North Iowa Man Gets 22 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation, Gun Crimes

A north Iowa man who sexually exploited children, possessed child pornography, and possessed a stolen firearm has been to over two decades in federal prison.

 Evidence at court hearings showed that in June 2025, 20-year-old Parker Thompson of Mason City helped his friends plan a burglary at a gun shop in Mason City.  His friends stole several guns and gave at least two of the guns to Thompson.  

While investigating the burglary, law enforcement searched Thompson’s phone and found child pornography on the device. Additional investigation revealed that Thompson recorded multiple children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He also asked a child to send him depictions of the child engaging in sex acts. 

In April 2026,  Thompson pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of children, possession of child pornography, and possession of a stolen firearm. On October 2nd, he was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams to 264 months in federal prism and must also serve a ten-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Thompson 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the FBI, Mason City Police, the Cerro Gordo Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa DCI, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.