A man who received child pornography was sentenced on Thursday, February 11, 2021, to more than 8 years in federal prison. The U-S Attorney’s Office for the northern District of Iowa, reports 38-year old Brandon Embrey, from Coon Rapids, received the prison term after a September 20, 2020, guilty plea to receiving child pornography

At the plea hearing, Embrey admitted that from September 2018 through April 2019, he received and possessed over 600 images of child pornography.  Embrey utilized the Internet, Google Drive and Google Photos to receive and possess visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including depictions involving prepubescent minors or minors whom had not attained 12 years of age.  Over 600 images of child pornography were found in Embrey’s online accounts.  Embrey also admitted to being a user of methamphetamine.

Embrey was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Embrey was sentenced to 97 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Embrey is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.  For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mikala Steenholdt and was investigated by the Iowa ICAC Task Force, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Coon Rapids Police Department.

ORANGE CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa-based Pizza Ranch, known for its buffet of pizza, chicken and other offerings, expanded last year, even as the coronavirus pandemic hit the restaurant industry harder than most. Pizza Ranch, based in Orange City, has over 200 locations in 14 states. Chief Administrative Officer Ryan Achterhoff tells the Sioux City Journal that the chain added five new locations last year and has six or seven more openings slated for this year.

Even with the expansion, Achterhoff acknowledged that the past year has been challenging for Pizza Ranch, noting the chain weathered it by becoming more reliant on carryout and deliveries in 2020.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque man who was granted a new trial by the Iowa Supreme Court last year is seeking a change of venue. The Telegraph Herald reports that 28-year-old Fontae Buelow filed Thursday for the change of venue from Dubuque County, saying media coverage of the case has made it impossible for him to get a fair trial there. Authorities say Buelow fatally stabbed his girlfriend, 21-year-old Samantha Link of Peosta, on March 31, 2017, while Buelow has maintained that Link stabbed herself twice in the chest.

Buelow was convicted of second-degree murder in 2018, but in December, the state Supreme Court ordered a new trial, saying information about Link’s prior suicide attempt and mental health records should have been allowed.

The Iowa State Patrol posted on social media, Monday, that it’s been a rough winter for the State Patrol, Dept. of Motor Vehicle Enforcement (DMVE) and DOT snowplows. “Luckily,” officials said, “there have been no serious injuries to our folks, but between Iowa DOT and Iowa State Patrol, 63 of our vehicles have been hit on Iowa roads.” Authorities ask motorists to “PLEASE slow down and watch for us ahead.”

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa lawmakers are reviewing their options after U.S. Census officials confirm the population data for redrawing congressional and legislative districts won’t be delivered until this fall. Every ten years, the contours of congressional and legislative districts are redrawn to account for population changes. Iowa’s Constitution requires the legislature to approve new maps by September 1st. U.S. Census Bureau officials say the data on which those maps are based won’t be delivered until September 30th.

Senate Republican Leader Jack Whitver says the realities of the pandemic, the Iowa Constitution and the U.S. Constitution are creating a unique set of challenges and the Senate is evaluating its options on how best to proceed. Republican House Speaker Pat Grassley says lawmakers are working with the Legislative Services Agency to determine what options are available and how to best to maintain the integrity of our highly-praised redistricting process in Iowa.

Des Moines, Iowa -The Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau reports a Marshalltown woman recently pled guilty to one count of Theft in the 3rd Degree (Aggravated  Misdemeanor). Authorities say 60-year old Deborah Specht was originally charged with one count of Fraudulent Submissions (Class D Felony) and one count of Theft 1st Degree (Class C Felony) following an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau.

Deborah Specht

Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen said “Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime.  We all pay for insurance fraud in the form of higher insurance costs. I appreciate the hard work of our Fraud Bureau and all who participated in the prosecution of this case so Ms. Specht was held accountable for her actions.”

On July 19, 2018, Marshalltown, Iowa experienced severe weather. The investigation found that after the severe weather event Specht fabricated damages to her property and submitted false information regarding the cause of the damage in support of an insurance claim. As a result, Specht received insurance benefits to which she was not entitled. On February 9, 2021, Specht received a deferred judgement after pleading guilty to Theft in the 3rd Degree.  Specht was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $23,375.82 to her insurer. Specht also received a civil penalty of $625.00 which was suspended and was placed on probation for a period of one year.

Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-654-6556.