A Carroll County man, Lucas Oliver Knowles, 48, has been sentenced to 50 years in federal prison for child sexual exploitation offenses. Knowles, from Carroll, Iowa, pleaded guilty on February 23, 2024, to charges including sexual exploitation of a child and possession of firearms by a prohibited person.
The investigation began after the FBI National Threat Operations Center received a tip about Knowles' activities. During an interview with the FBI, Knowles admitted to producing child sexual abuse material and abusing a minor. He also confessed to collecting child pornography since around 1996. A forensic analysis revealed approximately 1.07 million images and videos of child pornography on his computers.
Knowles was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand in Sioux City. The court imposed $21,400 in fines and assessments alongside the prison term. After serving his sentence, Knowles will be under supervised release for ten years.
FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel commented on the case: “Lucas Knowles is a sexual predator and a heinous criminal. His appalling actions brought pain and trauma to children for his own gratification. Today’s sentence ensures Knowles will not hurt anyone else."
United States Attorney Timothy Duax praised the citizen who provided the tip and commended the FBI's investigative work: “As a result, a dangerous child predator was removed from our community.”
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.