Sex Offender Who Failed to Register After Moving to Northeast Iowa Sentenced to Federal Prison

A man who came to northeast Iowa from Minnesota and did not register with the state sex offender registry, has been sentenced to over two years in federal prison. 

 Information from sentencing and other hearings showed that 31-year-old Blake Johnson of Austin, Minnesota, was previously convicted of electronic solicitation of children in 2022 in Minnesota, after he repeatedly messaged an online profile represented to be that of a female child under the age of fifteen.  The profile was actually operated by an undercover law enforcement agent. Prosecutors say Johnson sent explicit messages to the profile, including pictures of his genitals.  

In July 2025, Johnson absconded from correctional supervision in Minnesota and began living in Decorah. He did not register with the state of Iowa sex offender registry as he was required to do and, in August, Johnson was arrested by the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office. A month later, Winneshiek County dismissed the charges against Johnson so he could be prosecuted on federal indictments.

On December 29, 2025, Johnson pleaded guilty to failure to register as a sex offender. On Wednesday (04.15), he was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams to 30 months in federal prison.  He must also serve a ten-year term of supervised release after prison.  

There is no parole in the federal system and Johnson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office.  

Johnson’s criminal history includes convictions for drug possession, burglary, domestic assault, and violating a no contact order.