Muscatine Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Transportation of Child Pornography

DAVENPORT, Iowa - A Muscatine man was sentenced on October 27, 2026, to 15 years in federal prison for two counts of transportation of child pornography.

According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received multiple CyberTips that accounts received, uploaded, and distributed files containing child sexual abuse material. Those accounts were determined to be associated with Joseph Lee Rhodes Jr., 42. Law enforcement seized electronic devices during a search of a Letts, Iowa residence associated with Rhodes. A forensic examination of the seized electronic devices showed that Rhodes used the devices to receive, view, possess, and distribute images and more than 100 videos containing child sexual abuse material.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Rhodes will be required to serve a seven-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Rhodes was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution and $6,000 in assessments that support the Defined Monetary Assistance Victims Reserve to provide compensation for victims of child sexual abuse material.

United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Louisa County Sheriff's Office investigated the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.