Earlier in August, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) reached out to all sheriff offices in Iowa, asking for information regarding organized crime influence in their respective areas. Grassley believes that crimes of human and drug trafficking are increasing in Iowa, but the lack of clear data makes it difficult to verify this claim. To gather more information, Grassley contacted Iowa's 99 county sheriffs, considering them well-positioned to provide insights into the impact on their communities. The sheriffs received a set of questions to answer to the best of their abilities, including:
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Whether any gangs operate in their respective county.
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The quantity and types of criminal investigations related to gangs.
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Human trafficking statistics.
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What federal resources would aid in addressing gang-related problems in their counties.
Wright County Sheriff Jason Schluttenhofer shared that there is no credible information about the presence of any human trafficking organization in Wright County. He emphasizes the importance of reporting anything suspicious and assures that all reports are taken seriously. At the time of writing this article, it is unknown if Grassley's team will release the details of the reports from Iowa’s Sheriffs.
