Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
Parker Jon Thompson, age 20, from Mason City, Iowa, pled guilty on Apr. 2 in federal court in Cedar Rapids to charges of sexual exploitation of children, possession of child pornography, and possession of a stolen firearm.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address crimes involving the sexual exploitation of minors and illegal firearms possession. According to evidence presented at a prior court hearing, Thompson assisted friends in planning a burglary at a gun shop in Mason City in June 2025. After the burglary, his friends gave him at least two stolen guns. During the investigation into the burglary, officers searched Thompson’s phone and discovered child pornography. Further investigation revealed that he had recorded multiple children engaged in sexually explicit conduct and had solicited such images from a minor.
At his plea hearing, Thompson admitted that between March 2024 and September 2025 he used or persuaded minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions. He also acknowledged possessing depictions of child pornography between June 2024 and April 2025 as well as possessing a stolen firearm in June 2025.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse by coordinating federal, state, and local resources. The project seeks both to prosecute offenders who exploit children online or offline and to identify victims for rescue.
The case is also part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide effort led by the Department of Justice focused on fighting illegal immigration-related crime as well as violent offenses linked with cartels or transnational criminal organizations.
Sentencing will be scheduled after preparation of a presentence report before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Thompson remains detained by U.S. Marshals while awaiting sentencing; he faces mandatory minimum imprisonment terms totaling fifteen years with potential maximum penalties reaching fifty years plus fines up to $750,000.
