Former Storm Lake finance manager sentenced for child pornography

Brian Oakleaf, 52, who once served as Storm Lake’s finance manager and previously managed King’s Pointe Resort, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison Jan. 16 in U.S. District Court in Sioux City after pleading guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography. Judge Leonard Strand also ordered five years of supervised release, $54,000 in restitution to victims and $1,200 in fines and assessments. Oakleaf remains in U.S. Marshal custody pending transfer to a federal prison.

Prosecutors say evidence showed that between March 2022 and July 2024 Oakleaf received, distributed and possessed child sexual abuse material on two separate cell phones. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation traced the material through an online file-sharing program to an IP address linked to Oakleaf, leading officers to search his home on Leona Drive and his office at Storm Lake City Hall on July 29, 2024. Multiple electronic devices were seized and forensic analysis found extensive files, including more than 20,000 images and at least one video over 90 minutes long. The material included depictions of toddlers, bondage and sadistic conduct. Investigators say Oakleaf used the alias "Dan Dyle" to access and trade illicit files.

Oakleaf was first indicted in March 2025 on four felony counts, including possession, receipt and distribution of child pornography, with one count involving material depicting a child under the age of 12. He was arrested March 25, 2025 and released under strict conditions restricting travel and online activity. He resigned from his city position in August 2024. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kraig Hamit and investigated as part of Project Safe Childhood, the Justice Department initiative targeting child exploitation.

For Buena Vista County residents, the case combines criminal severity with institutional questions. A finance manager holds a position of public trust and the discovery of illicit activity tied to a municipal workplace spotlights digital vulnerabilities inside government offices. The fact investigators linked file-sharing traffic to an IP address connected to both home and office networks underscores the need for clear policies on employee device use, network monitoring and routine IT audits that balance privacy and safety.

City officials should review hiring and oversight practices, strengthen cybersecurity protocols at City Hall and communicate changes to the public to rebuild trust. Residents should expect transparency from elected leaders and administrators about steps taken to prevent similar breaches. Legally, Oakleaf’s sentence, restitution order and forthcoming supervised release conclude the federal prosecution, but the case’s local policy implications will play out at council meetings, budget reviews and in voter decisions affecting municipal governance.