(Sioux City, Iowa) – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa has announced that a man who sexually exploited multiple children and possessed millions of files of child pornography was sentenced Friday (March 14, 2025), to 50 years in federal prison. 48-year-old Lucas Oliver Knowles, of Carroll, received the prison term after his February 23, 2024, guilty plea to sexual exploitation of a child, receipt and possession of child pornography, and possession of firearms by a prohibited person. Knowles was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.  The Court sentenced Knowles to 600 months’ imprisonment and imposed $21,400 in fines and assessments.  He must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Knowles is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

Evidence in the case showed that the FBI National Threat Operations Center received a tip that Knowles was sexually abusing a minor and was in possession of child sexual abuse material.  When the FBI interviewed Knowles, he admitted that he produced child sexual abuse material just a few weeks prior and had been sexually abusing a child.  Knowles further admitted that he had been collecting child pornography since approximately 1996 and may have millions of images.  Forensic analysis of Knowles computers discovered approximately 1.07 million images and videos of child pornography including several local victims.  The images and videos involved material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct as well as prepubescent children and toddlers.  Additionally, Knowles reported that he is a methamphetamine user and stored methamphetamine at his residence where he also possessed multiple firearms.

FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said, “Lucas Knowles is a sexual predator and a heinous criminal. His appalling actions brought pain and trauma to children for his own gratification.  Today’s sentence ensures Knowles will not hurt anyone else.  Protecting children is one of the FBI’s highest priorities.  We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to investigate and apprehend child predators and defend the most vulnerable members of our community.” United States Attorney Timothy Duax stated “The United States Attorney’s Office thanks the citizen that came forward with the tip and commends the FBI for its excellent investigative work. As a result, a dangerous child predator was removed from our community.”

The 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.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.