RURAL PALO ALTO COUNTY – A Northern Iowa bar owner is accused of ongoing criminal conduct.
On Friday, June 17, 2022, at 09:34 AM, the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Molly Maguires Pub and an arrest warrant for owner 61-year-old Ronald Dean Smith at 3684 530th Avenue, in Palo Alto County. The warrants stem from an ongoing criminal investigation between the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Department of Revenue, and the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division. Following the search warrant, Smith was charged with Ongoing Criminal Conduct (Class B Felony), Fraudulent Sales Practice over $10,000 (Class C Felony), Sales Tax Evasion (Class D Felony), Felon in possession of a firearm (Class D Felony), No Sales Tax Permit (Serious Misdemeanor), Possession of Controlled Substance (Serious Misdemeanor), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Simple Misdemeanor), and Licensee Supplying Alcohol to a Person Under the Legal Age (Simple Misdemeanor).
Smith was transported to the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office and booked in to jail to await his initial appearance before a magistrate. After the initial appearance, Smith’s bond for all charges was set at a total of $50,000 cash only.
The Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office was assisted with the investigation and the search warrant by the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, Iowa Department of Revenue, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force, Palo Alto County Attorney’s Office, and the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office.