Jacob Pautsch, a 34-year-old man from Key West, Florida, is in custody after being accused of making multiple threats of terrorism, extortion, bribery, and stalking targeting officials in Scott County, Iowa. Court records show that from May to December 2024, Pautsch engaged in a campaign of threats via emails, texts, and phone calls, demanding that criminal charges against his relative be dropped.
Pautsch allegedly threatened to sue officials, claim false information about their conduct, and even orchestrate raids by federal agencies such as the FBI and DOJ. The court documents reveal that on July 8, 2024, Pautsch sent text messages to the victim in a domestic violence case, in violation of a court-ordered no-contact order. These messages included disturbing threats and racial slurs.
He also contacted the Iowa Clerk of Courts with an offer to provide confidential information in exchange for payment, while falsely claiming to be working on behalf of federal agencies. Additionally, Pautsch allegedly pressured law enforcement to act on his demands by fabricating claims of criminal misconduct, including accusations against a deputy from the Scott County Sheriff’s Office.
The case escalated when Pautsch allegedly hid his relative in Florida while there were active warrants for their arrest. He continued to send threatening communications to Scott County officials, warning of lawsuits and federal raids if they did not comply with his demands.
Currently, Pautsch is being held in Scott County Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for January 28, 2025. He faces a range of serious charges, including threats of terrorism, bribery, and extortion, as well as aggravated misdemeanors.
