Southern District of Iowa

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on July 16, 2019, Mary Mayo, age 50, Tony Martin Mayo Jr., age 34, Jessica Lynn Gross, age 31, and Alex Lee Pleis, age 25, were sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey for Conspiracy to Distribute Oxycodone. Mary Mayo was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment to be followed by 48 months of supervised release. Tony Martin Mayo was sentenced to 12 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release. Jessica Lynn Gross was sentenced to time served and 60 months of supervised release. Alex Lee Pleis was sentenced to time served and 36 months of supervised release.

In late August of 2015, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration received information regarding the illegal distribution of prescription drugs in and around Cass County, Iowa. Using a confidential informant, the DEA determined Mary Mayo obtained prescriptions for oxycodone, hydrocodone and other controlled substances from medical professionals through false representations of injury or illness and related pain management. Mary Mayo then used her Medicare/Medicaid benefits to obtain controlled substances from local pharmacies. She also obtained oxycodone from a co-defendant, Rebecca Canfield.

Once the prescription drugs were obtained, Mary Mayo negotiated a price for the pills with a known buyer. If an agreement was reached, Mary Mayo had a member of her family deliver or assist in the delivery of the controlled substances. During the yearlong investigation, DEA arranged the purchase of oxycodone and hydrocodone from Mary Mayo and the pills were delivered to a DEA agent, who was working in an undercover capacity. With the exception of Rebecca Canfield, all co-defendants are members of Mary Mayo’s family.

During the course of the investigation, it was determined Mary Mayo was receiving Social Security benefits she was not entitled to. As part of her sentence, Mary Mayo was ordered to pay restitution to Medicare/Medicaid, and the Social Security Administration.

The case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration; United States Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General; Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit; United States Social Security Administration-Office of the Inspector General; Cass County Sheriff’s Office; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; and the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, Iowa- On July 16, 2019, Kelly Everett Mitchell, age 47, of Burlington, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger to a total of 312 months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine, possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, and providing contraband to an inmate of a federal prison, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Mitchell was ordered to serve five years of supervised release following his prison term and to pay $500 towards the Crime Victims’ Fund.

On September 17, 2018, in case number 3:17-cr-38, Mitchell pleaded guilty to the offenses of distribution of methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Mitchell admitted on March 14, 2017, in two transactions, he distributed 42.46 grams of 99% pure methamphetamine to another person. He further admitted on September 25, 2017, he was in possession of 219.62 grams of 99% pure methamphetamine, 16.41 grams of heroin, 117.88 grams of marijuana and in excess of $10,000 United States currency and he intended to distribute some or all of the controlled substances.

On January 9, 2019, in case number 3:18-cr-73, Mitchell pleaded guilty to the offenses of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and phentermine, and providing contraband to an inmate of a federal prison. Mitchell admitted while in the custody of the United States Marshals Service and detained in the Muscatine County Jail, he regularly received coloring sheets, greeting cards, letters, envelopes and other products made of paper which had been soaked in a liquid in which methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, and phentermine, a Schedule IV controlled substance, had been dissolved. He further admitted he provided a portion of the papers that contained methamphetamine and phentermine to other inmates housed at the Muscatine County Jail in Muscatine, Iowa, for the other inmates to ingest.

The two cases were consolidated for sentencing. In case number 3:17-cr-38, Mitchell was sentenced to 292 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release. In case number 3:18-cr-73, for the offense of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and phentermine, Mitchell was sentenced to 240 months of imprisonment, to run concurrently with the 292 months in case number 3:17-cr-38, and three years of supervised release. For the offense of providing contraband to an inmate of a federal prison, Mitchell was sentenced to 20 months of imprisonment, to run consecutively with the 292 months in case number 3:17-cr-38, and three years of supervised release. All periods of supervised release are to run concurrently.

This matter was investigated by the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Des Moines County Sheriff’s Department, Muscatine County Sheriff’s Department, Illinois State Police, Macomb (Illinois) Police Department, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, United States Drug Enforcement Agency, and the United States Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, IA- On Monday, June 24, 2019, a jury found Chad Eric Mink, age 43, of Rock Island, Illinois, guilty of fifteen (15) separate federal offenses including interstate transportation of a stolen motor vehicle, stalking (two counts), interstate domestic violence (two counts), possession of unregistered destructive devices (pipe bombs) (two counts), being a prohibited person in possession of explosives (two counts), fraudulent use of a means of identification of another person, malicious use of explosives, possession of a destructive device in furtherance of a crime of violence, carrying explosive materials during commission of a federal felony, tampering with a witness, and obstruction of official proceedings.

The jury trial commenced on June 10, 2019. The Government presented more than 70 witnesses, including several forensic experts who testified about Mink using a stolen truck to ram a vehicle occupied by a former intimate partner and her boyfriend, possessing multiple pipes bombs, planting a pipe bomb near his former intimate partner’s room at the Quad City Inn in Davenport, and attempting to influence a witness to destroy evidence and to fabricate evidence. Sentencing is presently scheduled for November 14, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. The defendant faces up to life in prison and mandatory minimum sentences of five years, 10 and 30 years, all to be served consecutively to each other and any other sentence imposed.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Quad City Bomb Squad, Davenport, Milan (IL), Moline (IL), and Rock Island (IL) Police Departments, Scott County and Rock Island County Sheriff’s Departments, Illinois State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, IA- On Wednesday, June 26, 2019, the Honorable Stephanie M. Rose, United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of Iowa, found Jonas Ross, III, age 38, of Davenport, guilty of one count of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death.

Beginning on May 4, 2019, a bench trial was held before Judge Rose. The evidence showed the victim, who was familiar with Ross, had traveled to Davenport from Ohio on or about November 30, 2017, and checked into the Days Inn on Northwest Boulevard. The victim had contacted Ross to obtain heroin. On December 2, 2017, the victim’s body was discovered in his motel room. Forensic evidence revealed the victim had overdosed and died from ingesting fentanyl. The police recovered heroin, fentanyl, and furanyl-fentanyl in the victim’s room.

Ross had previously entered guilty pleas to three counts of distribution of heroin, some of which contained fentanyl and acryl-fentanyl. The defendant faces a maximum sentence of 30 years each for the three counts of distribution of heroin and a mandatory life sentence for distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death. Sentencing is presently scheduled for October 29, 2019 at 3:00 p.m.

The investigation was conducted by the City of Davenport Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa —On June 19, 2019, Jeffrey W. Voorhees, age 75, of Waukee, Iowa, was sentenced by United States Southern District of Iowa Senior Judge Robert W. Pratt to two years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Voorhees pleaded guilty on November 1, 2018, to one count of wire fraud affecting a financial institution. Voorhees was ordered to pay $416,440 in restitution and a fine of $25,000.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Pratt stated the defendant conducted a “sophisticated, long-running device or scheme.” According to court documents, Voorhees, acting through his own consulting company and what he purported to be a not-for-profit entity called National Affordable Housing Foundation, purchased and rehabilitated seven properties which together formed what was referred to as Candleridge VII. The properties were rehabilitated with a private bank loan, guaranteed by the United States Department of Agriculture in the event of default. Voorhees artificially inflated construction costs and created a pass-through shell company in order to obtain approximately $359,000 in artificially inflated loan proceeds. The loan proceeds were to be repaid using USDA-subsidized tenant rents.

The purpose of the USDA loan programs that the defendant defrauded is to support the development of rental units in rural areas for low- and moderate-income individuals and families. USDA regulates how the loan proceeds can be spent, and also imposes requirements on the borrowers to disclose any identity of interest relationships. According to court records, Voorhees was an expert in these regulations but did not follow them in order to unlawfully profit from the USDA loan programs.

The United States Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General investigated this matter. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, IA – United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on June 5, 2019, Kacey Alyn Duall Bruse, age 23, was sentenced by United States District Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger for Possession of Child Pornography. Bruse was sentenced to 70 months in prison to be followed by a term of supervised release of six years. Bruse was ordered to pay $3,000 to each victim seeking restitution.

The investigation began in June 2017, when an undercover Urbandale Police Officer downloaded images of child pornography from an IP address, later identified as being used by Bruse. Bruse was making the files available for download via a peer-to-peer file sharing program. Later in June 2017, police executed a search warrant at Bruse’s Urbandale residence. Police seized computer equipment belonging to Bruse that stored depictions of child pornography. The investigation showed Bruse downloaded child pornography from the internet from about March 13, 2014 to June 21, 2017.

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

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Eight defendants are facing criminal charges as part of a joint federal and state investigation of a cocaine and marijuana trafficking organization. Criminal complaints unsealed in the United States District Court in Des Moines and United States District Court for Central District of California charge eight defendants with federal drug offenses. Many of the federal defendants were arrested today, and preliminary and detention hearings will be held early next week.

The charges were announced by Marc Krickbaum, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa; Bryan VanDuen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Omaha Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Dana Wingert, Chief of Police of the Des Moines Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Dallas County Sheriff’s Office; Polk County Sheriff’s Office; Story County Sheriff’s Office; and the Altoona Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Mikaela Shotwell and Kristin Herrera represent the government.

Eight federal defendants are charged across two complaint affidavits, stemming from a months-long investigation of RAYLON CANADA and his associated cocaine and marijuana trafficking organization. The primary complaint (Case Nos. 4:19-MJ-357 through 363) alleges that CANADA, 28, of Des Moines, has been involved in the distribution of cocaine since before October 2018. On March 26, 2019, the day prior to a law enforcement action that resulted in the arrest of numerous members of the Des Moines-based criminal street gang C-Block, law enforcement obtained court authorization to intercept telephone communications of CANADA.

The primary complaint alleges that CANADA began receiving cocaine in the mail from a California-based source of supply in April 2019. This source was later identified as PEDRO BUSTAMANTE MACHUCA, 28, of Los Angeles, who was arrested today in conjunction with the Des Moines arrests. BUSTAMANTE will have his initial appearance in Central District of California before reporting to Des Moines.

The complaints identify additional customers and redistributors of controlled substances who have been charged with drug conspiracy and distribution:

• TERIKAH MEIKETIA MAHANEY, 26, of Des Moines
• MICHELLE LEE MIRELES, 39, of Des Moines
• ERIC ELMONT BOWMAN, 33, of Des Moines
• KATARIO WADE PATTON, 48, of West Des Moines
• MARVIN HAYGOOD, JR., 33, of Des Moines
• JOSEPH MANUEL JONES, 47, of Des Moines

The months-long investigation culminated in the execution of federal narcotics and firearms search warrants on June 6, 2019, at the following locations:

• 1200 block of East 18th Street, Des Moines
• 2700 block of Southwest 9th Street, Des Moines
• 3000 block of Wright Street, Des Moines
• 2800 block of 53rd Street, Des Moines
• 400 block of East Pleasant View Drive, Des Moines
• 400 block of East Sheridan Avenue, Des Moines
• 4000 block of EP True Parkway, West Des Moines
• 2800 block of Southeast 19th Street, Des Moines
• 900 block of Northeast 56th Street, Pleasant Hill
• 4000 block of Hubbell Avenue, Des Moines
• 2800 block of Southeast 20th Street, Des Moines
• 600 block of Cutler Avenue, Des Moines

The charges in the complaints carry a maximum penalties of twenty years’ imprisonment. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

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 June 4, 2019, Luke Harrison Bird, II, age 31, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose for Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. Bird was sentenced to a prison term of 90 months to be followed by a term of supervised release of three years. This sentence will run consecutively to Bird’s state prison sentence for a parole violation.

Bird was released from the Iowa State Penitentiary in January 2018 after serving state prison time for intimidation with a dangerous weapon, going armed with intent, felon in possession of a firearm, assault while participating in a felony, and eluding. On July 15, 2018, Iowa 4th Judicial District Probation Officers were conducting routine random home visits. The Probation Officer searched Bird’s room and located a loaded sawed off shotgun and ammunition.

This case was investigated by the Iowa 4th Judicial District Probation Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Council Bluffs Police Department and the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office. The 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.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on June 4, 2019, William Labenz, age 38, was sentenced to five years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine .

In late 2017, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force investigated a large drug trafficking organization responsible for transporting large quantities of methamphetamine to and around the western Iowa and eastern Nebraska areas.

On March 4, 2018, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop and the driver, William Labenz, was arrested for driving under suspension. Inside the vehicle’s trunk one quarter pound of methamphetamine was located. On April 26, 2018, in a search of Labenz’s home, additional methamphetamine, scales and baggies were found. The investigation revealed Labentz was transporting methamphetamine for the drug trafficking organization.

This case was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, Omaha Police Department, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Council Bluffs Police Department, and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department. 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 June 4, 2019, Jessica L. Snavely, age 26, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. Snavely was sentenced to ten years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.

In late 2017, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force investigated a large drug trafficking organization responsible for transporting large quantities of methamphetamine to and around western Iowa and eastern Nebraska. During the investigation, law enforcement received information that a large amount of methamphetamine was distributed out of a motel in Council Bluffs.

On April 26, 2019, law enforcement searched a room at the Red Roof Inn in Council Bluffs and recovered over a pound and a half of methamphetamine, along with a stolen handgun and other drug trafficking paraphernalia. It was determined Jessica Snavely received and distributed methamphetamine from the Red Roof Inn motel room.

This case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, Omaha Police Department, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Council Bluffs Police Department, and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa – On June 3, 2019, Steven Douglas Crook, Jr., of Bloomfield, Iowa, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose to the maximum penalty of 120 years in prison. Crook previously pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

The evidence showed that Crook sexually abused a little girl, sometimes violently, from the time she was an infant, until law enforcement rescued the girl from Crook’s home in March 2018, when she was six years old. Crook took photographs and videos of the sexual abuse, and, in some cases, livestreamed the abuse using the popular social media application Live.me. In doing so, he encouraged his followers on Live.me to watch him rape the little girl live on the Internet.

While announcing what is effectively a life sentence, Judge Rose described Crook’s crimes as “horrific.” The judge noted that Crook controlled the victim and hid his crimes for years, and called Crook’s actions “insidious,” “thoughtful,” and “manipulat[ive].” Judge Rose explained that the effective life sentence was necessary because Crook remains “so very dangerous” to children in the community.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa prioritizes cases involving the sexual exploitation of children. As United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum explained, “Any time a child is abused in Iowa, if we have photographs or videos of the abuse, the defendant can be prosecuted in federal court, and face decades, if not life, behind bars.” Krickbaum continued, “Steven Crook will spend the rest of his life in federal prison, where he belongs. We want to make sure that other defendants like him, who are a threat to our children, face the stiffest penalties federal law allows.”

U.S. Attorney Krickbaum added a warning about those who remain silent in the face of child abuse. “In this case, sexual abuse went undetected for years because family members failed to report it to authorities.” Krickbaum said that, “anyone who believes a child may be a victim of abuse, sexual or otherwise, should report the suspected abuse to law enforcement immediately.”

This case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, Bloomfield Police Department, Davis County Sheriff’s Office, and the Davis County Attorney’s Office, with critical assistance from the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on May 29, 2019, Jose Valentin Carrillo, age 35, of Sioux City, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey for Conspiracy and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Valentin Carrillo was sentenced to prison terms of 190 months each for Counts 1 and 2; the sentence is to run concurrently. The prison term will be followed by a term of supervised release of five years on each count, also to run concurrently.

According to court documents, Valentin Carrillo organized and arranged the transportation of approximately eight kilograms of methamphetamine from Kansas City, Missouri to Nebraska City, Nebraska. On August 13, 2017, the vehicle transporting the methamphetamine was stopped by law enforcement in Fremont County, Iowa.

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

DAVENPORT, Iowa—On May 29, 2019, Laron Josiah Carr, age 26, of Bettendorf, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose to 84 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and felon in possession of a firearm.

According to the plea agreement, on May 31, 2018, Bettendorf Police officers responded to a domestic dispute involving a firearm. When they arrived, Carr ran from the police and drew a loaded firearm. Carr was eventually taken into custody without incident. Carr was also found to be in possession of methamphetamine packaged for sale. Carr pleaded guilty to the charges on January 22, 2019.

This case was investigated by the Bettendorf Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. 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 May 29, 2019, Leonard David Capp, III, age 61, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge John A Jarvey for prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Capp was sentenced to 46 months in prison, to be followed by a term of supervised release of two years.

According to court documents, on August 13, 2018, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding shots fired at Capp’s residence. Witnesses told deputies Capp fired a shot into the ground at his son’s feet. Neither Capp nor his son were at the residence when deputies arrived. Knowing Capp was a prior convicted felon and not permitted to have firearms, deputies obtained a search warrant for his residence. Deputies executed the search warrant on August 22, 2018, and located two loaded firearms in Capp’s home, as well as additional ammunition. At the time of his arrest, Capp was in possession of a small amount of marijuana and methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by Taylor County Sheriff’s Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as 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 – On May 15, 2019, a federal grand jury returned an Indictment charging five defendants with sex trafficking announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. All five defendants have been arrested and appeared in federal court in Des Moines, Iowa. Trial is expected to be scheduled for a date later this year, before United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose. The defendants are currently in federal custody.

According to the Indictment, Arrion Marcus West, age 25, is alleged to have sex trafficked one minor victim in October and November 2018, and sex trafficked a second minor victim by force, fraud, and coercion, from January through March 2018. West is further alleged to have provided marijuana to the second victim. West is alleged to have enticed, recruited, and transported minor victims to engage in commercial sex acts, and taken proceeds from those commercial sex acts.

Albert Kelly Price, age 39, is charged with trafficking three separate minor victims by force, fraud, and coercion, and with distributing marijuana to two of those victims. Price is alleged to have transported the minor victims to hotels and other locations where he paid minor victims to engage in sex acts, all while in reckless disregard of the fact they were under the age of 18. The Indictment further alleges Price knew that force, fraud, or coercion was used to cause them to engage in commercial sex acts, in that the government alleges Price himself used force, fraud, and coercion on at least one occasion with each minor victim.

Kendall Andrew Streb, age 52, is charged with several sex trafficking, drug, and firearm offenses, occurring between February 2018 and February 2019. Streb is charged with sex trafficking two separate minors, by transporting those minors to hotel rooms, and paying the minor victims to engage in sex acts. Streb is also charged with distributing methamphetamine to minors, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and with offenses related to possessing firearms while being a drug user and in connection with a drug trafficking offense.

Tommy Tate Collins, age 40, is charged with sex trafficking a minor, and distributing marijuana and cocaine to that minor. Collins is also alleged to have paid the minor victim to engage in commercial sex acts, knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that she was under the age of 18.

Isaiah Devon Patterson, age 21, is charged with one count of sex trafficking a minor victim. Patterson is alleged to have advertised a minor victim for commercial sex acts, while he knew that she was under the age of 18.

The Indictment alleges that all of these acts occurred within the Southern District of Iowa, in the Johnson County area, and elsewhere.

The public is reminded that an Indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless they are proven guilty.

Each defendant charged with the offense of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion is subject to a fifteen-year mandatory minimum term of imprisonment up to life imprisonment. Sex trafficking of children, without the allegation of force, fraud, or coercion, carries a ten-year mandatory minimum, and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. West, Streb, Price, and Collins are also charged with coercion and enticement of a minor, which also carries a ten-year mandatory minimum, up to life imprisonment.

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. Individuals who purchase sex from minors or from those who are otherwise exploited for commercial sex are also subject to prosecution for sex trafficking under federal law, if they knew or were in reckless disregard of the fact that they were under the age of 18, or that force, fraud, or coercion was used.

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 these defendants, they are urged to call the Hotline.

The investigation has been spearheaded by the Iowa City Police Department. Investigative support has been provided by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Coralville Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Johnson County Attorney’s Office has assisted with the prosecution. This case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, IA – On April 12, 2019, Tonnyia Barae Bruce, age 34, of Des Moines, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger to 18 months in prison for six counts of unlawful disposition of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Bruce was ordered to serve three years of supervised release following her prison term and to pay $600 to the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund. Bruce pleaded guilty to the charges on November 15, 2018.

On May 21, 2019, Bruce’s co-defendant, Nikko Alejandro Gatewood, age 24, of Des Moines was also sentenced by Judge Goodgame Ebinger to 100 months in prison for seven counts of felon in possession of a firearm. Gatewood was ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow his prison term and pay $700 to the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund. Gatewood pleaded guilty to the charges on November 20, 2018.

According to court documents, from at least August 2017 through July 2018, Bruce purchased nine firearms at the direction of her boyfriend and co-defendant, Gatewood, whom she knew was a convicted felon. Gatewood then sold these guns on the street. At least one of the guns sold was later recovered after it was used in connection with a drug trafficking offense.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Des Moines Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office-Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, IA – On May 16, 2019, Sean Michael Kinard, age 31, of Mount Pleasant, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey to 130 months imprisonment, after pleading guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Kinard was ordered to serve eight years of supervised release to follow his prison term and pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund. Additionally, Kinard was ordered to pay $2,000 to each of the 13 victims who were seeking restitution.

Kinard pleaded guilty on January 14, 2019. Kinard used a file sharing program to distribute and receive images of child pornography on the internet between January 21, 2016, and January 4, 2018. During that time, he collected over 20,000 images containing child pornography and 425 videos. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) identified over 8,000 images of known victims from Kinard’s images and videos. The goal of NCMEC is to minimize the further victimization of children and to provide notice to identified victims of the crime, if desired.

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

DAVENPORT, IA – On May 16, 2019, Kristin Daniel Horn, age 40, of Burlington, Iowa, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey to 360 months imprisonment, after pleading guilty to Production of Child Pornography, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Horn was ordered to serve ten years on supervised release to follow his prison term and pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund.

This sentence was ordered to be served consecutively to a sentence of up to ten years for a conviction in Des Moines County, Iowa, for Sexual Abuse, Third Degree. Horn was convicted on May 19, 2014, and his sentence was discharged for that offense on July 5, 2018.

Horn pleaded guilty to the offense on January 16, 2019. Upon execution of a search warrant on Horn’s residence, officers recovered videos depicting child pornography produced by Horn. These videos were produced in February 2013.

This matter was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Burlington Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office-Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, IA – On Friday, May 3, 2019, Rontel Nijae Mial, age 19, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey to 96 months in prison after pleading guilty to five counts of robbery, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Mial was ordered to serve a three year period of supervised release to follow his prison term and a $100 special assessment, per count, payable to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

Mial pleaded guilty to the charges on September 12, 2018. According to court documents, on December 16, 2017, Mial traveled from Indiana to a Walgreens store in Davenport, Iowa, with the intent to rob the pharmacy. Just after 12:00 a.m., Mial entered the store armed with a dangerous weapon, approached the pharmacy counter, displayed the weapon, and demanded the pharmacist give him controlled substances including, but not limited to, oxycontin and oxycodone. Mial utilized a getaway driver/co-defendant, to quickly leave the scene; however, a GPS tracker device was included in one of the stolen pill bottles. Officers with the Davenport Police Department were dispatched to the GPS tracker device’s location. Mial and his co-defendant backed into police squad car, knocked into a parked car, and drove through a yard in attempt to elude officers. Officers were able to safely disable their vehicle. Mial then fled on foot but was apprehended after a short chase.

Further investigation revealed Mial was responsible for four other pharmacy robberies. Specifically, Mial admitted robbing a Walgreens store in Davenport, Iowa, on November 17, 2016; a CVS store in Des Moines, Iowa, on January 14, 2017; a Walgreens store in Davenport, Iowa, on November 1, 2017; and a Walgreens store in Iowa City, Iowa, on November 25, 2017.

This matter was investigated by the Davenport Police Department, Iowa City Police Department and Des Moines Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office-Southern District of Iowa.
 

DES MOINES, Iowa – On May 2, 2019, Gregory Scott Stephen, age 43, of Monticello, Iowa, was sentenced by United States Northern District of Iowa Judge C.J. Williams to 180 years – the maximum statutory penalty – in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Stephen pleaded guilty on October 18, 2018, to five counts of sexual exploitation of a child, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of transportation of child pornography.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Williams stated the defendant “is a hands-on sexual abuser of children” who “exploited, manipulated, and abused children for almost two decades.” According to Judge Williams, defendant’s crime was “horrendous,” and the harm he caused his victims was “incalculable and profound.” Stephen was the former co-director of Barnstormers Basketball of Iowa. The Barnstormers operate youth basketball teams for athletes between fourth and twelfth grades. In addition to his administrative duties, Stephen also coached Barnstormer players.

“The Defendant exploited boys who looked up to him as a coach and mentor,” stated Krickbaum. “He had power over these kids, and he exploited that power. The sentence imposed today reflects the enormity of his crimes.” Krickbaum continued, “I want to thank the law enforcement officers and advocates who worked with the victims and their families. Most importantly, thank you to the victims who came forward to tell your stories. Your courage is inspiring.”

“The significant sentence imposed today is the result of law enforcement cooperation at the local, state, and federal levels,” stated Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Rick Rahn. “The DCI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who sexually exploit and abuse children.”

According to court documents, Stephen violated over 400 minor victims in a multitude of ways – he secretly recorded victims while they were nude, tricked victims into sending Stephen sexually explicit images and videos by impersonating a minor female online, and photographed victims’ genitals while the victims slept, and in some cases, photographed himself touching the victims’ genitals.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Monticello Police Department investigated this matter. This case was prosecuted by Southern District of Iowa Assistant United States Attorneys Clifford Cronk and Amy Jennings, who have been designated as Special Assistant United States Attorneys, based on the recusal of the Northern District of Iowa United States Attorney’s Office.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on April 24, 2019, Kenneth Ryan Hartwell, age 32, was sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge James E. Gritzner for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Hartwell was sentenced 154 months in prison, to be followed by a term of supervised release for five years.

In April 2018, Council Bluffs Police stopped a vehicle leaving an area that police were dispatched to regarding reports of vehicle burglaries. Hartwell was the driver and only occupant in the vehicle. Law enforcement determined Hartwell had a suspended license. When Hartwell was asked to exit the vehicle, police discovered marijuana and a scale in the driver’s side door panel. In a search subsequent to the stop, Council Bluffs Police located five pounds of methamphetamine and over $16,000 in cash.

This matter was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department and Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement. 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 April 24, 2019, Michael Anthony Santistevan, age 31, was sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge James E. Gritzner for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Santistevan was sentenced to 235 months in prison, to be followed by a term of supervised release of five years.

On May 21, 2018, Santistevan was stopped by a Pottawattamie County Deputy for speeding on Interstate 80. Santistevan was the sole occupant of the rental vehicle. The car rental company was contacted and the return vehicle was overdue and Santistevan was not the renter nor an authorized driver. The deputy issued Santistevan a traffic citation for speeding and requested permission to search the vehicle. During the search, a certified narcotics canine was utilized for a inspection and the canine alerted and indicated to the odor of narcotics on the rear of the vehicle. Deputies located fifteen pounds of methamphetamine inside a tire in the vehicle.

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

DES MOINES, Iowa – On April 23, 2019, Christopher Leon Weckman, age 53, of Des Moines, was sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge Robert W. Pratt to 180 months (15 years) in prison for the robbery of the Tradesmen Community Credit Union announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Weckman was convicted by a jury on August 3, 2018.

Evidence presented at trial established that Weckman entered the Tradesmen Community Credit Union, located on Southeast 14th Street in Des Moines, in the late afternoon of September 25, 2017. Weckman, who concealed his face, placed an object on the counter – which he told bank employees and customers was a bomb. Weckman then demanded money from the bank tellers. After fleeing the bank, Weckman was apprehended a short time later by the Des Moines Police Department.

This matter was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets 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 April 18, 2019, Justin Stephen Martinez, age 37, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey for Receipt of Child Pornography. Martinez was sentenced to imprisonment for over 27 years (333 months) to be followed by a term of supervised release of 20 years.

The investigation began in December 2017, when an undercover law enforcement agent received notification that an IP address, identified as being used by Martinez, was sharing multiple files containing child pornography on a peer-to-peer program file sharing program for approximately one year. The investigation showed Martinez had received and distributed over a thousand images of child pornography. In addition, it was determined Martinez had sexually explicit images of his twelve year old niece and had sexual contact with her.
Martinez was previously convicted of Third Degree Sexual Abuse of a Child in 2005 in Pottawattamie County, Iowa District Court.

This case was investigated by the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 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 April 18, 2019, Robert Joe Kinney, Sr., age 59, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge John A Jarvey for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Kinney was sentenced to 140 months in prison to be followed by a term of supervised release of eight years.

On three separate occasions between March 22, 2018 and June 6, 2018, Kinney sold methamphetamine to undercover law enforcement.

This matter was investigated by Council Bluffs Police Department and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Des Moines, IA—On April 15, 2019, Theodore Eric Watson, age 54, of Des Moines, Iowa, appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Celeste F. Bremer and entered guilty pleas to Mail Fraud and Embezzlement of Labor Union Assets.

Watson admitted from 2007 until September 2016, while employed as the Business Manager for Local 74 of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers (AFL-CIO), he sent fraudulent requests for payment of grant funds for training adults to the United Way of Central Iowa. These fraudulent requests were unauthorized and unknown to Local 74. In one such circumstance, Watson obtained a check in the mail from United Way for $19,000 that Watson converted for his personal use.

Watson also admitted to embezzling from Local 74 by making unauthorized purchases and cash advances on a Local 74 credit card and then concealing the fraud by submitting altered credit card statements and false monthly reports to Local 74. Watson additionally opened a bank account in the name of Local 74, without Local 74’s consent or knowledge. From December 2013 through January 2016, Watson deposited Local 74 funds into this account, but used the money for his own purposes.

Watson faces up to 20 years imprisonment for mail fraud and up to five years imprisonment for embezzlement from the union. The Court will determine the restitution amount at sentencing. Sentencing is presently scheduled for August 23, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. before United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey at the Des Moines Federal Courthouse.

This matter was investigated by the United States Department of Labor–Management Standards. 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 April 3, 2019, Salvatore Lawrence Bruno, age 68, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger for Possession of Child Pornography. Bruno was sentenced to 97 months in prison to be followed by a term of supervised release for ten years. Bruno was ordered to pay $500 to each victim seeking restitution.

In January 2018, Council Bluffs Police received a referral from the Iowa Department of Human Services involving a child stating she was shown child pornography by the defendant. A search warrant was obtained for Bruno’s residence. Officers located a computer hard drive and memory card that contained over 5,700 images of child pornography. Bruno pleaded guilty to this charge in November 2018.

This matter was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department, Iowa Department of Human Services, Project Harmony and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 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 April 3, 2019, Alexander Marcus Provencher, age 23, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger for Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. Provencher was sentenced to 60 months in prison, to be followed by a term of supervised release for three years.

On August 7, 2018, a motorist contacted 911 and advised Provencher had brandished a gun when the motorist tried to stop a domestic disturbance. Council Bluffs Police Officers arrived and made contact with Provencher and his girlfriend. Provencher initially denied having a firearm, but eventually admitted it was in his girlfriend’s purse. Provencher was prohibited from possessing firearms as he had prior felony convictions for robbery and theft in Pottawattamie County District Court.

This matter was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The 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 Department of Justice program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on April 2, 2019, David Dylan Wuerfele, II, age 43, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose for Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. Wuerfele was sentenced to 27 months in prison to be followed by a term of supervised release for three years.

In May and June 2018, Wuerfele sold marijuana, cocaine and a firearm to law enforcement, which caused the Council Bluffs Police Department to obtain a warrant to search Wuerfele’s residence. Officers located firearms, marijuana and assorted other drug paraphernalia in Wuerfele’s home.

This matter was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa – On April 4, 2019, Dana Andrew Eller, age 38, of Marshalltown, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime. Eller was sentenced to 270 months in prison to be followed by a five-year term of supervised release.

In April 2018, officers with the Mid Iowa Drug Task Force interdicted a package containing methamphetamine and marijuana intended for Eller’s Marshalltown residence. After officers delivered the package to Eller, a search warrant was executed at his residence. Inside Eller’s residence, officers discovered over 2.8 kilograms of methamphetamine, over 100 grams of marijuana, and three firearms. Two of the firearms were loaded with live rounds of ammunition and were in close proximity to drugs and drug-related materials.

This matter was investigated by the Mid Iowa Drug Task Force, Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, Tama County Sheriff’s Office, Marshalltown Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – On April 2, 2019, Valeria Ventura Ramirez, age 48, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced to 24 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to launder money, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Ventura Ramirez was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.

In 2016, Ventura Ramirez was the owner and operator of Novedades Ventura, Inc., a money service business located on Leavenworth Street in Omaha. Between July and November of 2016, Ventura Ramirez utilized multiple money transfer companies, including but not limited to, MoneyGram, Western Union, Sigue, InterCambio Express, CES and Intermex, to knowingly wire drug money from the United States to Mexico on behalf of drug traffickers operating in Council Bluffs and Omaha.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Council Bluffs Police Department, and the Omaha Police Department. 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 April 2, 2019, Carol S. Jennings, age 57, of Riverton, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose for bank fraud. Jennings was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay $77,247.47 in restitution. As part of her sentence, Jennings will serve six months of home confinement.

In November 2018, Jennings pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. According to plea documents, Jennings admitted that while employed as the clerk for the City of Riverton, she opened an account with a local bank by providing a falsified document. Jennings also admitted to depositing city funds into the account and then converting almost the entire balance for her own personal use.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office. 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 April 2, 2019, Clay Thomas Paulson, age 22, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose for Possession of a Firearm while Trafficking Drugs. Paulson was sentenced to 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.

On October 24, 2016, law enforcement responded to a report of a burglary at a home in Boone, Iowa, where 17 firearms had been stolen. Law enforcement were able to recover latent fingerprints from the burglary matching Paulson. On November 7, 2016, during an investigation into a drug trafficking conspiracy, law enforcement discovered some of the stolen firearms from the burglarized home in Boone. Further investigation led to the information that the firearms had been traded by Paulson for methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Boone Police Department, Boone County Sheriff’s Office and Crawford County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Mark Alan Blankespoor is accused of orchestrating multi-million dollar Ponzi-like scheme

DES MOINES, IA – On March 26, 2019, Mark Alan Blankespoor, of Pella, Iowa, was charged with twelve counts of mail fraud and twelve counts of wire fraud announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum.

According to the Indictment, Blankespoor was a health coach and consultant in Pella. He represented to others he was involved in developing medically-oriented gyms and licensed the program to fitness clinics across the United States. From at least May 2013 and continuing through at least January 2019, Blankespoor represented to investors they had an opportunity to make money by investing in the medically-oriented gym concept. At least 150 investors provided Blankespoor with approximately $15 million in investment funds. The indictment alleges Blankespoor used the investors’ money for unauthorized purposes that were not for the benefit of the affected investors. Blankespoor used the investor money, unbeknownst to them, for his personal expenses and paying other investors, for losses to victims of over $6.5 million.

Blankespoor has a trial date of June 3, 2019, before United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger at the Des Moines Federal Courthouse. Mail and wire fraud are punishable by a maximum prison term of twenty years and a maximum fine of $250,000.
The public is reminded that an indictment is only an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this matter. The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa—On March 29, 2019, Tyler Gene Harris, age 28, of Ames, appeared before United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger and was sentenced to 360 months in prison for charges of sexual exploitation of a child, distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. Judge Ebinger ordered 15 years of supervised release to follow his prison term. Harris pleaded guilty in November 2018 to six counts of sexual exploitation of a child, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2251(a); one count of distribution of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(2); and two counts of possession of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(5)(B).

According to plea documents, Harris admitted between December 2016 and April 2018, he knowingly persuaded, induced, enticed, or coerced victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct with the purpose of producing visual depictions of the victims engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Harris also admitted to distributing visual depictions of prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Harris was ordered to pay $900 to the Crime Victims’ Assistance Fund.

This investigation was conducted by the Ames Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and Boone Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Fifteen defendants are facing criminal charges as part of a joint federal and state investigation of the Des Moines-based C-Block criminal street gang and associated cocaine trafficking organization. Criminal complaints unsealed in the United States District Court in Des Moines charge fifteen defendants with federal drug and firearms offenses. Many of the federal defendants were arrested Wednesday and Thursday of this week, and preliminary and detention hearings will be held early next week. One other defendant, William Charles Gray, was charged in a state complaint and will make appearance in Polk County Criminal Court.

The charges were announced by Marc Krickbaum, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa; Randall Thysse, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Omaha Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; John P. Sarcone, Polk County Attorney; and Dana Wingert, Chief of Police of the Des Moines Police Department, following a long term investigation conducted by the FBI’s Central Iowa Gang Task Force, which included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Dallas County Sheriff’s Office; Polk County Sheriff’s Office; Story County Sheriff’s Office; and the Altoona Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Mikaela Shotwell and Adam Kerndt represent the government.

Fifteen federal defendants are charged across two complaint affidavits, stemming from a months-long investigation of the Des Moines-based C-Block criminal street gang. The primary complaint (Case Nos. 4:19-MJ-161 through 174) alleges that DAERON MERRETT, 31, of Des Moines; MARSHAUN MERRETT, 31, of Des Moines; and BARRY ADAIR, JR., 29, of Des Moines, constitute the leadership of C-Block, a criminal street gang based in Des Moines. The complaint describes C-Block’s involvement in the distribution of controlled substances, particularly the distribution of cocaine in the Des Moines area. In December 2018, law enforcement obtained court authorization to intercept telephone communications of JOHNNATHAN FRENCHER, 26, of Des Moines, who was receiving cocaine from DAERON MERRETT for redistribution in Des Moines. Law enforcement later received court authorization to intercept telephone communications of DAERON MERRETT himself, leading to further identification of his cocaine trafficking network. The primary complaint alleges, in late January 2019, DAERON MERRETT and MARCUS HUNT, 37, of Des Moines, began traveling to the Chicago, Illinois and Gary, Indiana areas to obtain cocaine for distribution in Des Moines. CORDNEY SMITH, 43, of Gary, Indiana, is alleged to have brokered at least four drug transactions for DAERON MERRETT and HUNT, who obtained over 500 grams of cocaine for distribution in Des Moines.

The complaint identifies additional customers and redistributors of cocaine who have been charged with drug conspiracy and distribution:

• FREDDIE FRENCHER, JR., 28, of Des Moines
• JOSE ANTONIO SANCHEZ, JR., 25, of Des Moines
• CONRAD FRED TAYLOR, JR., 32, of Des Moines
• JHAMEL DONTA BOOKER, 35, of Des Moines
• CORNELIUS NEAL POPE, 40, of Des Moines
• PETER E. COOPER, JR., 32, of Des Moines
• WALTER STEFON BURGS, 48, of Des Moines
• ANTOWAN LEON TAYLOR, 40, of Des Moines
• PAUL JOSEPH CASTELLINE, 33, of Des Moines

In addition to federal drug charges, several other defendants are charged with federal firearms offenses and crimes of violence. In United States. v. MARSHAUN JORDAN MERRETT (4:19-MJ-160), MARSHAUN MERRETT is charged with unlawfully possessing an extended magazine loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition during a traffic stop on December 26, 2018. Brothers JOHNNATHAN and FREDDIE FRENCHER are charged with attempted Hobbs Act robbery and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, stemming from an incident on December 13, 2018. The complaint describes intercepted communications between JOHNNATHAN and FREDDIE FRENCHER in which the two planned to commit an armed home invasion robbery of another drug trafficker in Des Moines, who possessed marijuana and marijuana wax in his residence in Des Moines. In an effort to prevent the planned robbery by force, the Des Moines Police Department conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle in which JOHNNATHAN and FREDDIE FRENCHER were passengers, en route to the suspected home invasion location. A subsequent search of that vehicle yielded loaded, Glock firearms under each of JOHNNATHAN and FREDDIE FRENCHER’s seats. JOHNNATHAN FRENCHER has also been charged with possessing a firearm as a felon, based on a prior felony drug conviction in the Iowa District Court for Polk County in May 2014.

The months-long investigation culminated in the execution of federal narcotics and firearms search warrants at the following locations on March 27, 2019:

• 1100 block of 14th Street, Des Moines
• 6600 block of SE 5th Street, Des Moines
• 3700 block of Valdez Drive, Des Moines
• 2000 block of 55th Street, Des Moines
• 600 block of 24th Street, Des Moines
• 6500 block of SW 9th Street, Des Moines
• 2400 block of E. Porter Avenue, Des Moines
• 2400 block of Capitol Avenue, Des Moines
• 1100 block of 9th Street, Des Moines
• 1500 block of 20th Place, Des Moines
• 1800 block of E. 25th Street, Des Moines
• 3000 block of 54th Street, Des Moines

The charges in the complaints carry maximum penalties of between ten years and life imprisonment. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

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.

DAVENPORT, IA – On March 21, 2019, Maurice Lavon Cowan, age 26, of Rock Island, Illinois, was sentenced by United States Chief District Court Judge John A. Jarvey to 70 months in prison on the charge of felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Cowan was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term, and pay $100 to the Crime Victim Compensation Fund. Cowan pleaded guilty on November 16, 2018.

On January 18, 2018, Davenport, Iowa, police officers attempted to make a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Cowan. Cowan fled from officers and crashed his vehicle. Cowan then ran from the vehicle, throwing a loaded Ruger nine-millimeter pistol into the snow. Cowan had previously been convicted of felony offenses in 2011 (aggravated robbery) and in 2017.

This matter was investigated by the Davenport, Iowa, Police Department and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office-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. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

DAVENPORT, IA – On March 21, 2019, Ricardo Macias Saucedo, age 29, formerly of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, was sentenced by United States Chief District Court Judge John A. Jarvey to prison in the amount of time already served on the charge of unlawful re-entry into the United States, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Due to the length of time that Macias Saucedo has already been incarcerated in this case, he will soon be released to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Macias Saucedo pleaded guilty on November 8, 2018.

On May 9, 2018, ICE agents encountered Macias Saucedo while executing a federal search warrant in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Macias Saucedo was administratively questioned by ICE agents, and it was determined that he was not authorized to enter, live, or work in the United States. Agents further determined that on January 23, 2008, immigration officials had previously removed Macias Saucedo from the United States. Subsequent to the 2008 removal, Macias Saucedo had not applied for, or received permission, to re-enter the United States.

This matter was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office-Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, IA—On March 19, 2019, Bryan Curtis Odem, age 35, of Newton, Iowa, appeared before Chief United States District Court Judge James A. Jarvey, and was sentenced to 84 months in prison for the charge of felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). Odem was also ordered to serve 3 years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.

Odem pled guilty to the charge in November of 2018.

On July 14, 2018, Odem possessed a Smith & Wesson 9 mm pistol and ammunition which he had obtained during an altercation. Odem struck an individual and left the scene with a firearm belonging to the victim. Twenty-four hours prior to the altercation, Odem had been released from the custody of the United States Bureau of Prisons where he had been serving time on his prior federal firearms conviction.

This matter was investigated by the Newton, Iowa, Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa – Between January and March 2019, nine defendants were sentenced to significant prison terms for sex trafficking and related offenses in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum.

On March 13, 2019, the last of seven co-defendants charged with sex trafficking was sentenced before United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey. On February 5, 2019, the lead defendant in that case, Darren O. Coleman, was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Coleman had previously pleaded guilty to sex trafficking an adult by force, fraud, or coercion. At his sentencing hearing, Coleman was found by the Court to have trafficked several adult women in Des Moines, Iowa and Atlanta, Georgia. Coleman’s co-defendant, Mark Phillip Carter II, pleaded guilty to sex trafficking a minor. At Carter’s January 16, 2019 sentencing, he was found to have trafficked additional young women. Carter was sentenced to 175 months in prison. Stephen Kalu Cobb, who was sentenced on March 13, 2019, pled guilty to sex trafficking an adult woman by force, fraud or coercion. Cobb was sentenced to 190 months in prison and ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution to his victim. Other defendants included: Julyen Xavier Singleton – sentenced to 21 months in prison; Ronzell Montez Williams – sentenced to 36 months in prison; Breeanna Lynae Brown – sentenced to 50 months in prison; and Sarina Ann Williams – sentenced to 135 months in prison.

All seven defendants were Des Moines residents, who trafficked their victims in Des Moines, Iowa. The defendants exploited their victims’ vulnerabilities in order to coerce them into engaging in commercial sex acts, from which the defendants financially benefitted. These vulnerabilities included the victims’ age, substance abuse issues, financial hardship, or court supervision. The defendants used physical violence, threats of violence, emotional manipulation, and other means to coerce their victims into engaging in commercial sex acts. During the sentencing of Carter, Chief Judge Jarvey cited the impact of sex trafficking on its victims. “This is exceedingly serious behavior. It was repeated, it was abusive, it was lucrative, it was degrading, it was depraved, and it damaged young women irrevocably.” At Coleman’s sentencing hearing, Chief Judge Jarvey further acknowledged the seriousness of sex trafficking. “I can’t think of a more serious offense that I’ve seen. It was serious because it involved astounding depravity. It was serious because it involved violence. It is serious because the level of manipulation necessary to do this was chilling . . . It was cold and calculated and you developed an organization to sell human beings. I think worst of all it is serious because you preyed on weakness and people who prey on the weak or the infirm produce some of the worst crimes.”

The seven-defendant case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department, Vice and Narcotics Control Section.

Two additional defendants guilty of sex trafficking were sentenced in January 2019. On January 10, 2019, Antoinne Lee Washington, age 34, was sentenced to 327 months in prison to be followed by ten years of supervised release for sex trafficking charges. United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose ordered Washington to pay restitution to the victims totaling $29,500. On August 1, 2018, Washington had been found guilty of one count of sex trafficking of an adult by force, fraud, or coercion, and one count of transportation for purposes of prostitution, following a three-day jury trial. At Washington’s sentencing hearing, Judge Rose remarked Washington’s “offense involves the defendant’s horrific systemic abuse and torture of [the victim] in order to force her to prostitute on his behalf for years. During the course of those crimes, he hogtied her, he repeatedly burned her, he savagely beat her, he slapped her, he raped her, and otherwise terrorized her.”

The Washington case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Urbandale Police Department.

On January 2, 2019, Bree Deontez Wright was sentenced to 151 months in prison for sex trafficking a minor. Chief Judge Jarvey ordered Wright to pay $20,000 in restitution to the victim of the offense. Wright had trafficked a teenage victim over the course of several months. At his sentencing hearing, Chief Judge Jarvey remarked, “It’s serious because the depravity of treating another human being like this is just enormous. It’s serious because it was manipulative. It’s serious because it was abusive, and it’s serious because you preyed on young women for money.”

The Wright case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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, threats 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.

These cases were prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Des Moines, Iowa – On March 13, 2019, Ryan Nicholas Haynes, age 28, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose for Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Haynes was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release.

On November 6, 2018, following a two-day trial, a jury found Ryan Nicholas Haynes, 28, guilty of one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

On July 29, 2017, Haynes was present on a party bus that was stopped for a traffic violation in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. Officers smelled marijuana coming from the bus, so they removed the passengers to investigate further. When Haynes was stepping off the bus, he removed marijuana from his pocket and handed it to one of the officers. A pat-down search of Haynes revealed a firearm in his pants. Before officers could recover the firearm, Haynes ran from them. After a short foot chase, officers apprehended Haynes near 16th Street and Grand Avenue. The firearm was recovered in a flowerbed outside a townhome in the 1600 block of Grand Avenue. This was right next to where Haynes had jumped a fence while running from officers. The firearm was loaded with 14 live rounds of ammunition. It was identified as a Glock, Model 22, .40 caliber handgun.

The case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department’s Summer Enforcement Team and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 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 March 14, 2019, John Tracy Miller, age 50, was sentenced by United States Senior District Court Judge James E. Gritzner for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Miller was sentenced to 78 months in prison, to be followed by a term of supervised release of four years.

In August 2018, Miller was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by a Fremont County Deputy for speeding and a broken headlight. In a search subsequent to the stop, 59.2 grams of methamphetamine was located in Miller’s pocket.

This case was investigated by Fremont County Sheriff’s Department, Omaha Police Department and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa – On March 13, 2019, Freddie Armando Butler, age 31 of Des Moines was sentenced to 24 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for making a false bomb threat to the Baker County, Oregon Sheriff, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Butler was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.

In March of 2016, Butler used a cell phone to leave an anonymous message for the Baker County, Oregon Sheriff. Butler stated a package that had been placed behind the Sheriff’s residence was going to explode. As part of his guilty plea, Butler admitted to leaving the message for the purpose of frightening, scaring or impeding law enforcement. In 2011, Butler was convicted of state charges involving similar conduct toward a school in Baker County.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baker County, Oregon Sheriff’s Office, and the West Des Moines Police Department. 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 March 7, 2019, Andrew Joseph Nielsen, age 30, was sentenced by United States Senior District Court Judge Robert W. Pratt for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime. Nielsen was sentenced to 180 months in prison to be followed by a term of supervised release for five years.

In April 2018, Nielsen was stopped by a Shelby County Deputy for speeding after trying to elude the deputy. In a search subsequent to the stop, methamphetamine and marijuana were found on Nielsen, along with baggies and scale in the vehicle. After further investigation, Shelby County Deputies and the fire department executed a controlled burn in the area of the stop and located a Phoenix Arms HP22 and a magazine with four rounds in it.

This case was investigated by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. 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 March 7, 2019, Alexander Sterling Potter Milledge, age 26, was sentenced by United States Senior District Court Judge Robert W. Pratt for Counterfeiting Federal Reserve Notes. Milledge was sentenced six months in prison, to be followed by a term of supervised release for two years.

In March 2018, Clarinda Police were called to Casey’s General Store regarding a patron that passed a counterfeit bill. Upon review of the surveillance tape, officers identified Alexander Milledge as the person who passed the counterfeit money. A search warrant was obtained for his residence and officers recovered numerous computers, printers, printer paper and approximately $35,000 in counterfeit Federal Reserve notes in different stages of manufacturing.

This case was investigated by Clarinda Police Department and the United States Secret Service. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Des Moines, IA—On March 8, 2019, Joseph Marchesini, age 35, of Des Moines, Iowa, appeared before United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger and was sentenced to 188 months imprisonment for distribution of child pornography, with eight years of supervised release to follow. Marchesini pleaded guilty in October 2018 to distribution of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(2).

As a part of his plea agreement, Marchesini admitted in July 2016 he distributed child pornography over the internet. The child pornography he distributed included visual depictions of children being sexually assaulted. Marchesini possessed images and videos of the sexual assault of prepubescent children as young as preschool. Marchesini was ordered to pay $3,000 to an identified victim depicted in the child pornography he possessed.

The investigation was conducted by the Des Moines Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and 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 - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on March 6, 2019, Randy Allen Gray, Jr., age 40, was sentenced by United States Senior District Court Judge Robert W. Pratt for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Gray was sentenced to ten years in prison, to be followed by a term of supervised release for ten years.

In December 2016, following a search of defendant’s vehicle, a pound of methamphetamine, a loaded .380 handgun under the driver’s seat and over $4,000 in cash was recovered.

This case was investigated by the Dunlap, Iowa Police Department, Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, Sac County Sheriff’s Department, Greene County Sheriff’s Department, Crawford County Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. 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 March 6, 2019, Larry Eugene Burns, age 30, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced by United States Senior District Court Judge Robert W. Pratt for Bank Robbery by Intimidation. Burns was sentenced to 30 months in prison to be followed by a term of supervised release of three years.

In September 2018, Burns donned a bandana and a pink shirt, walked into Centris Federal Credit Union, and demanded money from the teller. After robbing the Credit Union, Burns ditched the bandana and pink shirt, which were later recovered in a nearby garbage can. Officers located a shirtless Burns walking a few blocks from the bank, and he matched the description given by the witnesses. Burns later confessed to the robbery and identified himself on the bank video surveillance. One month prior to robbing the Centris Federal Credit Union, Burns was released from an Iowa prison after serving an eight-year sentence for bank robbery.

This case was investigated by Council Bluffs Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Defendants are accused of diverting drugs from nursing home residents

DES MOINES, Iowa – United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced that six nursing home employees have been indicted for controlled substance offenses committed in the course of their employment at nursing home facilities.

• Arminda Cruickshank, age 36, of Osceola, was charged with three counts of acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge and three counts of false statements related to health care matters. The indictment alleges Cruickshank fraudulently obtained Oxycodone pills from residents at Calvin Community and Valley View Village nursing homes in Des Moines and diverted them for her own use. Cruickshank has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

• Katie Christine Howard, age 31, of Des Moines, was charged with two counts of acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge and two counts of false statements related to health care matters. The indictment alleges Howard fraudulently obtained Oxycodone and Hydrocodone pills from residents at University Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Des Moines and diverted them for her own use. Howard pleaded guilty to two offenses on February 11, 2019, and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 18, 2019, by United States Senior District Court Judge James E. Gritzner.

• Samantha Anne Mills, age 29, of Des Moines, was charged with three counts of acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge. The indictment alleges Mills removed Fentanyl patches from nursing home residents and diverted the medication for her own use. Mills pleaded not guilty to the charges.

• Alicia Danielle Swenson, age 32, of Des Moines, was charged with three counts of acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge and three counts of false statements related to health care matters. The indictment alleges Swenson fraudulently obtained Hydrocodone pills from residents at Carlisle Center for Wellness and Rehabilitation and diverted them for her own use. Swenson pleaded not guilty to the charges.

• Barbara Jean Tindall, age 47, formerly of Keosauqua, was charged with two counts of acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge and three counts of false statements relating to health care matters. The indictment alleges Tindall fraudulently obtained Oxycodone and Hydrocodone pills from residents at the Keosauqua Health Care Center and Savannah Heights in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and diverted them for her own use. Tindall pleaded not guilty to the charges.

• Christine Renee Weilbrenner, age 30, of Ankeny, was charged with one count of acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge and one count of possession of a controlled substance. The indictment alleges Weilbrenner fraudulently obtained Tramadol pills from residents of The Bridges at Ankeny and diverted them for her own use. Weilbrenner pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The public is reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty.

The possible penalties for acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge is up to four years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. The potential penalties for false statements relating to health care matters is up to five years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.

These matters were investigated by the Iowa Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. These cases are being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the Department of Justice’s Elder Abuse Initiative.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced that on February 27, 2019, Devon Miller, age 28, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substances namely, Oxycodone, Adderall, and Hydrocodone, while in possession of a firearm. Miller was sentenced to a total term of imprisonment of 66 months to be followed by a term of supervised release of three years.

On July 14, 2017, a Mills County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a car driven by Miller. Miller did not have a driver’s license and provided a false name. Subsequent to her arrest, a search of the car located over 100 different pills, all of which were controlled substances. Located with the pills was a loaded .45 caliber handgun. An Investigation by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement found Miller was selling the pills in Southwest Iowa.

This case was investigated by the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.