A former Storm Lake city employee has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for possessing child pornography.
Fifty-two‑year‑old Brian Oakleaf — who once served as Storm Lake’s finance manager and previously managed King’s Pointe Resort — received the sentence yesterday in U.S. District Court in Sioux City. Oakleaf pleaded guilty Sept. 9, 2025 to two counts of possession of child pornography.
Evidence presented at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that between March 2022 and July 2024, Oakleaf received, distributed, and possessed child sexual abuse material on two separate cell phones.
Investigators with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation traced the material through an online file‑sharing program to an IP address linked to Oakleaf. That discovery led officers to search his home on Leona Drive and his office at Storm Lake City Hall on July 29, 2024.
During those searches, officers seized multiple electronic devices. Analysis revealed Oakleaf had used the file‑sharing program to obtain illegal content and had searched for known child exploitation terms. Prosecutors say he also used the alias “Dan Dyle” to access and trade child sexual abuse material.
Oakleaf was first indicted in March 2025 on four felony counts, including possession, receipt, and distribution of child pornography. One charge involved material depicting a child under the age of 12. He was arrested March 25, 2025 and later released under strict conditions limiting his travel and online activity. He resigned from his city role in August 2024.
In the plea agreement, Oakleaf admitted to possessing more than 20,000 images and at least one video over 90 minutes long. The material included depictions of toddlers, bondage, and sadistic conduct.
Judge Leonard Strand sentenced Oakleaf to 84 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Oakleaf was also ordered to pay $54,000 in restitution to victims and $1,200 in fines and assessments. He remains in U.S. Marshal custody until transfer to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kraig Hamit and investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. It was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Justice Department initiative targeting child exploitation and abuse.
