Image Credit: Keokuk Daily Gate

Image Credit: Keokuk Daily Gate


Earlier today, officials from a number of Iowa state and federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, the Iowa State Police, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Special Enforcement Operations Bureau, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Iowa DCI Crime Lab Crime Scene Team, and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, descended on Midwest Academy in Keokuk, Iowa, and a related site in nearby Montrose, to execute a search warrant. The current owner of Midwest Academy, Ben Trane, lives on the property. It is unclear whether his home was also a target of the search.
This story is still developing, but reports from local media indicate the searches are being performed in support of an ongoing investigation regarding allegations of sexual abuse involving a staff member of Midwest Academy and a former student. This abuse apparently allegedly occurred during the student’s stay at the center. At this time, it is unclear whether that staff member is currently still employed at Midwest Academy.
The most interesting information from the search may be the second location, in Montrose. This property was not previously known to WWASP Survivors. This property is deeded to a corporation named “Iowa Trails Investment, LLC”. This company is registered in Utah and shares an address in La Verkin that has known associations to several WWASP programs and entities. Ben Trane has repeatedly attempted to distance Midwest Academy from the WWASP label, although Midwest was founded by Brian Vaifanua, the former owner and founder of which was one of WWASP’s most notorious programs, Paradise Cove, located in Samoa. Vaifanua founded Midwest Academy after Paradise Cove was shut down by the Samoan government for alleged child abuse.
This is not the first time the specter of sexual abuse allegations have surfaced around Midwest Academy. No arrests have been made or charges filed so far in this matter. As this story develops, we will continue to provide updates as they become available.
Read more about Midwest Academy here.