A Des Moines man has been sentenced to ten years in prison for attempting to solicit sex from a 14-year-old boy in Marion County.

52-year-old Dale Alan Grau of Des Moines pled guilty to enticement and attempted enticement of a minor to engage in illicit sexual activities. Grau admitted between the dates of February 20 and 23, 2017, he attempted to persuade and entice a 14-year-old boy, using the Internet, to engage in sexual activity with him.

Marion County Attorney Ed Bull tells KNIA/KRLS News that the “14-year-old boy” on the internet was actually an undercover officer, and Grau was the third predator brought to justice in what law enforcement called “Operation Black Veil.” He says that it was predators like Grau who the operation was targeting. Bull would like to thank federal partners who assisted in both the operation and prosecution, and all of the local and state agencies who assisted throughout the process. Bull says the operation “brought out the best in law enforcement at the local, state, and federal levels,” and that in the future law enforcement “will be monitoring individuals who seek to target children in Marion County for sex crimes.”

The investigation was conducted by the Marion County Attorney’s Office, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Knoxville Police Department, Pella Police Department, Pleasantville Police Department, Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Indianola Police Department, Mid Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, United States Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Marshals Service.