Dubuque Predator Gets 15 Years for Exploiting Teen

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – A 60-year-old Dubuque man is headed to federal prison after admitting to a sickening scheme to exploit a teenage girl. Mark Curtis, Sr., was sentenced today to 15 years – 180 months – for preying on a vulnerable minor and receiving illicit images.

Curtis, Sr. pleaded guilty in March 2020 to one count of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of receipt of child pornography. The investigation revealed a disturbing pattern of manipulation stretching from August to October 2018. Curtis systematically persuaded a 15-year-old girl, residing outside of Iowa, to send him nude photos and videos via Facebook. The images weren’t just suggestive; some depicted the girl engaging in sexually explicit acts at Curtis’s request – a clear abuse of trust and power.

The details revealed in court are particularly chilling. During their online exchanges, the girl casually mentioned studying for her learner’s permit. Curtis’s response? A callous wish that she were older. Investigators uncovered approximately 44 files containing the disturbing exchange of images between Curtis and the victim, a digital trail of his predatory behavior. He knowingly targeted a minor, turning a vulnerable adolescent into a source of his twisted gratification.

United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams handed down the sentence in Cedar Rapids, also ordering Curtis to pay a $200 special assessment fee. But the prison term isn’t the end of it. Following his release, Curtis will be subject to a five-year term of supervised release. Crucially, there is no parole in the federal system – he will serve the full 15 years. This isn’t about rehabilitation; it’s about incapacitation and sending a message that such behavior will not be tolerated.

Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery prosecuted the case, with the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office providing vital investigative support. This prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative dedicated to combating the escalating epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project pools federal, state, and local resources to bring predators to justice and rescue victims.

Project Safe Childhood, launched in 2006, continues to be a critical force in the fight against these heinous crimes. Resources and information about internet safety can be found at www.usdoj.gov/psc. Court file information regarding this case (19-CR-1047) is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. Follow the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa on Twitter: @USAO_NDIA.