Jessica Rae Reznicek, Conspiracy to Damage an Energy Facility, Iowa 2023

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Des Moines Woman Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Damaging Dakota Access Pipeline

A Des Moines woman, Jessica Rae Reznicek, age 39, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for Conspiracy to Damage an Energy Facility, a federal crime of terrorism.

According to court documents, Reznicek conspired with other individuals to damage the Dakota Access Pipeline at several locations within the Southern District of Iowa, Northern District of Iowa, and the District of South Dakota, between November 8, 2016, and May 2, 2017.

The defendant admitted to damaging and attempting to damage the pipeline using an oxy-acetylene cutting torch and fires near pipeline instrumentation and equipment in Mahaska, Boone, and Wapello Counties within the Southern District of Iowa.

Reznicek was ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow her prison term and pay $3,198,512.70 in restitution.

Acting U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal stated, ‘This was a federal crime of terrorism. Criminal acts conducted on multiple instances, at multiple locations, over a sustained period of time, resulting in over $3 million dollars in ordered restitution.’

FBI Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel commented, ‘Protecting the American people from terrorism – both international and domestic – remains the FBI’s number one priority.’

Reznicek’s co-defendant, Ruby Montoya, is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date. This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.