Joseph Lee Rhodes, Jr., 41, of Muscatine County, was detained pending trial today in connection with an indictment charging him with five counts of transportation of child pornography.
On January 14, 2026, Rhodes made his initial appearance. Following the March 2, 2026, detention hearing, a United States Magistrate Judge ordered Rhodes to remain detained pending trial.
If convicted, Rhodes could face a mandatory minimum of five years up to 20 years imprisonment for each count.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Lousia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating this case.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
