COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Dustin Michael Adkins, age 39 of Council Bluffs, was sentenced on September 20, 2022 to 132 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

On September 17, 2021, law enforcement stopped Adkins for a traffic violation in Council Bluffs. Adkins initially eluded officers and a bag containing methamphetamine was thrown from the vehicle. Adkins was arrested and the methamphetamine was recovered. Adkins possessed a total of 90.43 grams of methamphetamine.

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

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Stormy Shaye Cole Trucke, age 29 of Harlan, was sentenced on September 7, 2022, to 42 months in prison following his plea to a charge of Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm.

In June 2021, officers responded to a domestic disturbance call at Trucke’s residence and observed drug paraphernalia. Officers obtained a search warrant and located a loaded firearm, assorted ammunition, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. Trucke is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction and as a drug user.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Harlan Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Jason Lauran Kinman, age 40 of Council Bluffs, was sentenced on September 20, 2022, to 25 years in prison following his plea to charges of Distribution and Production of Child Pornography and Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Kinman must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

In July 2021, a concerned family member made a police report after finding Kinman in a car with a 13-year-old girl in the backseat with him. Officers obtained Kinman’s social media history and found that Kinman was communicating with several minor females in an inappropriate sexual manner, including requesting naked photos or videos from them, and sending sexual photos and videos of himself and other minor females. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Kinman’s residence in Council Bluffs and seized electronic evidence. A forensic examination identified numerous images of child pornography.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Internet Crimes Against Children, and Council Bluffs Police Department investigated the case.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Kevin Charles Kersten, age 53 of Harlan, was sentenced on September 7, 2022, to seven years in prison following his plea to a charge of Receipt of Child Pornography. Kersten must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

In February 2021, the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force received several cybertips that an IP address uploaded child pornography files. A search warrant was executed at Kersten’s residence, which was linked to the IP address. Electronic devices found at Kersten’s residence were seized and forensically analyzed. While conducting this investigation, officers obtained another cybertip that the IP address linked to Kersten had again uploaded child pornography. A second search warrant was executed at his residence and additional electronic evidence was seized. The forensic examination located images and videos of child pornography on Kersten’s electronic devices.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Harlan Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force investigated the case.

ATLANTIC, IOWA — The Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) is happy to welcome Mindy Jensen to our staff in the role of Communications Coordinator. Mindy will oversee community outreach, public engagement, and media communications for SWIPCO and SWITA. She will work to increase awareness of public transit services in order to better connect the people of the Southwest Iowa region to employment, school, and wherever they need to go.

“I have lived in Southwest Iowa the majority of my life and I am passionate about being part of an organization that helps people here every day,” said Jensen. “This position offers me an opportunity to make a difference by getting the word out about the countless ways this organization makes our region a better place to live.”

Jensen is a graduate of Atlantic High School and has a bachelor’s degree in Intercultural Communications from Dana College. She has many years of experience working with the public and setting up services for community members through her role as a community-based case manager. She is also an accomplished photographer.

“Mindy is a great addition to our team. Also, she has over 15 years of experience connecting our disabled friends and neighbors to community services as a case manager. Couple that with her training and experience as an effective communicator and I have great confidence that she’ll do a wonderful job better connecting us to our members and clients,” SWIPCO Executive Director John McCurdy said.

Two companies were sentenced to probation for one year and ordered to pay millions in restitution in a federal fraud case.

A judge ordered Energae of Clear Lake and I-Lenders to each pay more than one million dollars restitution and to forfeit more than two-point-four million dollars. The sentencing is related to a scheme by Darrel Smith of Forest City and his brother David Smith, of Pocatello, Idaho. Court information shows Darrell Smith used money from his investment clients to pay expenses related to the operation of a now-defunct ethanol plant in Hopkinton.

Darrell Smith was sentenced in 2018 to more than 14 years in federal prison for his conviction of one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. David Smith, of Pocatello, Idaho, was sentenced to two months in federal prison in 2019 after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to obstruct, influence, and impede an official proceeding.

The Iowa D-O-T has canceled its fall in-person equipment and vehicle auction. Spokesman David Bollenbaugh (Boll-en-bah) says they just don’t have enough vehicles available.

He says they continue maintaining the trucks they have until they can get a replacement. Bollenbaugh says when they do get new trucks — it’s not very many.

He says the amount of time they normal keep trucks can vary — with the larger ones usually around for ten years before they are rotated out. Bollengaugh says they will continue selling the vehicles they are rotating out online. He says they will have several smaller trucks, a passenger van and some larger trucks for sale online — and the mileage will be more than what you would normally see in a sale.

Bollenbaugh says they hope to have another in-person auction in the spring where they will have inventory from the D-O-T and others.

He says they will keep trying to sell the items online until then.

Bollenbaugh says they have been doing some remodeling and will also have some office furniture available online. You can go to GovDeals.com to see the items the Iowa D-O-T has for sale.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest Tuesday morning of 52-year-old Chadwick Zucco of Red Oak. Zucco was arrested at 9:37 a.m. at 600 N Highland Avenue for Possession of 25.21 grams of Marijuana, 3rd Offense. He was booked in to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $5,000 bond.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest on Sunday, September 25th at 6:15 p.m. of 30-year-old Jamie Gene Neville of Red Oak. Neville was arrested for Driving Under Suspension in the 700 block of 7th Street in Red Oak. He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $491.25 bond.