Darwin Zoch, age 45, of Storm Lake, Iowa, has pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Sioux City, Iowa, to one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. His co-conspirators, Janelle Zoch, age 47, Brandon Hinesly, age 35, of Truesdale, Iowa, and Mark Hill, age 48, of Storm Lake, Iowa, have also pled guilty to the same charge.
The guilty pleas stem from a 2011 arrest of Darwin Zoch on a warrant for allegations that he was a felon in possession of firearms in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 924(e). After his initial appearance and arraignment, Darwin Zoch was released on a personal recognizance bond with conditions of pretrial release imposed.
However, instead of awaiting sentencing as promised, Darwin Zoch and his co-conspirators plotted his flight from justice. They researched countries without extradition treaties, obtained a getaway car, and acquired mobile phones to communicate secretly. They also assembled more than $5,000 in cash to aid in the escape.
The plan was executed, and Darwin Zoch escaped as far as a marina in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he was eventually captured. The conspiracy to obstruct justice charge carries a possible maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, $100 in special assessments, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
Sentencing for the defendants will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Janelle Zoch, Brandon Hinesly, and Mark Hill remain free on bond previously set, while Darwin Zoch remains in custody of the United States Marshal. The case was investigated by the United States Marshal’s Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and local law enforcement agencies.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild. Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl, with the case file number being 13-3047. The guilty pleas mark the end of a lengthy investigation and prosecution, and the defendants will now face the consequences of their actions.
The guilty pleas of Darwin Zoch and his co-conspirators serve as a reminder that obstructing justice will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to upholding the law and ensuring that those who attempt to evade justice are held accountable.
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Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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