Law enforcement throughout Northwest Iowa, and the United States Attorney’s Office are helping to make Iowa safer by addressing the problems of gun crime and violence.  Assistant United States Attorney Timothy T. Duax announced charges in twenty-six recent federal gun-related cases at a press conference held today at the United States Attorney’s Office.  Duax was joined by Sioux City Police Chief Rex Mueller, who stated:

“We in municipal law enforcement realize the danger that violent offenders can pose to our citizens. Identifying criminals within a community who display increasingly violent tendencies and who use firearms to support their crimes, is a priority for the Sioux City Police Department. Our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s office is key to the successful detection and prosecution of these major offenders. I am very proud of how this partnership has impacted local community safety by incarcerating these dangerous individuals.”

“There are federal laws that prohibit certain people from possessing firearms and ammunition, and public safety demands those laws be vigorously enforced,” said U.S. Attorney Peter Deegan. I want to thank all of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners for working with the United States Attorney’s Office to bring these cases to federal court. Together we are making our local communities safer for everyone.”

Individuals involved in violent crimes, and individuals involved in the illegal theft, possession or use of guns are the focus of the anti-violent crime initiative. One such individual, Matthew Lynam, a convicted felon who used a firearm to rob two men, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison today. In addition, over the past three months, the work of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies has resulted in the following individuals being charged with gun-related crimes.

Oscar Garcia; Andrew Nissen; Jessica Rose Ott; Tanner Earl Lowe; Marcus Swan; Kenneth Petersen; Lucas Osborne; Cole Allen Rongved; Logan Bergenske; Moses Strickland; Anthony Holeyfield; Antwon Holeyfield; Isaac McDonald; Matthew Derrick Guthrie; Traci Lynn Guthrie; Robinson Nguyen; Aaron Michael Hermen; Michael Marshall-Limoges; Hector Andrade; Matthew Lee Fowler; Charles Gail Westfall Jr.; Donald Eugene Rundall III; Jami Lynn Stupka; and Leah Hanson have all been charged with various violations of federal firearms law.  The charges are contained in indictments filed recently in United States District Court in Sioux City.

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

The cases were brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

The cases were investigated by the following law enforcement agencies: Sioux City Police Department; Fort Dodge Police Department; Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement; North Central Iowa Drug Task Force; Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office; and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.

A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessed a gun pled guilty June 3, 2019, in federal court in Sioux City.

Robinson Nguyen, 38, from Selma, California, was convicted of one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine; one count of possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and one count of illegally possessing a firearm.  Nguyen was previously convicted of at least four felony offenses in California, ranging from thefts to possession of a controlled substance to possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.

At the plea hearing, Nguyen admitted that from about September 2017 through July 2018, he was involved in a conspiracy that distributed over a pound of methamphetamine.  Evidence at the hearing showed that Nguyen arranged for co-conspirator Jocelyn Mendoza to travel by bus from Fresno, California to Sioux City, Iowa with approximately ¼ pound of methamphetamine hidden inside a neck rest.  Nguyen and others in the conspiracy intended to distribute this methamphetamine.  Law enforcement later seized a 9mm pistol from a search of the house where Nguyen resided.  Nguyen admitted he possessed the gun for protection from robbery.    

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

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.   

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

The case file number is 18-4089.  Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.

A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced October 18, 2019, in federal court in Sioux City.

Robinson Nguyen, 38, from Selma, California, pled guilty on June 3, 2019, to one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine; one count of possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and one count of illegally possessing a firearm.  Nguyen was previously convicted of at least four felony offenses in California, ranging from thefts to possession of a controlled substance to possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.

At the plea hearing, Nguyen admitted that from about September 2017 through July 2018, he was involved in a conspiracy that distributed at least 500 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine.  Evidence showed that Nguyen transported ½ to ¾ pounds of methamphetamine a number of times from California to Colorado then Sioux City, Iowa for distribution and later had his girlfriend transport ¼ pound of methamphetamine by bus.  Nguyen and others in the conspiracy intended to distribute this methamphetamine to another person.  Law enforcement later seized a 9mm pistol from a search of the house were Nguyen resided.  Nguyen admitted he possessed the firearm for protection.    

Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Nguyen remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.  Nguyen was sentenced to 210 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a four year term of supervised release following any imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal system.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.   

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

The case file number is 18-4089.  Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.