(Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau report a woman from Bondurant was sentenced July 2nd, following her plea of guilty to Tampering with Records (an Aggravated Misdemeanor). 39-year-old Sarah Rahm received a deferred sentence and was placed on probation for a period of two years. Rahm was also ordered to pay a civil penalty of $855.

The investigation began in March 2024 after the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau received information indicating Rahm made willful misrepresentations regarding her pet’s medical history and then falsified the onset date of a claimed medical condition in connection with an insurance claim.

Sarah Rahm (Photo courtesy of the Polk County Jail)

The investigation concluded that Rahm was aware of her pet’s medical condition before purchasing a pet insurance policy, which required a five-day waiting period for accidents. On the sixth day after the policy commenced, Rahm submitted a claim to the insurance company for the medical condition, misrepresenting the date of injury in an attempt to obtain $593.15 in coverage for a pre-existing condition. Rahm was arrested on May 3, 2024.

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