Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
A Louisiana woman has been sentenced to four years in federal prison after pleading guilty to assault and making threats against a Protective Security Officer at the Social Security office in Sioux City, Iowa.
Stella Ross, 28, was sentenced on October 30, 2025, following her guilty plea on May 15, 2025. The charges included assault, threatened assault, attempted assault of a federal officer, and influencing a federal official by threat.
According to evidence presented in court, the incident occurred on September 3, 2024. Ross pointed a gun at a Protective Security Officer (PSO) at the Sioux City Social Security office and threatened to kill him. When the officer drew his weapon in response, Ross withdrew but stayed nearby until police arrived. She then left the scene.
Ross later began a Facebook live video describing her encounter at the Social Security office and issued further death threats along with racial slurs and complaints about law enforcement. Officers located her at a residence where she was taken into state custody without incident after phone communication. Authorities found a firearm, magazine, ammunition, and items belonging to Ross at the residence. After being released from state custody, she repeated her threats against the PSO and law enforcement officials.
United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Ross to 48 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Ross is currently held by the United States Marshal’s Service pending transfer to federal prison.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Sioux City Police Department, Sergeant Bluff Police Department, Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Homeland Security Federal Protective Service, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild prosecuted the case.
