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Iowa Supreme Court to Hear Arguments in Sex Offender Trafficking Case

The Iowa Supreme Court will soon hear arguments in a human trafficking case. Kevin Lind of Iowa City was arrested in an online child sex sting. Court documents show he was charged with human trafficking after investigators say he messaged who he believed to be a minor, arranging to pay her to have sex with another minor. The woman at the other end of the call was not underage and was actually an undercover police officer.

Lind was eventually convicted of prostitution and sexual exploitation of a minor and has been on the sex offender list since January. The Polk County District Court dismissed the human trafficking charge because there was never actually a child for him to traffic. The Iowa Attorney General appealed to the Iowa Supreme Court.

He was also arrested in March in Iowa City and charged with two counts of prostitution after officials say he tried to arrange another person to have sex with a minor. He is also facing additional charges in the case after officials say he did not disclose several social media accounts to law enforcement, as required by his sex offender status.

Second Arrest Made in Des Moines Human Trafficking Investigation

Another arrest has been made in a human trafficking investigation in Des Moines.

Kaylee Smith, 21, was booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of Human Trafficking-Financial Benefit and Child Endangerment. She is being held on a $1 million bond.

Online court records claim that Smith and Bryce McNeil, who have a child together, plotted to sell sexual services performed by a victim. McNeil and the female victim, who is from Kansas City, Missouri, became acquainted on a dating app, and in August of 2025, he convinced her to move in with him. A criminal complaint filed against McNeil stated he drove her from Missouri to the apartment he shared with Smith and their child in the Capitol East neighborhood of Des Moines.

The Des Moines Police Department began its investigation into the case on September 6, 2025, after performing a welfare check on the woman who was brought to Des Moines from Missouri. Text messages between Smith and McNeil revealed information about the trafficking operation, according to court documents.

McNeil was arrested in the case in September 2025. Online court records show he is charged with:

  • 2 counts of Human Trafficking-Serious Injury or Threat of Serious Injury (Class A Felony)
  • Person Ineligible to Carry a Dangerous Weapons (Serious Misdemeanor)
  • 2 counts of Possession of Controlled Substance

McNeil is being held in the Polk County Jail. His trial is scheduled for May 4.

Iowa Fines Massage Business Alleged to Have Grossed Multimillion Income From Sex Trafficking

State regulators have imposed a $3,000 fine against an Iowa City man accused of running a multimillion-dollar ring of unlicensed massage parlors in which workers were required to have sex with customers.

The Iowa Board of Massage Therapy has fined Zhenshi Liu of Iowa City $2,000 for practicing massage therapy without a license on at least two occasions, plus $1,000 for employing an individual not licensed to practice massage therapy.

The board says it received a complaint from the Iowa City Police Department alleging Liu, 60, and his wife, Junping Ren, 56, were operating two illicit massage businesses — the Paradise Spa at 1901 Broadway St., and 805 S. 1st Ave. — where they employed numerous unlicensed female workers who were “required to provide sex acts” for clients.

The couple allegedly collected approximately $2.6 million in proceeds from the massage businesses, according to Johnson County prosecutors.

Liu and Ren are currently facing several criminal charges related to the businesses, including pimping, pandering, money laundering and ongoing criminal conduct.

In addition, Liu is facing a charge of third-degree sexual abuse. Iowa City police allege that after a woman went to one of the Paradise Spa massage parlors in May 2025, Liu inappropriately touched a customer during a massage.

According to the police, female workers at the two Paradise Spa locations in Iowa City said they received $70 per hour for a massage, with $40 going to Liu, and an additional $10 used as payment for room and board. Ads for the business were allegedly placed on a known website for female escort services, according to police.

WDM Teacher Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing a 13-Year-Old Girl

A former central Iowa teacher will serve up to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing a teenager.

Danny Hoyt, 57, worked as a teacher for West Des Moines Community Schools until 2025, when he was suspended and then charged with kidnapping and abusing the then-13-year-old girl. Prosecutors alleged that Hoyt picked up the girl, would not let her out of his vehicle, and made her wear a blindfold and eventually bound her inside his rural Warren County home, where he made her drink a THC-infused beverage.

Hoyt pleaded earlier this month to reduced charges of false imprisonment, third-degree sexual abuse, and possession with intent to deliver to a minor. On Monday, March 23, he was sentenced before Judge Michael Jacobsen.

During the hearing, an advocate read a statement from the girl’s mother, whom is not being named to protect her identity. She described the catastrophic impact Hoyt’s actions had on her daughter’s mental health, turning a former straight-A student into one afraid to go to school or even hang out with friends.

“Danny Hoyt, you were a grown man, a man the age of her grandfather. You were not confused, not unaware. You knew what you were doing,” the mother said. The rest of the family, too, has to live with the knowledge that they couldn’t protect the girl from a predator, her mother said. “There is no place where she feels safe from it,” she said. “Not in her room, not in her mind, not even in her sleep. … We have to live with knowing what you did to my daughter, and that we could not protect her from you.”

The teen, who is receiving treatment at an inpatient facility away from her family, joined the hearing via video conference and also read a short statement about the effect Hoyt’s actions had on her. “I feel dirty like I’ll never be clean,” she said.

Hoyt declined to make a statement before sentencing.

Under the terms of the deal, Hoyt’s most severe penalty is actually for the drug offense, for which he will serve 25 years with a minimum of five before he can receive parole. The court ordered he also serve a concurrent 10 years for the sexual assault conviction. For false imprisonment, he was sentenced to time served.

In addition to prison, Hoyt also faces roughly $2,000 in fines and court costs. He must register as a sex offender and will serve a lifetime special sentence of probation.

Ex-West Des Moines Gymnastics Coach Facing Charges

A former gymnastics coach accused of abusing students at a West Des Moines gym intends to plead guilty to child pornography charges in Mississippi, court filings show, even as prosecutors continue to bring new charges.

Sean Gardner was arrested in August 2025 on charges that he used a hidden camera to record underage gymnasts changing at a gym where he worked in Purvis, Mississippi.

Gardner subsequently worked from 2018 to 2022 at Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines, a program famed for training several gold-medal Olympians, He faces at least five lawsuits accusing him of grooming and inappropriately touching female students there.

Federal prosecutors had indicted Gardner on 10 counts of producing child pornography linked to Purvis. He intends to plead guilty to three of the charges, a notice his attorney filed Tuesday, April 21, indicates.

Such filings often are the result of a plea deal, although the filing does not say whether prosecutors intended to dismiss the remaining seven charges. Later, prosecutors filed a superceding indictment against Gardner bringing the total number of child porn production charges to 12, involving 10 separate alleged victims.

Gardner’s criminal defense attorney did not respond to a message seeking comment.

Tap here to read more about the Iowa claims, including inappropriate touching, questions, and photos.

How ISU Police Department Uncovered a Neo-Nazi Sexual Predator Ring

Courtesy of Iowa State Daily

The bravery of one student coming forward to the police led to a multi-state, international investigation into a sexual predator ring run by Neo-Nazis working to build a satanic following. From November 2020 to January 2025, the Iowa State University Police Department uncovered the ring through the leadership and tenacity of Chief Michael Newton and Officer Kami Feld.

In November 2020, a freshman student reported to the ISUPD that beginning at age 16, she met an individual online who sexually exploited her. She grew concerned about the virtual relationship and disconnected from the perpetrator initially.

Fast forward to November of 2020, when she’s a freshman arriving at Iowa State and all of a sudden is being victimized again by this individual, threatening to share photos and other things,” Newton said.

The patrol officer began investigative work, including interviewing the victim on several occasions and issuing subpoenas. The ISUPD subpoenaed electronic service providers, for example, Google, PayPal, Venmo, Instagram, and Facebook. After receiving the results of the subpoena, the primary investigating officer approached Feld.

Tap here to read more.

Iowa Legislative Report

The week of April 20 marks the 15th week of the legislative session and the scheduled end of session. However, since no budget has been agreed upon, legislators will continue to meet until this has been accomplished. Appropriations and tax bills are exempt from funnel deadlines and may be considered through the end of session.

A top priority for the Network Against Human Trafficking (NAHT) this year is securing a $1 million state investment in survivor services. Currently, eight nonprofit providers across Iowa operate residential programs specifically designed to meet the unique and complex needs of human trafficking survivors. NAHT is advocating for dedicated funding within the Justice

Systems budget to strengthen and sustain these critical services.

Top Priorities

HF 1036 (Comprehensive HT Bill): (Support) A comprehensive modernization of Iowa’s human trafficking laws that strengthens victim identification, expands survivor protections, improves access to justice, enhances coordination across systems, and builds capacity for survivor-centered services and accountability. The amended bill reflects national best practices and directly advances NAHT’s mission to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and promote survivor recovery and justice.

  • Floor Manager: Senator Cherielynn Westrich (westrich@legis.iowa.gov)
  • 2025 Session: House passed the bill unanimously
  • 2026 Session: Bill passed out of Senate Judiciary Committee, with an amendment. It will need to pass the Senate chamber and return to the House if amended before being signed into law. It is currently on the unfinished business calendar.
  • The bill is eligible through the end of this session.

SF 2205/HF 2602 (Massage Establishment Licensures): (Support) The bill creates a licensure requirement for massage establishments and establishes penalties. NAHT is working in collaboration with the Iowa Massage Therapy Association in response to the challenge of shutting down illicit practices that occur in establishments disguised as legitimate massage therapy facilities.

  • Floor Manager: Senator Jason Schultz (schultz@legis.iowa.gov)
  • 2026 Session: Bill passed out of the House floor with a vote of 83-8 and the Senate Judiciary Committee but still needs to pass the Senate floor. It is currently on the unfinished business calendar in the Senate.
Secure $1 Million Appropriation for Human Trafficking Victim Service Fund
  • Contacts: Representative Brian Lohse (brian.lohse@legis.iowa.gov), Representative Gary Mohr (gary.mohr@legis.iowa.gov); Senator Tim Kraayenbrink (kraayenbrink@legis.iowa.gov)
  • The AG’s office and the Governor have requested the $1M in funding in their FY27 budgets.
  • Currently, both the House and Senate have kept the appropriation at a flat $150,000. We continue to have conversations around increasing this to $1,000,000.
Other Issues

HF 2696 (Record Expungement): (Support) Relates to expungement of certain criminal history records of victims of human trafficking.

  • Floor Manager: Senator Mike Bousselot (bousselot@legis.iowa.gov)
  • 2026 Session: Bill passed out of House floor unanimously and the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously. It still needs to pass the Senate floor; it is currently on the unfinished business calendar.

SF 2167/HF 2598 (Training for Truck-drivers): (Support) Relates to human trafficking prevention training for persons applying for certain commercial driver’s licenses.

  • Floor Manager: Senator Mark Costello (costello@legis.iowa.gov)
  • 2026 Session: Passed out of the House chamber unanimously and still needs to be brought to the Senate floor. It is currently on the unfinished business calendar.

HF 826 (Obscene Materials Involving Minors): (Support) Would prohibit anyone from knowingly producing, distributing, receiving, or possessing obscene material involving a minor. Violations would be charged with aggravated misdemeanors and/or a class “D” felony.

  • Floor Manager: Tom Shipley (shipley@legis.iowa.gov)
  • 2025 Session: Passed House unanimously
  • 2026 Session: Passed out of Senate Judiciary and placed on the calendar. It needs to pass the Senate floor before heading to the governor’s desk. It is currently on the unfinished business calendar.
Passed Both Chambers

SF 2379 (Attorney General Bill): (Tracking) Would enact “Katie’s law”, which would require DNA collection from individuals arrested for aggravated misdemeanors and felonies. It also deals with the confidentiality of victim services and liability, protection orders, sex offender registrations, crime victim compensation program, and more.

  • 2026 Session: Passed out of both chambers and is headed to the governor!

SF 273 (Mandatory Reporting for Grooming Behavior): (Support) Would require mandatory reporting to the board of educational examiners of school employees who exhibit grooming behaviors.

  • 2025 Session: Passed the Senate
  • 2026 Session: Passed the House and is being sent to the governor’s desk!
Signed Into Law

HF 2515 (Deferred Sentences): (Support) Would prohibit deferred or suspended sentences for cases involving sexual exploitation of a minor.

  • 2026 Session: Passed both chambers and has been signed by the governor!

SF 2416 (Subsequent Interviews for Child Abuse): (Not Registered) Would allow law enforcement to petition the courts to interview children involved in alleged child abuse cases if parents refuse. Would require reasonable suspicion that the children are involved in founded abuse.

  • 2026 Session: Passed both full chambers and signed by the governor!

Huge Win for Trafficking Survivor Federal Funding

The Trump administration’s orders barring references to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) could force a national advocate for victims of human trafficking to forfeit federal grants and close its doors, violating the group’s First Amendment rights, a federal judge in Chicago said in an order enjoining enforcement of the orders.

Washington, D.C.-based Freedom Network USA says it will have to close its doors this year if it loses federal funding due to its use of language in its programs and grant applications that is forbidden by President Donald Trump’s executive orders aimed at ending “illegal and immoral discrimination programs.”

Freedom Network USA sued the Trump administration in October 2025 challenging the administration’s executive orders and funding conditions, which it claims violates its First Amendment rights against viewpoint discrimination. And it says the administration’s regulation of congressionally funded programs violates the separation of powers doctrine.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly agreed. He issued a preliminary injunction against enforcement of the executive orders and regulations that affect all recipients of federal funding for services for victims of human trafficking.

Freedom Network USA called the decision a “huge win for trafficking survivors nationwide,” and said equity is at the very core of its work and the reason its providers are able to serve the needs of all human trafficking survivors.

Tap here to read more about this huge win.

Why Modern Traffickers Are Harder to Catch

To successfully combat human trafficking today, we must understand that everything we thought we knew about who the traffickers are is incomplete. In the past, we were warned about “strange white vans” or being abducted while traveling in foreign countries while on vacation. The modern-day trafficker has become more concealed, while still hiding in plain sight.

In reality, they often appear as business owners, trusted family members, or even romantic partners. Modern trafficking cases increasingly show that offenders can mirror everyday professionals like business leaders, community members, and white-collar workers. These individuals utilize their positions of trust, influence, or resources to conceal exploitation.

Research from the Polaris Project has also found that family members frequently play a role in trafficking children; one study found that, in cases of familial trafficking, a significant portion of victims were exploited by parents or other relatives.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, women account for a significant share of those prosecuted for trafficking offenses globally. While men still represent the majority of trafficking perpetrators globally, women may appear in operational roles within networks, sometimes under coercion themselves. High-profile cases, such as the prosecution of Ghislaine Maxwell for recruiting and grooming minors for Jeffrey Epstein’s trafficking operation have further underscored that individuals who facilitate or enable trafficking networks can face criminal prosecution. Women involved in human trafficking operational roles can often perform tasks that require direct access with vulnerable individuals, including recruitment of new victims, leveraging safety and trust to maintain control. By appearing trustworthy or harmless, these offenders blend into our communities as ordinary individuals, making it increasingly difficult for the untrained eye to notice.

Further complicating this crime is that the recruitment of trafficking victims has evolved from the classic white van kidnappings towards social media recruitment and deceptive employment practices.  As the traffickers continually adapt to new law enforcement tactics, the justice system is forced to continuously develop new and innovative ways to assist and reach survivors.

The version of human trafficking that Hollywood movies or dated stereotypes emulate is misleading. These misconceptions can be harmful because they portray a monster that is easy to spot. The reality is, trafficking has changed, and our awareness must change with it. It is time to open our eyes toward this everyday criminal and those who use influence and money to protect themselves.

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By on April 29, 2026   /   News