Score:   1
Docket Number:   ND-IA  6:18-cr-02019
Case Name:   USA v. McGhee
  Press Releases:
A total of 28 individuals were sentenced in Federal Court in the Northern District of Iowa between December 27, 2018 and January 25, 2019.  The offenses of conviction varied, with the vast majority being drug and gun offenses.

Jose Hedaldo Padilla-Ferrera was sentenced to 93 days’ imprisonment to be followed by 1 year of supervised release on one count of illegal reentry.  The sentence was imposed on December 27, 2018, in case file number 18-CR-02054.

 

Chris Bruce was sentenced to 230 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 8 years of supervised release on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  The sentence was imposed on January 3, 2019, in case file number 18-CR-03028.

 

Alston Ray Campbell, Jr. was sentenced to 262 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release on one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base (crack) and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.  The sentence was imposed on January 3, 2019, in case file number 17-CR-02045.  Campbell Jr. was convicted following a jury trial in April 2018, along with his brother, William Campbell, and father, Alston Ray Campbell, Sr. for offenses relating to their participation in a drug trafficking organization in Waterloo.  His father and brother will be sentenced at a later date. 

 

Erick Corona Cardenas was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 10 years of supervised release on one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.  The sentence was imposed on January 3, 2019, in case file number 18-CR-04016.

 



Keylynn Landon Goldsmith was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 1 year of supervised release on two counts of use of communication facility.  The sentence was imposed on January 3, 2019, in case file number 17-CR-02051.

Eric John Steve was sentenced to 7 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 1 year of supervised release on one count of possession of a controlled substance (third offense).  The sentence was imposed on January 4, 2019, in case file number 18-CR-01031.  The case arose from Steve’s possession of heroin. 

 

Antonio Scott McGhee was sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release on one count of possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance.  The sentence was imposed on January 4, 2019, in case file number 18-CR-02019.

 

Sanela Dedic was sentenced to 3 years’ probation on one count of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud.  Selmir Salkanovic was sentenced to 93 days’ imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release on one count of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud.  The sentences were imposed on January 4, 2019, in case file number 18-CR-02057.  Salkanovic, a citizen of Bosnia, overstayed his visitor visa.  Dedic, Salkanovic’s sister and a naturalized citizen of the United States, found a United States citizen, a young woman, from Waterloo, Iowa, to marry Salkanovic in an attempt to defeat United States immigration laws.  Salkanovic and Dedic promised to pay the young woman $5,000 to marry Salkanovic.  Salkanovic married the young woman one week before the departure deadline.

 

Francisco Javier Ransaure-Jacome was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 1 year of supervised release on one count of illegal reentry.  The sentence was imposed on January 8, 2019, in case file number 18-CR-04061.  Ransaure-Jacome had previously been convicted in Clay County, Iowa, of attempted burglary, assault with a dangerous weapon (a knife), and assaulting a fellow inmate at the Clay County jail.

 

Adrian Harlan, Jr. was sentenced to 3 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 1 year of supervised release on one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a drug user.  The sentence was imposed on January 10, 2019, in case file number 18-CR-04027.

 

Duaine Harbert was sentenced to 113 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release on one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distributing heroin.  The sentence was imposed on January 10, 2019, in case file number 18-CR-04008.

 

Boulder Young was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release on one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The sentence was imposed on January 14, 2019, in case file number 17-CR-04030.

 

Traeton Wilharm was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release on one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.  The sentence was imposed on January 15, 2019, in case file number 18-CR-02027.

 

Henry Lee Booth was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release on one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.  The sentence was imposed on January 16, 2019, in case file number 18-CR-04030.

 

William James Wesley was sentenced to 41 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release on one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.  The sentence was imposed on January 17, 2019, in case file number 18-CR-01011.  The sentencing judge enhanced Wesley’s sentence for threatening a grand jury witness in an unrelated case.

 

Victor Wicher was sentenced to 71 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release on one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.  The sentence was imposed on January 17, 2019, in case file number 18-CR-00057.  At the time he possessed the firearm, Wicher was a felon with three prior domestic assault convictions and a history of other violent offenses.  His offense was based on an incident where he threatened to kill himself during an argument with his then-girlfriend while holding a gun to his head.  Wicher later entered into the then-girlfriend’s residence, choked her and threatened her and a family member in an attempt to prevent her from cooperating against him.  Wicher was convicted of a fourth domestic assault offense based on the incident involving him entering the then-girlfriend’s residence and threatening and choking her.

 

Jesse Andrew Hall was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release on one count of possession of a firearm by a drug user.  The sentence was imposed on January 17, 2019, in case file number 18-CR-02021.

 

Gerald Francis Straka was sentenced to 8 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release on one count of possession of a firearm by a drug user.  The sentence was imposed on January 18, 2019, in case file number 19-CR-01020.

 

Derrick Ford was sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release on one count of interference and attempted interference with commerce by threats and violence and aiding and abetting such violation.  The sentence was imposed on January 18, 2019, in case file number 18-CR-00015.  Ford served as the driver for Gage Rupp and Cedric Wright who robbed a Cedar Rapids Sprint Store of more than $40,000 in electronic devices and cash.  Rupp and Wright have also been convicted for their involvement in the robbery and for carrying a gun found in the robbery getaway car.  Wright was also convicted at trial in November 2018 of carjacking the robbery getaway car at gunpoint from a Kirkwood college student the night before the Sprint Store robbery.  Rupp and Wright will be sentenced at a later date. 

Juan Sanchez-Velasco was sentenced to 136 days’ imprisonment to be followed by 1 year of supervised release on one count of illegal re-entry.  The sentence was imposed on January 18, 2019, in case file number 18-CR-00088.

 

Cornelius Herbert Terrell Wright was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release on one count of distribution of heroin.  The sentence was imposed on January 23, 2019, in case file number 18-CR-00061.  The case arose from Wright’s distribution of heroin that was laced with synthetic fentanyl.

 

Christopher Smith was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release on one count of possession of firearms by a felon.  The sentence was imposed on January 23, 2019, in case file number 18-CR-03015.

 

Dominique Dwight Williams was sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release on one count of possession of a firearm by a drug user.  The sentence was imposed on January 24, 2019, in case file number 18-CR-00046.  At the time of his arrest, Williams needed to be subdued with a taser after he initially failed to respond to police directives.

 

Dion Clayborn was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 6 years of supervised release on one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance near a protected location.  The sentence was imposed on January 25, 2019, in case file number 18-CR-00051.

 

Brianna Marie Martin was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 6 years of supervised release on one count of distribution of heroin.  The sentence was imposed on January 25, 2019, in case file number 18-CR-01021.  Martin distributed methadone to a person who died after using the drug.

 

Dakota Lee Sanders was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release on one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.  The sentence was imposed on January 25, 2019, in case file number 17-CR-03060.

 

Samuel Arias was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 2 years of supervised release on one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.  The sentence was imposed on January 25, 2019, in case file number 17-CR-02084.  Arias’ money laundering conviction resulted from his opening a bank account which was used to launder approximately $280,000 in drug proceeds. 

 

There is no parole in the federal system.

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

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Law enforcement agencies across the state continue to make Iowa safer by addressing the problem of gun crime and violence.  United States Attorney Peter E. Deegan, Jr. announced charges and arrests in thirty-one recent federal gun cases at a press conference held at the United States Attorney’s Office.  Deegan was joined by Donald Dockendorf, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Thomas Reinwart, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Chief Dan Trelka, Waterloo Police Department, Deputy Chief Thomas Jonker, Cedar Rapids Police Department, Sergeant James Trainor, Iowa State Patrol, Investigator Nicholas Schlosser, Dubuque Police Department, and Captain Greg McGivern, Linn County Sheriff’s Office.

“Historically, gun violence rises during the spring and summer months,” Deegan stated.  “All too often, an unlawfully-possessed gun can lead to an act of gun violence.  The Department of Justice and this office is committed to working with all of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to help keep our communities safe by taking unlawfully-possessed guns – and those who possess them – off the street.”

In recent weeks, the work of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies has resulted in the following matters in federal court in Cedar Rapids:

Harold Amos, age 39, of Tama County, Iowa; Brady Morgan, age 24, of Raymond, Iowa; Jesse Andrew Hall, age 20, of Cedar Falls, Iowa; Sejuan Marquise Walker, age 22, of Coralville, Iowa; Eric Allen Boyer, age 35, Alan Cherry, age 39, Willie B. Hodges II, age 57, Shane Lee LaGrange, age 35, Riley Michael Neff-Gonzales, age 19, Cleveland Dwayne Cole Smith, age 31, Alfred Washington, age 39, Victor Charles Wicher, age 37, Dominique Dwight Williams, age 29, all of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Ian Michael Bonnette, age 38, Jevonne Martell Coleman, age 32, Michael Joseph Dennison, age 41, Montecarlos Marteze Gant, age 35, Javontae Ernie Grisson, age 22, Patrick Andrew Lugrain, age 21, Kenneth Lamont Sanders, age 38, Marliesha Scott, age 38, Gerald Francis Straka, age 60, Davion Lashaun Trawick, age 18, William James Wesley, age 24, all of Dubuque, Iowa; Laika Burt, age 41, Scott Francis Gilson, age 38, Antonio Scott McGhee, age 27, Denzale Devon Babuta Ratliff, age 24, Antonio Rodriguez Ross, age 23, John Joseph Sanford, Jr., age 42, Mario Ronrico Smith, age 18, all of Waterloo, Iowa; have all been charged with various violations of federal law including being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.  The charges are contained in complaints and indictments filed recently in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.

The complaint filed against Walker alleges that, on January 29, 2018, Walker was involved with stealing items, including a wallet and a Smith and Wesson 9mm semiautomatic handgun, from a vehicle in Alburnett, Iowa.  Later that day, Walker used a credit card from the wallet at the Wal-Mart in Anamosa.  In February, Walker was arrested outside an apartment complex in Coralville and the Smith and Wesson 9mm semiautomatic handgun was later recovered from a clothes dryer in the common area of the apartment building.  The case file is 18-MJ-171.

The complaint filed against Boyer alleges that, on April 5, 2017, the Cedar Rapids Police Department executed a search warrant at Boyer’s home.  Officers located Boyer hiding in a closet in a bedroom.  In that same bedroom, officers seized a Glock .40 caliber pistol, a Ruger Super Redhawk .45 caliber revolver, and approximately 50 grams of suspected methamphetamine.  The case file is 18-MJ-165.

The complaint filed against Washington alleges that, on November 1, 2017, officers with the Coralville Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Washington.  Washington refused to stop, eventually escaping from police.  Later that evening, officers with the Cedar Rapids Police Department observed Washington’s vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop.  Washington fled from officers, at times reaching speeds of approximately 85 miles per hour in a 35 mile-per-hour zone.  Washington eventually crashed the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot.  Officers eventually placed Washington in custody and located a Smith and Wesson SD40VE .40 caliber pistol approximately ten yards from where Washington was taken into custody.  Washington had previously been convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence.  The case file is 18-MJ-166.

The complaint filed against LaGrange alleges that, on December 29, 2017, the officers with the Cedar Rapids Police Department stopped LaGrange for driving with a suspended license.  During a search of LaGrange’s vehicle, police located a loaded Hi-Point 9mm pistol which had previously been reported stolen.  Police also located methamphetamine in LaGrange’s coat pocket.  LaGrange had previously been convicted of at least five felony offenses including perjury, burglary, and felony drug crimes.  The case file is 18-MJ-162.

The complaints and indictments filed against Amos, Burt, Cherry, Coleman, Gant, Hodges, Morgan, Ratliff, Sanders, Sanford, Smith, and Wicher allege that these defendants were in possession of a firearm after sustaining at least one conviction for a felony offense.    

The complaints and indictments filed against Dennison, Gilson, Grisson, Hall, McGhee, Neff-Gonzales, Lugrain, Ross, Scott, Smith, Straka, Trawick, and Williams, allege that these defendants were in possession of a firearm while being an unlawful user of a controlled substance.  Dennison is also charged with possessing a sawed-off shotgun not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.  Lugrain is also charged with making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.  Neff-Gonzales is also charged with possessing a stolen firearm.

The indictment filed against Bonnette alleges that he possessed a Mossberg 500A 12-gauge shotgun after previously being committed to a mental institution.  The indictment filed against Wesley alleges that he possessed a Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver while subject to a court order of protection and while under indictment for a felony offense.   

If convicted on these charges, all defendants face at least a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, $100 in special assessments, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.­

Defendants Scott Francis Gilson, Riley Neff-Gonzales, Antonio Rodriguez Ross, Kenneth Lamont Sanders, Cleveland Swayne Cole Smith, and Davion Lashaun Trawick remain fugitives.  Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of is asked to contact Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers at 319-232-5583, or 855-300-8477 or Linn County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-CS-CRIME (272-7463).

­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), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.   In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

The cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force (composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshal Service, and the Cedar Rapids Police Department), the Waterloo Federal Task Force (composed of the Waterloo Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department), the Dubuque Police Department, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa State Patrol. 

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Docket (0 Docs):   https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SHZ758OjVWrw5GZBCNbknSP9OTF0TTUyuRwyOu028zk
  Last Updated: 2023-10-15 10:00:15 UTC
Description: The fiscal year of the data file obtained from the AOUSC
Format: YYYY

Description: The code of the federal judicial circuit where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: The code of the federal judicial district where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: The code of the district office where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: Docket number assigned by the district to the case
Format: A7

Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which cannot be modified by the court
Format: A3

Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which can be modified by the court
Format: A3

Description: A sequential number indicating whether a case is an original proceeding or a reopen
Format: N5

Description: Case type associated with the current defendant record
Format: A2

Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, defendant number, and reopen sequence number
Format: A18

Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, and reopen sequence number
Format: A15

Description: The status of the defendant as assigned by the AOUSC
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the fugitive status of a defendant
Format: A1

Description: The date upon which a defendant became a fugitive
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which a fugitive defendant was taken into custody
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date when a case was first docketed in the district court
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which proceedings in a case commenced on charges pending in the district court where the defendant appeared, or the date of the defendant’s felony-waiver of indictment
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: A code used to identify the nature of the proceeding
Format: N2

Description: The date when a defendant first appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: A code indicating the event by which a defendant appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the type of legal counsel assigned to a defendant
Format: N2

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE1
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE1
Format: A3

Description: The FIPS code used to indicate the county or parish where an offense was committed
Format: A5

Description: The date of the last action taken on the record
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which judicial proceedings before the court concluded
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which the final sentence is recorded on the docket
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which the case was closed
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The total fine imposed at sentencing for all offenses of which the defendant was convicted and a fine was imposed
Format: N8

Description: A count of defendants filed including inter-district transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants filed excluding inter-district transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of original proceedings commenced
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants filed whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated including interdistrict transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated excluding interdistrict transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of original proceedings terminated
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period including long term fugitives
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period excluding long term fugitives
Format: N1

Description: The source from which the data were loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: A10

Description: A sequential number indicating the iteration of the defendant record
Format: N2

Description: The date the record was loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: Statistical year ID label on data file obtained from the AOUSC which represents termination year
Format: YYYY

Data imported from FJC Integrated Database
F U C K I N G P E D O S R E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E