News Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Malachi Reed, 21, of Des Moines, Iowa, was sentenced on June 2, 2025, by United States District Judge Sharad H. Desai to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. On March 12, 2025, Reed pleaded guilty to Use of Interstate Commerce to Transmit a Threat.
On August 6, 2024, a juvenile was reported missing from the Gila River Indian Community. Through cooperation from the Gila River Police Department, Mesa Police Department, Des Moines Police Department, and the FBI, investigators learned that the juvenile had flown to Des Moines, Iowa, to meet Reed at the airport. A detective for the Gila River Police Department contacted Reed to ensure the juvenile’s safe return. Instead of assisting law enforcement, Reed threatened to kill the detective, his family, and other investigators involved in the case. Notwithstanding these threats, investigators continued their investigation and found the juvenile with Reed on August 16, 2024.
The FBI and the Gila River Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raynette M. Logan, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-1408-PHX-SHD
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-088_Reed
