Fred Grell, a 64-year-old man from Angleton, Texas, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for receiving child pornography while in Iowa. The sentencing took place on March 5, 2026, after Grell pleaded guilty in October 2025 at the federal court in Sioux City.
According to evidence presented during court hearings, Grell received and possessed child pornography between March 1, 2022, and September 19, 2023. The investigation began after law enforcement received a report of a missing runaway foster child on June 24, 2023. In July of that year, Grell dropped off a minor victim at the Ida County Sheriff’s Office but left without speaking to deputies.
A search of Grell’s phone records uncovered two videos and six images of child pornography involving the minor victim. The victim informed officers that Grell had sexually assaulted her and that they had intercourse multiple times both before and after her sixteenth birthday in his semi-truck and home. She also stated that Grell instructed her to avoid using text messages for communication in order to evade detection by authorities.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. The program brings together federal, state, and local resources to prosecute offenders and assist victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at 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.. Resources on internet safety education are also available through this site.
United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Grell to 96 months’ imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release. There is no parole under the federal system. In addition to prison time, Grell was ordered to pay $10,000 in fines and assessments designated for victims of child pornography offenses. He remains in custody awaiting transfer to a federal prison.
