Officials with the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau in Des Moines, said today (Thursday), following an investigation, 43-year old Michael Dean Kirsch, of Shenandoah, was charged with ongoing criminal conduct-influencing enterprise, a Class B Felony, three Class C Felony counts of first degree theft, seven Class D Felony counts of second degree theft, and third and fourth degree theft.

Michael Dean Kirsch (Page County S/O photo)

The charges against Kirsch stem from an investigation that began in December 2016 after the Fraud Bureau was notified by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Securities and Regulated Industries Bureau that Kirsch allegedly misappropriated his client’s funds which were intended for burial related expenses.

Kirsch, in his capacity as a funeral home owner, engaged in the selling of pre-need agreements to customers using forms that would lead customers to believe they were obtaining an insurance contract to pay for funeral expenses, services and merchandise.  It is alleged that Kirsch instead used the funds he obtained under this understanding for his personal financial gain on a continuing basis.

On April 24th, 2018, Kirsch was arrested on a Page County Iowa warrant and released from the Page County Jail after posting $50,000 bond pending further court proceedings. Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-242-5304.

As a result of the previous administrative action, Kirsch paid restitution of $32,813.88 to eight Iowans affected by his actions.