GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE — An Iowa-based gang has been hit with serious charges for their alleged role in obstructing a federal investigation aimed at capturing notorious fugitive Jamal Dean. According to the Department of Justice, Levon Varne Dean, Sr., age 55, Evette Morris-Hernandez, age 34, Kimberly Smith, age 50, and Steffan Dean, age 53, all from Sioux City; Ingmar Hernandez, age 26, Monica Rocha-Contreras, age 21, both from South Sioux City, Nebraska; Anna Baker, age 24, of Winnebago, Nebraska; and Esteban Hernandez, age 36, of Mercedes, Texas, have been indicted on one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.
The charges stem from their alleged activities between April 29, 2013, and September 1, 2013. The accused are said to have conspired with the intent to interfere with and obstruct legitimate governmental activities of the U.S. Department of Justice, including efforts by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the United States Marshals Service.
The indictment also lists additional charges, such as False Statements, Concealing Evidence, Accessory After the Fact, and Misprision of a Felony. If convicted, each defendant faces up to five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, $100 in special assessments, and three years of supervised release.
While Levon Varne Dean, Sr., Morris-Hernandez, Smith, Steffan Dean, Rocha-Contreras, and Baker were released on bond, Ingmar Hernandez remained detained without bond. Their arraignment is set for December 8, 2014, with trial dates ranging from February 5, 2015, to March 10, 2015.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a local, state, and federal initiative aimed at enhancing gun crime prosecution. It has been investigated by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Marshal’s Service.
For more information on court filings, visit https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl, where the case file number is 14 CR 4088. As with any criminal case, the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Related Federal Cases
- Live Nation Faces Trial Over Monopoly Practices · Washington
- Amgen Pays $71M for Pushing Drugs Off-Label · Washington
- Amgen Inc. $71M Settlement · Washington
- Western Union Scam · Washington
- Texas Man Gets 24-Year Lockup for Threats in Iowa · Iowa
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News