A San Antonio, Texas resident has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for transmitting threats across state lines. Stephen Brody Crain, 30, received the sentence on August 7, 2025, after he sent threatening messages over an eight-month period to two victims in Iowa and their families.
Court documents show that Crain used various methods to contact his victims. One of the victims sent more than $4,000 to Crain as a result of these threats. In addition to sending messages, Crain made false reports of abuse to the Iowa Department of Human Services and had pizza delivered to the victims’ homes. Even after his arrest, he continued contacting one victim and family members by mail.
Crain has a prior conviction for stalking in Smith County, Texas. In that case, he also sent threatening communications, ordered pizzas to be delivered as harassment, and falsely reported child abuse. He was paroled from that offense in November 2023; within two months, he began targeting the Iowa victims.
Following his prison term, Crain will serve three years under supervised release. Federal law does not allow parole. He must also pay $4,117 in restitution.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal for the Southern District of Iowa announced the sentence. The Federal Bureau of Investigations led the investigation into this case.
