United Group Insurance

Nebraska woman charged with theft of thousands in Iowa

News

February 20th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A Waterloo, Nebraska woman has been charged in Iowa with stealing between $22,000 and $222,000. The Daily Nonpareil reports that 44-year-old Beth Beutler was arrested Friday morning in western Iowa and charged with 38 counts of forgery. Authorities say she also faces charges of theft and ongoing criminal activity.

Police say Beutler used a checking machine to withdraw thousands of dollars. The machine allows truck drivers to access funds from across the country by giving a clerk at a truck stop an authorization code to pay for fuel, service or get cash.

Police say Beutler got the authorization codes from McMullen Brothers Trucking in Carter Lake, where her husband works, and used them at Pilot Travel Center in Council Bluffs.