Attorney General Merrick B. Garland addressed the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa on August 6, 2024, highlighting both ongoing and recent developments in law enforcement efforts.
Garland began by discussing a significant case unsealed in the Eastern District of New York. The complaint charges an individual with ties to Iran who allegedly sought to hire hitmen to assassinate a politician or U.S. government official on American soil. According to Garland, "the defendant met with several individuals in New York who he thought were hitmen but who were in fact undercover law enforcement officers."
The Justice Department has been actively countering Iran's efforts to retaliate against American officials following the killing of General Soleimani. Garland emphasized that multiple cases have been brought against individuals targeting Americans on behalf of the Iranian government.
Addressing the attempted assassination of former President Trump last month, Garland stated, "we have not found any evidence that the shooter had accomplices or co-conspirators, either foreign or domestic." He clarified there is no link between this incident and the defendant charged in New York.
Garland then shifted focus to local matters, praising partnerships among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in Iowa. He highlighted several successful prosecutions by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa:
- A 19-year prison sentence for a defendant involved in gun and drug charges.
- Over 30 years imprisonment for an individual distributing fentanyl and heroin leading to an overdose death.
- A 15-year sentence for an Arizona man sending thousands of fentanyl pills to Marion, Iowa.
- Sentences of at least 15 years each for two gang members mailing disguised fentanyl pills to Sioux City.
Additionally, under Project Safe Neighborhoods, a defendant pretending to work for ATF was sentenced to eight years for unlawfully possessing firearms.
Garland concluded by commending U.S. Attorney Duax and his team for their dedication to ensuring community safety and upholding justice.