Tripoli Man Sentenced for Child Pornography Crimes

A man who received and possessed child pornography was sentenced today to more than six years in federal prison.

Isiah Michael Morse, age 23, from Tripoli, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 17, 2026, guilty plea to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.

Evidence at a prior hearing and at sentencing showed that in January 2024, law enforcement officers searched Morse's person and seized a phone. On the phone were images and videos of child pornography, including of prepubescent children. Morse had paid for child pornography on at least two occasions. In an interview with officers, Morse admitted that he had downloaded child pornography and then moved it to a "hidden folder" on his phone. Morse had downloaded the child pornography as early as November 2021.

Morse was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Morse was sentenced to 78 months' imprisonment and was ordered to make $12,000 in restitution to victims. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/pscLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link.. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/pscLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. and click on the tab "resources."

Morse is being held in the United States Marshal's custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Johnson County Joint Forensic Analysis Cyber Team, and the Bremer County Sheriff's Office.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.plLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..

The case file number is 25-CR-2036. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.