DYERSVILLE, Iowa (KCRG) – The City of Dyersville has filed a lawsuit against Dubuque County after not receiving the $524,293.88 in American Rescue Plan Act funds owed to the city for the Field of Dreams project. According to KCRG-TV, in December 2023, the City of Dyersville was supposed to receive the money for renovations at the Field of Dreams, but the funds were fraudulently directed to a third party. Dyersville and Dubuque County entered the agreement in December 2022.

However, scammers hacked the City of Dyersville’s email and sent emails to Dubuque County, impersonating a Dyersville city clerk requesting the funds. Dubuque County Auditor Kevin Dragotto stated the office had no reason to question the payment and alerted law enforcement as soon as they were made aware of the fraud. However, the lawsuit filed Thursday alleges Dubuque County took no action to reach out to anyone in Dyersville to confirm the request for a transfer of funds, nor verified which account the funds were going to.

The investigation into the stolen funds started in February. Dubuque County Sheriff Joe Kennedy said the investigation is still active and includes the FBI. Sheriff Kennedy has said the money had been transferred to cryptocurrency, meaning it would likely be impossible to ever recover the funds.

The Iowa Communities Assurance Pool denied coverage for the money, saying that because the County actively sent the money to the wrong account, it does not meet coverage for a hacking or fraudulent act.

Dyersville city leaders say Dubuque County still owes the money. They’re filing the lawsuit for a breach of the contract.