Latest news with #IowaAttorneyGeneral'sOffice
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
Free ‘Stop the Scammers' session scheduled in Burlington
The Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services' 'Stop the Scammers' roadshow, in partnership with the Iowa Attorney General's Office and AARP Iowa, will visit Burlington on Wednesday, May 28, according to a news release. The educational campaign and roadshow seek to educate Iowans on scams impacting the state and how Iowans can best protect themselves from scammers in the digital age. At this educational event, Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services representatives will help participants learn about common scam tactics and the information and resources Iowans can utilize to protect themselves and their hard-earned money from scammers. The session will be 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 28, at Catfish Bend Casino, 3001 Winegard Drive, Burlington. Register by Tuesday, May 27 to Nick Meyer at 563- 275-9935 or nmeyer@ The 'Stop the Scammers' education campaign and roadshow is a series of 22 events held across the state of Iowa. The events are designed to educate Iowans on the common tactics utilized by scammers, how to protect yourself from being scammed, and provide free information and resources from state and local authorities. For more information, visit here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Attend a free ‘Stop the Scammers' roadshow
The Stop the Scammers roadshow is a statewide fraud education campaign with the goal of teaching people about scams and how to avoid them. The free seminars offer a light lunch and an opportunity to learn about common scams and how they work. 'With the prevalence of scams rising due to technology, we want to ensure Iowans have all the tools, information, and state and local resources at their disposal to shield their savings.' says Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen. The seminar will go into depth about different types of scams such as consumer and investment. Consumer being things like computer and tech support scams, grandparent scams, romance scams, imposter calls, and more. Investment scams are Ponzi or pyramid schemes, affinity fraud, gold and precious metals, crypto currency scams and more. It will also talk about the ways that these scams convince people such as phantom riches, profiling, or fear and intimidation. The show will talk about these more in depth and tips for avoiding scams. To attend an event, RSVP here or call (515) 412-4839. Remaining locations for the show include Ankeny, Burlington, Cedar Falls, Charles City, Clinton, Council Bluffs, Decorah, Dubuque, Fairfield, Grinnell, Iowa City, Marion, Muscatine, Pella, Sioux City, Storm Lake, Waukee, and Webster City. Shows are hosted by the Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services in partnership with the Iowa Attorney General's Office and AARP Iowa. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge orders temporary pause on paying Madison County treasurer amid criminal charges, hearing set
MADISON COUNTY, Iowa – A hearing has been set regarding a petition to remove the embattled Madison County Treasurer from office after she was asked to resign, but did not. In the meantime, county officials have been ordered not to pay her salary, benefits, or any other compensation. Amanda DeVos was elected to a four-year term in November 2022 and began serving that termon Jan. 1, 2023, according to court records. On January 31, 2025, she was arrested for alleged felonious misconduct in office, tampering with records, fraudulent practice in the third degree, and third-degree theft. A criminal complaint states investigators were tipped off in late November of 2024 that DeVos may have used her access as county treasurer to alter government records to make it look like she paid $758 for her vehicle registration plates when she had not. Roughly a month later, the Madison County Sheriff's Office announced additional criminal charges were pending against DeVos. 'These charges are separate from earlier charges filed in relation to vehicle registrations and stem from an investigation into DeVos' own property taxes that were owed for 2023/2024,' said Sheriff Jason Barnes in a written statement at the time. Those charges are expected to be filed by the Iowa Attorney General's Office, which is reportedly conducting an investigation of its own. DeVos was relieved of her duties after a vote during a Madison County Board of Supervisors meeting on Feb. 6. However, it appears she continued to collect her salary and potential benefits for more than two months. She was asked to resign from her position, according to County Attorney Stephen Swanson. When she did not, Swanson took the legal step dictated by Iowa Code Section 66 to force her out of her elected office. It was unclear how much time had passed between when DeVos was asked to resign and when the legal action was taken, but last Friday, Swanson filed a petition to formally remove her from her position and also petitioned for an injunction that would prohibit 'Madison County from distributing salary, benefits, or other compensation to Defendant during the pendency of this action.' DeVosPetitionforRemoval_aef1fbDownload The court filing points to purported investigations by the state AG's Office and the State Auditor's Office and to several incidents of alleged money mishandling by Devos, like when the City of Winterset erroneously received more than a quarter of a million dollars in a series of erroneous financial deposits from the Treasurer's office that were meant for other municipalities. The filing went on to allege, 'the Defendant's continued receipt of public funds while facing felony charges and allegations of gross mismanagement is contrary to the public interest and unjustly enriches her at taxpayer expense.' Devos was making $78,787.13 this year after getting a 3.57% raise, according to online public records posted by the Iowa State Association of Counties. District Judge Stacy Ritchie, for Iowa's Fifth Judicial District, set a public hearing for May 5 at 10 a.m. at the Madison County Courthouse and ruled that 'pending the outcome of these proceedings, Madison County, its officers and agents are temporarily enjoined from disbursing any salary, benefits or other compensation to Amanda DeVos.' DeVos's elected term is set to expire on December 31, 2026. After her initial arrest, WHO-13 discovered that the Winterset Community School District said it was forced to withdraw investment funds to cover payroll after late payments from the Madison County Treasurer. DeVos allegedly blamed many of the financial issues on a third-party systems management company that the county retained. However, multiple leaders of small municipalities and local school districts within Madison County provided documentation to WHO-13 that showed financial errors that impacted their organizations went unacknowledged by the Treasurer for months, despite repeated efforts to notify her. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Yahoo
AG warns Iowans about scammers impersonating the Iowa Attorney General's Office
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird issued a warning to Iowans on Monday about scammers impersonating as the Iowa Attorney General's Office looking to take money from unsuspecting victims. The office received reports of scammers impersonating Bird and her office on social media to victims of cryptocurrency scams, a news release from spokesperson Alyssa Brouillet said. 'Scammers are attempting to convince these Iowans to send personal or financial information for an alleged 'refund' of the money lost through a cryptocurrency ATM,' the news release said. The scammers are reaching victims through social media platforms such as Facebook and Telegram, the news release said. Some of the scam accounts use photos of Bird and a seal claiming to be part of the Division of Criminal Investigation. 'These con artists are so evil that they are even pretending to be me,' Bird said in a statement. 'If someone claiming to be from my office offers you a refund for crypto ATM scams, it's fake. Call my office for help at 1-888-777-4590, and do not send money, personal information, or financial information.' Those who believe they have encountered a scam account can also report them online. José Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@ or follow him on X @mendiola_news. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa attorney general issues warning on scammers impersonating AG
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Yahoo
Crisis Canines conducts courtroom training at Jasper County Courthouse
Mar. 17—Crisis Canines may not be capable of giving testimonies at Jasper County court hearings, but they may be able to assist those who can. Nicholas Pietrack, assistant county attorney, formally requested permission last week to use the Jasper County Courthouse outside normal business hours to conduct training sessions with Crisis Canines of the Midlands, and thereby enhancing support for victims and witnesses in courtroom settings. "Historically, there's been some precedent where Crisis Canines like this can be used in the courtroom for victim testimonies — especially juveniles — during trials, hearings, etc.," Pietrack said. "We've not done it in Jasper County, to date. Part of that is just logistics. We haven't been able to practice it." Also, in each case, the use of the canine in the courtroom would need court approval. Pietrack said the Jasper County Attorney's Office has not had a recent case where it felt it needed a Crisis Canine. The training — which took place last weekend for about four hours — was for three to five Jasper County-based dogs. "Sometimes the dog would be at the person's feet testifying, usually a child or a victim, or just sometimes be in the courtroom so they can kind of maintain contact and be with the dog before and after testifying — things like that," Pietrack said. "To date, we've used these dogs in our depositions before trial." From what Pietrack has seen, the Crisis Canines have been tremendously beneficial and have worked as a good ice breaker for when attorneys have to meet with a child victim. The dog makes them feel at ease. Pietrack said multiple victims have told him that as long as the dog will be there they feel OK. According to the letter drafted by Pietrack to the board of supervisors, the Crisis Canines help alleviate anxiety and provide comfort to those recounting traumatic experiences. Pietrack argued that allowing the training would strengthen the office's ability to support vulnerable individuals during these difficult moments. Pietrack told supervisors at their March 11 meeting that the Iowa Attorney General's Office would also be part of the training to learn how to best implement the practice throughout the state. Jasper County, he suggested, is becoming one of the frontrunners in how to work with and implement Crisis Canines. Supervisor Brandon Talsma was on board with the training so long as it was OK with Maintenance Director Adam Sparks. County Auditor Jenna Jennings said she had spoken with him about it and he was favorable to the idea.
