Des Moines, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau report 47-year-old Sara Weisbeck, of LeClair was found guilty on October 7, 2022, in Scott County District Court of one count of Insurance Fraud (Class D Felony) and one count of Identity Theft (Class D Felony) following an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau.

The investigation began in December 2019 after the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau received information indicating Weisbeck had provided false information to her insurer when filing an insurance claim. She had alleged a lightning strike caused a power surge within her residence and destroyed over $7,000 of her personal belongings.

The investigation determined that specific items Weisbeck reported to her insurer as destroyed were not within the residence when the lightning strike occurred. It also determined that Weisbeck facilitated the removal of windows from within her residence and falsely reported that the power surge blew the windows from the house. The investigation also determined that emails submitted to Weisbeck’s insurer, which were authored in the name of her landlord and supported her insurance claim, were fictitious and had been fabricated.

Sara Weisbeck (Photo courtesy of the Scott County Sheriff’s Office)

Following her guilty conviction, Weisbeck was placed on supervised probation for two years and ordered to pay a civil penalty of $2,357.50. Weisbeck must also pay victim restitution in the amount of $1,240 for the damaged windows.

Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-654-6556.