwards, 36, of Des Moines,
• Leroy Williams II, 50, of Des Moines
• Terry Eugene Hambrick, 40, of Des Moines
• Damir Halkic, 32, of Urbandale
• Keiffer Michael Simmons, 28, of Des Moines
• William Lloydellton Speed, Jr., 27, of Des Moines
• Amanda Raye Reed, 40, of Des Moines
• Tyler James Althaus, 34, of Des Moines

 

Many of the charged defendants, including Jerome Valentino Wilson, Derek Shantell Thompson, Cory Andrew Turner, Coty Arnez Turner, Daryl Stephen Jones, Jr., Jerome Jamar Hall, Ornandes Raeshon Bennett, Michael Lindell Teasley, Kenny Smart, Jr., among others, have prior felony drug convictions. Kenny Smart, Jr., Michael Lindell Teasley, and Jerron Tandre Johnson, each presently charged with possessing a firearm as a felon, have prior convictions for possessing a firearm as a felon. On November 18, 2020, Jerron Tandre Johnson was arrested on charges of attempted murder, filed in the Iowa District Court for Polk County.

United States Attorney Krickbaum stated, “These arrests had a specific target: those accused of carrying guns, slinging drugs, and endangering our community. We look forward to proving these charges in federal court. And we are grateful to our law enforcement partners, who took almost 40 guns and many pounds of drugs off the streets of Des Moines.”

“ATF has no higher priority than investigating violent crime and ensuring that those who use firearms in furtherance of their criminal activities are held accountable. This investigation demonstrates ATF’s commitment and the commitment of our law enforcement partners to ensure that the Des Moines communities remain a safe place to live, work and raise families. Utilizing firearms to injure or intimidate others cannot be tolerated and there is no question that Des Moines is safer today because of the hard work, dedication, and collaboration of all of the agencies that played a part in this investigation,” said James Ferguson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Kansas City Field Division.

Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert added, “The size and magnitude of this operation speaks for itself, but the most important aspect is the impact it will have on violent crime and the distribution of illegal drugs in our community. This will absolutely move the needle in terms of restoring the safe environment that our citizens deserve and affirms the commitment to use all available resources to preserve this expectation. This was truly a team effort, and we can’t thank our Local, County, State and Federal partners enough for their unwavering dedication and commitment to ensuring that our most dangerous criminals are held accountable for selfishly and intentionally compromising the safety and security of the wonderful people that call this region ‘home.’ Our commitment to serve extends beyond jurisdictional lines, and our collective efforts will be on- going.”

All defendants arrested on November 18 have or will soon appear in federal or state court on the charges. The charges carry maximum penalties of five years to life imprisonment. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

The charges were announced by Marc Krickbaum, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa; James Ferguson, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Kansas City Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Dana Wingert, Chief of  Police  of  the  Des  Moines Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorneys Mikaela Shotwell and MacKenzie Benson Tubbs represent the government.

The public is reminded that charges contain only accusations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Investigating and assisting agencies include: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Des Moines Police Department (DMPD); Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE); Iowa State Patrol (ISP); Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force (MINE); Tri-County Task Force; Central Iowa Drug Task Force (CIDTF); Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force (MIDTF); Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI); Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI);   Internal   Revenue   Service   –   Criminal   Investigations   (IRS-CI);   Homeland   Security Investigations (HSI); Altoona Police Department; West Des Moines Police Department; Urbandale Police Department; Marshalltown Police Department; Polk County Sheriff’s Office; Dallas County Sheriff’s Office; and Iowa State Fire Marshal. This is an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces investigation.

DAVENPORT, Iowa — On Thursday, November 12, 2020, United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey sentenced Allen Julian Fields Jr., age 33, of Burlington, to 121 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Manufacture or Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Following his prison term, Fields was ordered to serve four years of supervised release as well as pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

In October of 2019, law enforcement officers attempted to stop Fields’ vehicle, and Fields drove away at a high rate of speed - in excess of 50 miles per hour on city streets. Fields wove in and out of traffic and drove directly at officers. Fields’ vehicle was eventually disabled and Fields and a passenger ran away. After both individuals were caught, officers located a bag containing 446.4 grams of methamphetamine. A search warrant was executed on Fields’ cell phone, which revealed text messages consistent with drug trafficking.

This matter was investigated by the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force (SEINT); Burlington Police Department; Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office; Henry County Sheriff’s Office; West Burlington Police Department; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations; and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, Iowa — On Thursday, November 12, 2020, United States District Chief Judge John A. Jarvey sentenced Walkesha Shavon Jamison, age 41, of Coralville to fifteen months in prison for Concealment of Events Affecting Benefits, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Following her prison term, Jamison was ordered to serve three years of supervised release, pay $161,627.76 to the Commissioner of Social Security and $31,727.64 to the Iowa City Housing Authority in restitution, as well as pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

This investigation began in 2017 when the Social Security Administration (SSA) learned Jamison obtained employment in 2015, which she failed to report while she was receiving government benefits. This employment information, coupled with a psychiatric analysis, was inconsistent with Jamison’s reports of disability to SSA. An investigation concluded Jamison fraudulently obtained the diagnoses upon which her benefits were premised and SSA officially terminated the benefits in 2018. Further, Jamison obtained benefits from the Iowa City Housing Authority, which were funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Jamison obtained these benefits partially as a result of her fraudulent SSA disability claim and through other false statements. In total, the loss amount to these federal programs attributed to Jamison was $193,355.40.

This matter was investigated by the Social Security Administration. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, IA – On Tuesday, November 10, 2020, Robert Joe Hennings, age 33, of Des Moines, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger to 240 months in federal prison, to be followed by 20 years of federal court supervision, for receipt of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Hennings was ordered to forfeit the electronic media used in the offense, pay $15,000 in restitution to victims, and pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund. Hennings was also ordered to register as a sex offender after his release.

According to the record made at sentencing, Hennings collected in excess of 550,000 images of child pornography over a three-year period, including material involving sexual assaults on prepubescent minors, including an infant. The sentence was, in part, a reflection of the danger Hennings posed to children, based on the Court’s finding that he engaged in chats with others where he expressed his desire to have sex with boys younger than five years old and said he wanted to purchase a young prostitute under five years of age.

The case was a joint federal-state effort involving both the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation Task Force and the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

The 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.

DES MOINES, IA – On November 9, 2020, United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey sentenced Phillip Christopher Lytton, age 43, formerly of Des Moines, to 48 months in prison for Possession of Child Pornography, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Lytton was ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow his prison term and comply with sex offender registry requirements upon release.

The investigation began in early 2019 after law enforcement received an investigative lead from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that images of child pornography had been uploaded on a social media account associated with Lytton. The investigation showed that Lytton posted multiple videos and images of child pornography on his Tumblr account from about September 28, 2018 to about November 12, 2018. Lytton was employed as a Transportation Security Officer and worked screening passengers at the Des Moines International Airport from August 2018 until mid-2019. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (OIG) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the United States 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, IA – On November 5, 2020, United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger sentenced Troy Wayne Davis, age 57, formerly of Eldon, Iowa, to 360 months in prison for Transportation of Child Pornography, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum.  Davis was ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow his prison term, pay $40,000 in restitution, and comply with sex offender registry requirements upon release.

The investigation began in early 2019 when law enforcement received investigative leads from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that images of child pornography had been uploaded on Davis’ social media accounts. Investigators executed a search warrant at Davis’ Eldon residence in August 2019. Police seized Davis’ computers and phones which contained thousands of videos and images of child pornography. The investigation showed that Davis sent and received videos of child pornography to other persons, solicited minor boys online to send him nude photos, and solicited minors for sex via the internet. In 1998, Davis was convicted in the Iowa District Court for Wapello County on two instances of Lascivious Acts with a Child.

This case was investigated by the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation’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 as part of the United States 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.

Awards Are Part of More than $458 Million in Justice Department Funding Announced by Attorney General Barr

DAVENPORT, Iowa – United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum today announced nearly $700,000 in Department of Justice grants to fight and prevent violent crime in Davenport, Iowa. The grant, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, is part of more than $458 million in funding to support state, local and tribal law enforcement efforts to combat violent crime in jurisdictions across the United States.

The City of Davenport applied for the Bureau of Justice Assistance Strategies for Policing Innovation grant in May 2020. The Davenport Police Department will utilize the grant funding to create a new crime analysis division within the department. The crime analysis division will enable the department to more effectively and efficiently collect and analyze data to inform crime reduction strategies aimed at reducing violent crime, and specifically gun violence, in Davenport.

“The Davenport Police Department is thrilled to receive the Strategies for Policing Innovation grant through the Department of Justice. This funding will be instrumental to our department in creating a new crime analysis division that will further our ability to bring the perpetrators of violent crime in the community to justice,” Davenport Police Chief Sikorski stated. “We are thankful for our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office as we work together to address gun crime in Davenport.”

In July 2019, the City of Davenport announced that it had been selected to join the National Public Safety Partnership (PSP). PSP is a three-year commitment that serves as a Department of Justice-wide program that enables cities to consult with and receive coordinated training and technical assistance and a variety of resources from the Department of Justice to enhance local violence reduction strategies.

In 2019, the City of Davenport was selected to receive approximately $120,000 in funding from Project Safe Neighborhoods to hire a research partner through the University of Iowa. The research project will integrate evidenced-based research into the department’s strategic planning process, identifying opportunities to enhance gun enforcement efforts, build on intervention programs, and establish sustainable gun crime prevention measures. The research project is expected to begin in January 2021 and last approximately 18 months. Additionally, it has been proposed, but not yet finalized, that the City of Davenport receive approximately $55,000 of the Project Safe Neighborhoods funding for fiscal year 2020 to further gun investigations.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with the Davenport Police Department and other law enforcement agencies to meet the growing threat of gun crime in the Quad Cities,” said U.S. Attorney Marc Krickbaum. “This grant will help ensure that we are targeting the most violent offenders. When those offenders are caught with a gun in Davenport, they should expect to serve long terms in federal prison.”

For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, click here. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

 

DAVENPORT, Iowa- United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on November 5, 2020, Andrea Renee Culberson, age 37, of Davenport, was indicted by a federal grand jury for one count of Unlawful Drug User in Possession of a Firearm and one count of False Statement during the Purchase of a Firearm. The potential penalty for both these offenses is up to ten years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and not more than three years of supervised release to follow any prison term.

The public is reminded that charges contain only accusations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.

These cases are part of Project Guardian (PG) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), programs bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

This matter is being investigated by the Davenport Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, Iowa- United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on October 30, 2020, Brandon Tumause Owen, age 20, of Cedar Rapids, was indicted by a federal grand jury for one count of Unlawful Drug User in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. Sections 922(g)(3) and 924(a), after he brandished an AR-15 assault rifle during a June protest in Iowa City. According to public records, Owen was stopped on June 7, 2020, by Iowa City Police for a traffic offense. An impaired driving investigation was performed and indicated Owen was under the influence of marijuana. An AR-15 rifle was located inside Owen’s vehicle. Under federal law, it is illegal for an unlawful drug user to possess firearms.

“Our Constitution protects everyone’s right to peacefully protest against injustice,” said United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. It does not protect anyone’s right to illegally carry and publically brandish an AR-15. We will prosecute those – including protestors – who commit federal gun crimes.”

After the indictment of Owen, FBI Omaha’s Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said, “The FBI holds sacred the rights of individuals to peacefully exercise their First Amendment freedoms. When someone threatens the safety of peaceful protestors, we will step in to protect them.”

The public is reminded that charges contain only accusations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.

These cases are part of Project Guardian (PG) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), programs bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Iowa City Police Department, and the Iowa Department of Public Safety. The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Virginia Bruner will lead the efforts of her Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 3, 2020, general election. AUSA Bruner has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Southern District of Iowa, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights concerns in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

United States Attorney Krickbaum said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud. The Department of Justice will always act appropriately to protect the integrity of the election process.”

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur. The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process. This is achieved by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open through election day.

Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input.  It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them. For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or illiteracy).

The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights concerns during the voting period that ends on November 3, 2020, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, United States Attorney Krickbaum stated that AUSA/DEO Bruner will be on duty in this District while the polls are open.  She can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: 515-473-9300.

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day.  The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 515-223-4278 (Des Moines).

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .

Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.

United States Attorney Krickbaum said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate. It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination or election fraud make that information available to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.”

DES MOINES, IA – On October 22, 2020, Edward Lee Raiburn, age 38, formerly of Southern Oklahoma, appeared before United States District Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger and was sentenced to thirty years in prison for one count of production of child pornography announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Raiburn pleaded guilty to the offense on June 16, 2020. Following the completion of his prison term, Raiburn will be required to register as a sex offender and will be on supervised release for seven additional years.

During the early summer of 2019, Raiburn sexually abused a child victim in Oklahoma.

In August 2019, Raiburn traveled on multiple occasions from Oklahoma to the Des Moines metro with a motivating purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with the same child. Multiple times in August 2019, Raiburn requested the child take sexually explicit “selfie” photos. The child did so and, as requested, sent those sexually explicit photos to Raiburn via cellular phone.

This case was investigated by the Iowa DCI’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Des Moines Police Department, Polk County Attorney’s Office, Durant (Oklahoma) Police Department, and the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, Iowa — On October 20, 2020, United States District Chief Judge John A. Jarvey sentenced Malinda Jean Sotelo, age 38, of Muscatine, to two months in prison for False Statements she made on tenant information forms for housing assistance announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Sotelo was ordered to serve three years of supervised release following her prison term and pay $32,110.00 in restitution as well as $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

On June 17, 2020, Sotelo pleaded guilty to one count of False Statements. From 2012 through 2017, Sotelo received housing assistance through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). She also received food assistance (SNAP) and cash assistance through the Family Investment Program (FIP aka Temporary Assistance to Needy Families), which are benefit programs administered by the Iowa Department of Human Services. Sotelo falsified 15 forms used by the two agencies to determine her eligibility for benefits and the amounts she was entitled to receive. On these forms, Sotelo purposefully failed to include her significant other as a resident of her household, and she failed to report his income. Due to the false information provided on these forms, Sotelo received $32,110 in unentitled housing assistance, $11,017 in unentitled food assistance, and $15,022 in unentitled cash assistance.

This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, and the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, Iowa — On October 20, 2020, United States District Chief Judge John A. Jarvey sentenced Carlos Sanchez Varela, age 48, of Coralville, to 30 months in prison for illegal reentry after deportation as an aggravated felon and false representation of a social security number announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Sanchez Varela was ordered to pay $200 to the Crime Victims’ Fund. The sentence was an upward variance from the recommended United States Sentencing Guidelines.

On June 11, 2020, Sanchez Varela pleaded guilty to two counts of a four-count indictment. The investigation began in December 2019, when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) received information about Sanchez Varela’s whereabouts. ICE investigated and obtained Sanchez Varela’s employment records, which revealed his use of two false identities, including false social security numbers and immigration documents. Sanchez Varela provided these fraudulent documents to two different businesses in order to obtain employment. Further investigation revealed that Sanchez Varela had previous encounters with law enforcement and had been previously removed from the United States on July 22, 2011.

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

DES MOINES, IA – On October 14, 2020, Gregory Michael Press, age 46, of West Des Moines, was sentenced to two years in prison by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose for wire fraud announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Press was ordered by the Court to serve three years of supervised release to follow his prison term. Additionally, he must pay $450,000 to the victim.

The defendant pleaded guilty to wire fraud in July of 2019. According to court documents, while Press was employed as the director of operations at L&C Billing Services Inc. in West Des Moines, he stole money from the company over a number of years. Press accessed the company payroll and issued himself unauthorized salary raises and bonuses; he paid for personal credit card debit with company funds; he issued company checks and cash to himself; and he placed two women, with whom he had personal relationships with, on the company payroll and insurance plan – although they did not work for L&C Billing Services Inc.

The West Des Moines Police Department and United States Postal Service – Criminal Investigations investigated this matter. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Des Moines, IA—On October 9, 2020, Jesse Jay Walker, age 32, of Des Moines, appeared before United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey and was sentenced to 30 months in prison for escape and was ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow his prison term.  Walker pleaded guilty to the offense on June 2, 2020.

In October of 2019, Walker left the Fort Des Moines residential reentry center where he was serving the last part of a federal prison sentence for felon in possession of a firearm. Walker left the facility on a pass and never returned. The escape offense was aggravated by his commission of additional offenses while on escape status, including a theft in the second degree (a felony) and leaving the scene of a bodily injury accident in Clive, Iowa. Walker is scheduled to be sentenced on those state charges on December 4, 2020, in the Iowa District Court for Polk County.

This matter was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the Clive Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa – On September 24, 2020, Kendall Andrew Streb, age 53, of Hills, Iowa, was sentenced to a total of 268 months in prison after being found guilty by a jury of three counts of child sex trafficking, two counts of distributing methamphetamine to children, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of being an unlawful user in possession of a firearm, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The case was presided over by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose.

During trial, the government presented evidence that Streb trafficked three teenagers in Iowa City, Coralville, and Cedar Rapids, primarily from November 2018 through February 2019. Streb solicited the three minors, aged 15 through 17 years old, by paying them in cash and methamphetamine in exchange for sex acts. Streb, at times, transported the teenagers to hotel rooms where he engaged in commercial sex acts with them. The evidence at trial showed that Streb knew one or more of the girls was under 18 years old, and he was otherwise was in reckless disregard of the fact that they were under the age of 18. Sex trafficking of a child is punishable by a minimum of ten years in prison, and up to life imprisonment.

United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum stated, “Kendall Streb will spend the next two decades in federal prison because he knowingly exploited teenage girls by paying them for sex. This sentence should serve as a wake-up call to anyone who believes he can escape serious criminal consequences if he is ‘just a john.’ We will continue to aggressively prosecute both buyers and sellers who sexually abuse children.”

Human trafficking is defined as a crime involving the exploitation of youth under the age of 18 for commercial sex; the exploitation of adults for commercial sex through the use of force, fraud, or coercion; and the exploitation of any individual for compelled labor. Human trafficking does not require the transportation of individuals across state lines, or that someone is physically restrained. Signs that a person is being trafficked can include working excessively long hours, unexplained gifts, physical injury, substance abuse issues, running away from home, isolation from others, or having a person in their life controlling them or monitoring them closely.

Anyone who suspects human trafficking is occurring, be it a minor engaging in paid sex acts, or anyone being coerced into prostitution or labor, is urged to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

This matter was investigated by the Iowa City Police Department, with assistance from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Coralville Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, Iowa—On September 25, 2020, United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey sentenced Norris Davison, age 39, of Burlington, to 188 months in prison for trafficking methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Following his prison term, Davison will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

Davison admitted to conspiring to distribute four kilograms of ice methamphetamine in the Burlington area. Davison’s criminal history included convictions for a felony drug offense, and three felony convictions for unlawfully possessing weapons.

This matter was investigated by the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Taskforce, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, and the Burlington Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, IA – On September 17, 2020, United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger sentenced Michael James Hidlebaugh, age 38, of Perry, to 97 months in prison for Receipt of Child Pornography, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Hidlebaugh was ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow his prison term, pay $21,000 in restitution, and comply with sex offender registry requirements upon release.

The investigation began in September 2017 when law enforcement received an investigative lead from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that images of child pornography had been uploaded to Hidlebaugh’s email account. Following further investigation, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Hidlebaugh’s Perry residence in May 2018. Law enforcement seized multiple electronic devices, which contained hundreds of images and videos of child pornography. The investigation showed that from July 2016 to April 2018, Hidlebaugh received child pornography.

This case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - On September 24, 2020, United States District Court Senior Judge James E. Gritzner sentenced Kenneth Jay Still, age 71, of Council Bluffs, to 10 years in prison, the statutory maximum, for felon and domestic abuser in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Still was ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow his prison term and pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund. There is no parole in the federal system.

On October 7, 2018, Still shot and killed his 21-year-old step-son at close range with a 12- gauge shotgun. Still immediately fled the scene and disposed of the shotgun. He turned himself in to authorities the next day. Law enforcement was able to recover the shotgun several weeks later. Still pleaded guilty on June 16, 2020, in federal court to the gun charge.

This case was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department, Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, Iowa—On September 11, 2020, United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey sentenced Hunter Morgan Uhde, age 24, of Thornton, Iowa, to 160 months in prison for Receiving and Distributing Child Pornography, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Uhde was ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow his prison term, pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund and $27,000 in restitution, and comply with sex offender registry requirements upon release.

On February 14, 2020, Uhde pleaded guilty to Count One of a two-count Indictment. The investigation began in February 2019 with a tip from the Homeland Security Cyber Crimes Center based on activity through the “Kik” app in relation to a username associated with Uhde between November and December 2018. A search warrant was conducted on Uhde’s residence in Coralville, Iowa. Agents found multiple electronic devices containing child pornography.

Uhde admitted to possessing child pornography on his phone and participating in illicit activities involving child pornography. After forensic examination of Uhde’s devices, Uhde was found to have possessed 1,400 images and two videos of child pornography.

This matter was investigated by United States Department for Homeland Security and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – On September 11, 2020, Sheri Lynn Jelinek, age 48, of North Liberty, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey to 27 months in prison for wire fraud announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum.

Jelinek was an employee at the Iowa City Area Development Group (ICAD) from 2003 until January of 2017. After leaving her employment, ICAD employees discovered Jelinek had made more than $460,000 in improper or personal charges on ICAD credit cards over a period of several years.

Jelinek pleaded guilty to an Information charging her with seven counts of wire fraud. At sentencing, Jelinek was ordered to make full restitution to ICAD and its insurance company. She was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release following her prison term and pay $700 to the Crime Victims’ Fund. After sentencing, Jelinek was released and will be allowed to self- report to a designated facility within the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

This matter was investigated by the Office of Auditor for the State of Iowa and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, Iowa—On September 10, 2020, United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey sentenced Lloyd Davenport, age 44, of Burlington, to 262 months in prison for trafficking methamphetamine announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Following his prison term, Davenport will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

Davenport was a pound-level dealer of ice methamphetamine in the Burlington area, who admitted that he possessed a firearm in relation to his drug trafficking activities. Davenport’s criminal history includes convictions for armed robbery, a prior drug trafficking offense, and animal cruelty.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Southeast Iowa Narcotics Taskforce, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, Burlington Police Department, and the Iowa State Patrol. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - On September 4, 2020, United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey sentenced Jason Wickett, age 47, of Little Sioux, to 200 months in prison and eight years of supervised release to follow his prison term for distribution of child pornography announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Wickett pleaded guilty to the offense on April 22, 2020.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation began an investigation into Wickett from an online investigation of a TOR hidden services site, which is designed to conceal an internet user’s identity and activity, by the Federal Bureau of Investigations Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The hidden services site was primarily operated to sexually exploit children. Wickett distributed child pornography on hidden service sites on the TOR network in November and December 2019.  A search warrant was executed at Wickett’s residence on December 17, 2019. Law enforcement seized electronics that contained images and videos of child pornography.

United States Attorney Krickbaum stated, “The sentence imposed in this case should serve as a clear message to anyone who uses the dark web to distribute or view child pornography. You are not anonymous, and after you are arrested and convicted, you will go to federal prison.”

Following the sentencing, FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Kristi Johnson stated, “The 16- year sentence handed down to Jason Wickett illustrates the seriousness of his crime. FBI Omaha and its Omaha Child Exploitation Task Force will continue to investigate and arrest these predators who prey on the most vulnerable of our communities.”

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations, and the Harrison County Sherriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa – Marlin Santana Thomas, age 45, of Des Moines, has been charged in federal court with sex trafficking eight victims announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. In August, a United States Grand Jury filed a Superseding Indictment in the United States District Court charging Thomas with the offenses. Thomas appeared before a federal magistrate judge on September 2, 2020, and is currently detained in federal custody.

Thomas is charged with sex trafficking seven adult victims by force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion, and is alleged to have sex trafficked one minor victim. Thomas is charged with trafficking victims over nearly a decade, from as early as September 2009, up until February 2018. Thomas is also charged with distributing heroin to two victims, who were under the age of twenty- one, and with several related offenses, such as transporting victims out of state for the purpose of prostitution. In late February 2018, Thomas was arrested as part of a separate federal drug investigation, for which he is currently serving a federal prison term.

The public is reminded that charges contain only accusations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

If convicted, Thomas is subject to a fifteen-year mandatory minimum prison term for sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, up to life imprisonment. Sex trafficking of children 14 years of age and older, without the allegation of force, fraud, or coercion, carries a ten year mandatory minimum, and a maximum term of life in prison.

Human trafficking is a crime involving the exploitation of youth under the age of 18 for commercial sex; the exploitation of adults for commercial sex through the use of force, fraud, or coercion; and the exploitation of any individual for compelled labor. Human trafficking does not require the transportation of individuals across state lines, or that someone is physically restrained. Signs that a person is being trafficked can include working excessively long hours, unexplained gifts, physical injury, substance abuse issues, running away from home, isolation from others, or having a person in their life controlling them or monitoring them closely. Victims particularly susceptible to being trafficked include those with criminal histories, a history of physical or sexual abuse, uncertain legal status, and dependency on controlled substances.

Anyone who suspects human trafficking is occurring, be it a minor engaging in paid sex acts, or anyone being coerced into prostitution or labor, is urged to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. If anyone has information about this defendant, Marlin Santana Thomas, they are urged to call the Des Moines Police Department Vice/Narcotics Office at 515-237-1516, or call the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

This case is being investigated by the Des Moines Police Department and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, IA- On Wednesday, August 26, 2020, a federal jury found Darvill Jimmy Joseph Bragg, age 25, of Davenport, guilty of the offense of felon in possession of a firearm.

The trial began on August 24, 2020. The Government presented witnesses who testified about a shooting involving Bragg that occurred at approximately 8:00 p.m. on October 25, 2019 in the parking lot of an apartment building in Davenport.  Government witnesses also testified about a traffic stop, approximately three hours after the shooting, of a vehicle in which Bragg was the front seat passenger.  The stop occurred near the same parking lot where the shooting occurred.

During the stop, Davenport Police Officers recovered a Taurus Judge, .45 caliber revolver in the front passenger door bin of the vehicle.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 15, 2021, at 9:30 a.m., at the Federal Courthouse in Davenport. If the Court determines Bragg is subject to the provisions of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(e) (the Armed Career Criminal Act), he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life in prison.

In 2011, in Rock Island (Illinois) Circuit Court, Bragg was convicted of two armed robberies, Class X felonies, both of which involved the use of a firearm. In 2015, in Scott County (Iowa) District Court, Bragg was convicted of Willful Injury, a Class C felony, for an incident in which he shot and injured another man.

This investigation was conducted by the Davenport Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Des Moines, Iowa – On August 25, 2020, Scott Donald Griffen, age 57, of Ames, was sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge Robert W. Pratt to four months in prison for the willful failure to account for and pay over employment taxes, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Griffen was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $150,297.52, with interest.

On November 15, 2019, the United States Attorney’s Office filed a one-count Information that charged Griffen with failure to account for and pay over employment taxes. Griffen pleaded guilty to the offense and admitted he failed to pay employment taxes related to his two Ames businesses, Corner Pocket and DG’s Tap House. Griffen admitted between 2012 and 2016 he failed to pay the IRS more than $150,000 in employment taxes.

“If you don’t pay your taxes, you can go to federal prison. It’s that simple,” said United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. “Scott Griffen failed to pay employment taxes for four years, and he continued even after he was warned by the IRS. He deserves the prison term imposed today.”

“While operating his business from 2012 to 2016, Mr. Griffen willfully failed to pay over to the IRS any of the employment taxes he had withheld from his employee’s wages; he took them for his own purposes,” said Adam Steiner, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in the St. Louis Field Office. “IRS CI will continue to use its financial expertise to investigate those individuals who knowingly and willfully evade their tax obligation.”

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – On August 19, 2020, United States District Court Judge  Stephanie M. Rose sentenced Bryan Christopher Hanson, age 24, of Rock Island, Ill., to ten months in prison for assault on a postal worker, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Hanson was ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow his prison term and pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

On November 18, 2019, Hanson pleaded guilty to the offense. The investigation began after a report was made by a mail carrier that a male was harassing her. Hanson sought the postal carrier out and physically grabbed her while she was on duty. She was able to run away, but the defendant continued to pursue and got into his car and followed her. The mail carrier received help from a bystander before police arrived.

This matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Court found Randall Comly responsible for attempted murder of police officers

 

DES MOINES, Iowa – On August 20, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Randall Lee Comly, age 53, of Stuart, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison following his guilty pleas to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. At sentencing, the United States presented evidence that Comly, a multi-time convicted drug dealer, attempted to murder four law enforcement officers.

On the night of October 17, 2019, officers with the Stuart Police Department and Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office went to Comly’s residence in Stuart to arrest him on valid arrest warrants for second-degree arson and a probation violation.

Comly ambushed the officers, jumped out of a closet, and emptied his gun by firing six rounds at a sheriff’s deputy who stood only a few feet away. During the resulting exchange of gunfire, two Sheriff’s deputies were shot. After the shooting, Comly barricaded himself inside the apartment and a hostage negotiation team was called. Comly eventually gave himself up and was arrested just before midnight. A search of Comly’s residence revealed methamphetamine and items used in drug trafficking.

Comly has a lengthy criminal history, including three prior felony drug trafficking convictions. He was serving a state term of probation when he attempted to murder the four officers on October 17, 2019. Based on Comly’s criminal history, the Court found him to be an armed career criminal.

In announcing the sentence, United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum said, “We thank and commend the law enforcement officers from the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office and the Stuart Police Department who in this case put their lives on the line to protect the people in their community from a violent criminal. Randall Comly tried to murder those officers. He tried to take husbands away from their wives, and fathers away from their children so that he could escape justice. Justice was delivered today in federal court, and we are grateful.”

Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Kansas City Field Division, Marino Vidoli said, “We are thankful for the heroic actions taken by these deputies and officers. At the very heart of ATF’s mission to investigate violent firearms crime is bringing armed criminals like Randall Comly to justice. Today’s sentencing ensures that he will be held accountable for his dangerous actions and prevented from engaging in further violence.”

The investigation was spearheaded by the ATF. Investigative support was provided by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Adair County Sheriff’s Office, Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, and the Stuart Police Department.  This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, with assistance from the Adair County Attorney’s Office.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Eleven members and associates of the Lowriders, a Davenport- based street gang, have been charged in federal court in Davenport for various crimes, including violent crimes in aid of racketeering, drug trafficking, tampering with witnesses, the knowing transfer of a handgun to a juvenile, lying to the grand jury, use of persons under 18 years of age in drug operations, and firearms charges. Five members or associates of the Lowriders are charged in state court for intimidation with a dangerous weapon, willful injury, criminal gang participation, and drug- related offenses.

Two other members were previously charged with federal firearms violations. Specifically, in November 2019, Alejandro Francisco Herrera, Jr. was sentenced after pleading guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance. In February 2020, Zacharia Allen Clark was sentenced to 200 months of imprisonment after pleading guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition related to an incident in which he shot at another person in the parking lot of a Davenport nightclub.

Many of the defendants were arrested earlier this week stemming from a years-long investigation of this criminal gang trafficking organization. Those arrested on federal charges include AUSTIN NICHOLS, ADAN HERRERA, CODY HERRERA a/k/a Cody Williamson, KERRI JOANNE REITZ, JOSE MIGUEL PENA, ANDRES JOSEPH   ARRIAGA,   and   TEVIN   MAXWELL   LIRA.   In   addition,   MARCOS MAGDALENO, CALVIN MORROW, a juvenile defendant, and two others were charged with state crimes arising from this investigation. The identities of those who have not yet been arrested remain sealed at this time.

The charges were announced by Marc Krickbaum, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa; Mike Walton, Scott County Attorney; and Paul Sikorski, Davenport Police Chief. In addition, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations, Bettendorf Police Department, Moline Police Department, and Scott County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation.

“As the indictment alleges, the Lowriders street gang is a criminal enterprise,” said United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. “Members of the gang illegally carry guns, peddle drugs, and shoot up neighborhoods while warring with rival gangs. We will continue to work with all our partners to charge these criminals in state court or federal court with whatever crimes we can prove, from attempted murder to witness tampering.”

“While we only have five of the gang members now as part of this takedown, we have been a part of prosecutions on these individuals for years, and have witnessed how much havoc they have been wreaking on our community,” stated Amy DeVine, First Assistant Scott County Attorney. “We are pleased to see the investigation lead to federal charges on so many of them because we know the sentencing guidelines on the federal side is much more appropriate than what is available to us on the state side. We are committed to coordinating with law enforcement and the federal government in order to appropriately handle these cases, every time that we can.”

“The Davenport Police Department is committed to leveraging all resources available to combat violent crime in our city,” stated Davenport Police Chief Paul Sikorski. “As you can see demonstrated through the collaborative efforts of local, county, state and federal law enforcement teamed up with our county and federal prosecutors to bring those responsible for violence in our community to justice.”

It is alleged that the Lowrider Street Gang is a criminal enterprise that engaged in racketeering activity, namely offenses involving controlled substances; acts involving murder; and acts relating to the tampering with a witness, victim, or informant. The Lowrider Street Gang and its members are alleged to have preserved and protected the profits of the gang through the threatened or physical use of violence and kept victims and witnesses in fear of the street gang through these threats of violence. In addition, it is alleged the Lowrider Street Gang provided support to gang members who were incarcerated for gang-related activities; and retaliated against acts of violence perpetrated against the street gang including acts of violence against rival gangs known as the West Side Mafia and Latin King street gang. The Lowrider Street Gang allegedly operated and conducted their affairs through a series of rules and policies; held regular meetings at which they discussed, planned, and otherwise engaged in criminal activity; and initiated new members through the practice of causing them to endure physical assaults conducted by members of the gang at various gang-related gatherings. It is alleged members agreed to distribute drugs, recruited juveniles to commit violent acts for the gang’s benefit, and agreed or conspired to commit acts of violence, including acts involving murder, against rival gangs.

DEFENDANTS

 

AUSTIN NICHOLS

Title 18, U.S.C. § 1959(a)(2) – Assault With a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering

Maximum Penalty is 20 years of imprisonment

 

ADAN HERRERA

Title 26, U.S.C. §§ 5841, 5845, 5861(c), 5861(d), 5871 – Receipt or Possession of Firearm Made in Violation of NFA

Maximum Penalty is 10 years of imprisonment

Title 18, U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i), 924(c)(1)(B)(i) – Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

Maximum Penalty is life imprisonment; mandatory minimum of 10 years of imprisonment

 

CODY HERRERA

Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(g)(3) – Prohibited Person in Possession of Firearms

Maximum Penalty is 10 years of imprisonment

 

KERRI REITZ

Title 18, U.S.C. § 3 – Accessory After the Fact

Maximum Penalty is 15 years of imprisonment

 

JOSE MIGUEL PENA

Title 18, U.S.C. § 1959(a)(2) – Assault With a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering

Maximum Penalty is 20 years of imprisonment

 

ANDRES ARRIAGA

Title 18, U.S.C. § 1512 – Tampering With a Witness

Maximum Penalty is 20 years of imprisonment

Title 18, U.S.C. § 1623 – False Declarations Before a Grand Jury

Maximum Penalty is 5 years of imprisonment

 

TEVIN LIRA

Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) – Felon in Possession of a Firearm

Maximum Penalty is 10 years of imprisonment

 

The years-long investigation culminated in the execution of federal gang and firearm search warrants at the following locations on August 10 and 11, 2020. Law enforcement officers seized four guns, one of which had an obliterated serial number; cocaine at two residences; marijuana, and Lowrider Street Gang paraphernalia at almost every location.

• 2100 block of West 18th Street, Davenport
• 1400 block of Sixth Street, Davenport
• 2200 block of West Second Street, Davenport
• 1700 block of West 17th Street, Davenport
• 1500 block of West 38th Street, Davenport
• 1600 block of West 9th Street, Davenport
• 1300 block of Warren Street, Davenport
• 5300 block of Gaines Street, Davenport
• 5100 block of North Fairmount Street, Davenport
• 700 block of LeClaire Street, Davenport

The charges in the indictment carry maximum penalties of between 10 years and life imprisonment. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. There is no parole in the federal court system.

The public is reminded that charges contain only accusations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, Brandon Bird, age 41, of Omaha, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger to 120 months in prison for bank robbery. Bird was ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow his term of imprisonment and pay a $100 Special Assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

On October 30, 2019, Bird walked into a U.S. Bank in Council Bluffs and gave a demand note to the teller requesting money. After obtaining cash from the bank, Bird fled the scene and was then stopped by law enforcement. All of the stolen cash was recovered.

This matter was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Great Plains Violent Crimes Task Force. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger sentenced Michael Brandstrom, age 29, of Council Bluffs, to 480 months in prison. He was sentenced to 360 months imprisonment for Production of Child Pornography and 120 months to Possession of Child Pornography, to run consecutively. The federal sentence will be served concurrently with his prison sentence in Pottawattamie County State Court for Kidnapping in the Third Degree and Lascivious Acts with a Child. Brandstrom was ordered to serve fifteen years of supervised release to follow his prison term. He was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund and $10,500 in restitution to numerous victims.

The charges stem from an investigation initiated by local law enforcement after a mother reported her four-year-old child missing from their apartment in Council Bluffs on September 2, 2019. As Council Bluffs Police Officers searched the apartment complex, Brandstrom brought the missing child out to them. Brandstrom was nervous when questioned by the police, his story was not consistent as to why he did not contact police when he located the child, and the child’s shirt was inside out. Brandstrom had taken the child into his apartment without the consent of her mother and the child disclosed that Brandstrom took pictures of her in his bathroom.

A search warrant was executed on Brandstrom’s apartment and a laptop and two cellular phones were seized for forensic analysis. The analysis of the devices revealed a large number of child pornography images and videos, including those of the child he kidnapped. The analysis of the laptop computer also located communications Mr. Brandstrom had with children from another country where he attempted to sexually exploit them.

This investigation was conducted by the Council Bluffs Police Department and United States Secret Service. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa and the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on Thursday, July 16, 2020, United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey sentenced Kimberly Ann Jacobsen, age 54, of Omaha, to 74 months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine. Jacobsen was ordered to serve a period of supervised release of four years to follow her prison term and pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victims' Fund. There is no parole in the federal system.

In October of 2019, Jacobsen sold 97 grams of methamphetamine in two undercover law enforcement operations. Jacobsen pleaded guilty to the offense on March 6, 2020. This is Jacobsen's second federal felony methamphetamine conviction.

This matter was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department, the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on Tuesday, July 14, 2020, United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger sentenced Blake Edward Cooper, age 51, of Harlan, to 60 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to drug user in possession of a firearm. Cooper was ordered to serve a period of supervised release of three years to follow his prison term and pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund. There is no parole in the federal system.

On July 29, 2019, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office was advised that Cooper made threats to kill law enforcement officers and innocent civilians. Specifically, Cooper sent a text message to a person he knew, which read:

There gonna come for me: I bet this week. Collateral damage is key to whether or not people get informed as to how rigged the whole family law system is. It’s sad to say, but I need as much collateral damage as possible. If a cop gets shot -in the leg while serving a warrant, that’s local news. If 6 cops get killed, 4 wounded and several innocent civilians get killed or severely wounded, then it becomes national news. And that’s the only way anything is ever gonna get stuff changed. And now that my whole plan had to be revealed to you, you will be an accessory.

Cooper also sent the same person a photo of a box along with the following message: “Package came today; 50lbs of -ammonia nitrate. Google that.” In addition, Cooper sent an order confirmation email showing that he purchased 50 pounds of ammonium nitrate on July 25, 2019. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Cooper’s residence on July 30, 2019. They found 21 firearms, ammunition, 50 pounds of ammonium nitrate, and materials that could be used to make an explosive device. They also found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Cooper admitted to being a regular user of methamphetamine.

This investigation was conducted by the Iowa State Fire Marshal, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau for Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on Tuesday, July 14, 2020, United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger sentenced Jimmy Joe Gappa, age 27, of Council Bluffs, to 63 months in prison for felon and drug user in possession of a firearm. Gappa was ordered to serve a period of supervised release of three years to follow his prison term and pay a $100 special assessment payable to the Crime Victims’ Fund. There is no parole in the federal system.

On June 8, 2019, Gappa and a friend were in Mills County driving when their vehicle broke down. As they walked away from the vehicle, a law enforcement officer stopped them. Gappa had an outstanding warrant and he was arrested. Gappa was in possession of a stolen pistol, ammunition, and methamphetamine.

This investigation was conducted by the Mills County Sheriff’s Office and the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, Iowa—On July 20, 2020, United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey sentenced Isaiah Henderson, age 27, of Davenport, to 10 years in prison, the statutory maximum, after he was found guilty of felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Henderson was ordered to serve a period of supervised release of three years to follow his prison terms and pay a $100 special assessment payable to the Crime Victims’ Fund. There is no parole in the federal system.

In February 2020, a jury found Henderson guilty of the charge. On October 21, 2018, a Davenport police officer observed a disturbance in the parking lot of the Kwik Shop located at Locust and Marquette Streets. A witness reported to the officer that Henderson had threatened her with a firearm. Officers immediately made contact with Henderson and subsequently located a loaded firearm, which he had attempted to hide inside of the Kwik Shop. Henderson has a history of assaults, distributing drugs, eluding, and interfering with officers. Henderson was on parole through the State of Iowa for approximately one month at the time he committed this offense.

This case is part of Project Guardian (PG) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), programs designed to bring together law enforcement and reduce gun violence to make our communities safer for everyone. This case was investigated by the Davenport Police Department and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on Wednesday, July 15, 2020, Tate Pilger, age 19, of Council Bluffs was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger to 84 months in prison for possession of child pornography. Pilger was ordered to pay $1,500 in restitution and $100 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund. Pilger will serve ten years of supervised release at the conclusion of his prison term.

The charges were the result of an investigation initiated by Facebook who submitted information to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that a user of their service uploaded suspected images of child pornography via Facebook Messenger. This cyber tip was forwarded to the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and local law enforcement who executed two search warrants at Council Bluffs homes linked to Pilger. Law enforcement located a computer, cell phones, and flash drives which were taken as evidence and analyzed. The forensic analysis revealed Pilger possessed numerous images and videos of child pornography.

This investigation was conducted by the Council Bluffs Police Department and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

The Internal Revenue Service wrapped up its annual ‘Dirty Dozen’ list of tax scams with a special emphasis on aggressive and evolving schemes related to coronavirus tax relief, including Economic Impact Payments. The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa urge taxpayers to be vigilant to these tax scams.

This year, the Dirty Dozen focuses on scams that target taxpayers. The criminals behind these bogus schemes view everyone as potentially easy prey.

“Fraud schemes harm everyone, especially those which defraud the IRS and members of our community,” said Adam Steiner, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation division in the St. Louis Field Office. “As we stand ready to investigate anyone who would put a taxpayer at risk for a quick profit, we urge everyone to watch out for these tax scams all the time.”

Tax scams tend to rise during tax season or during times of crisis. “This years’ list of tax scams should serve as a stark reminder to everyone to be vigilant to these threats during the current pandemic and its aftermath,” said U.S. Attorney Marc Krickbaum for the Southern District of Iowa. “Please safeguard your personal and financial information, and don’t engage potential scammers online or on the phone.”

Taxpayers are encouraged to review the ‘Dirty Dozen’ list in a special section on IRS.gov and be on the lookout for these scams throughout the year.

For official information year round, taxpayers can visit IRS.gov

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced that on July 16, 2020, Walter Greenwood Stokes, 34 years of age, and his wife, Brittany Leah Lynne Stokes, 34 years of age, were sentenced to prison for possession of firearms while prohibited. Walter Stokes was sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, while Brittany Stokes was sentenced to a year and a day in prison followed by three years of supervised release. A third defendant, Laura Edith Chedester of Omaha, Nebraska, is awaiting sentencing on August 20, 2020.

The Stokes were convicted by jury on March 3, 2020. Walter Stokes was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and Brittany Stokes was found guilty of being a drug user in possession of a firearm and of falsifying a government document in the acquisition of a firearm.

The jury heard evidence that Woodbine Police Department along with the Logan Police Department served a search warrant on the Stokes’ residence located in Woodbine, Iowa. The search by law enforcement recovered 25 firearms, and over 14,000 rounds of ammunition. Five loaded semi-automatic assault type rifles were located in the master bedroom of the home. Evidence showed that Walter Stokes had built several of the assault weapons from parts obtained by Brittany Stokes. Evidence was also heard by the jury about an extensive history of drug use by the couple and that Walter Stokes had felony convictions dating back to 2003.

The investigation was conducted by the Woodbine Iowa Police Department, Logan Iowa Police Department, Council Bluffs Police Department, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

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

DAVENPORT, IA – On Friday, July 10, 2020, Vincent Taggart Reid III, age 29, of Davenport, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey to 110 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to Arson/Attempted Arson, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Reid was ordered to serve a period of supervised release of three years to follow his prison term, pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund, and pay restitution to the victim for damage caused to her property.

Reid pleaded guilty on February 10, 2020. On March 30, 2019, Davenport Police Officers were called to a Davenport duplex because an individual was trying to set the upstairs unit on fire. Prior to officers being called, Reid had been kicked out of the duplex by the victim. Despite being ordered to leave, Reid kicked down the door and followed the victim upstairs into her unit, and threatened to burn down the building and destroy her property. Reid began to damage property belonging to the victim. While the victim recorded him, Reid attempted to light multiple couch pillows on fire before grabbing a lit candle and intentionally kicking it under the couch. Shortly before officers arrived in the area, Reid shot a gun into the air and then took off from officers in a car at high speeds. Reid was eventually located by officers at a home associated with him. After further investigation, Reid was arrested and taken into custody.

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.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA -- United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on Wednesday, July 15, 2020, Harley Bressman, age 46, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger to 210 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Bressman was ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release to follow his prison term and pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

Sabrina Spahn, age 48, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced to 77 months in prison for her role in the methamphetamine conspiracy. She was ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow her prison term and pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

The charges were the result of an ongoing investigation involving Bressman distributing a large quantity of methamphetamine in the Council Bluffs area. An undercover investigation led law enforcement to execute a search warrant at Bressman and Spahn’s residence in Council Bluffs, where over four pounds of methamphetamine was located as well as seven pounds of methamphetamine discovered at a related location.

The investigation was conducted by the Council Bluffs Police Department, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Middle Iowa Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on Monday, July 13, 2020, Douglas Schlott, age 35, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose to a total of 71 months in prison to be followed by a five year term of supervised release for Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking.

Also sentenced by Judge Rose as part of the cocaine conspiracy was Tyler Alwan, age 21, of Council Bluffs. Alwan pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine and was sentenced to 16 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release.

The charges were the result of an investigation initiated by a concerned citizen who provided information to the Council Bluffs Police Department that drugs were being distributed in a parking lot. An undercover investigation of this information led local law enforcement to execute a search warrant at Douglas Schlott’s residence in Council Bluffs where police located cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and a firearm.

This investigation was conducted by the Council Bluffs Police Department and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.