Cedar Rapids man charged with prostitution in connection to human trafficking case

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A Cedar Rapids man has been charged with prostitution in connection to a human trafficking case last summer.

Mark Schwake, 61, had his initial hearing Monday in Linn County court. He was arrested after his warrant was issued on March 21.

Court documents say Schwake had requested services for sex acts in July 2024, and that he was in communication with Jarod Anderson to set up these encounters. Investigators were looking into Anderson's phone after he was accused of human trafficking, where they found Schwake's phone number.

Jarod Anderson was found guilty of human trafficking a 17-year-old girl from Dubuque in summer 2024 and was expected to face a life sentence at a hearing on Tuesday afternoon. That sentencing has since been delayed after Anderson requested a new lawyer at Tuesday's hearing. His is the first human trafficking conviction under a new Iowa law that was passed in 2023 making trafficking punishable to life in prison.

Tana Torres was also charged with human trafficking for her connection to Anderson during that time, but she took a plea deal of lesser charges after testifying in Anderson's trial.

The Gazette reports Torres was sentenced by a judge to up to eight years in prison.

Schwake was interviewed by Cedar Rapids police where he admitted to using prostitution services in the past. His criminal complaint does not say if he moved forward with any encounters with Torres or the 17-year-old.

Schwake's plea hearing is scheduled for April 18.