United Group Insurance

Eighteen Individuals Indicted on Federal Bank Fraud and Money Laundering Charges

News

September 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa – A federal grand jury in Des Moines has returned an indictment charging 18 individuals with offenses related to bank fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy. The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa today (Monday), said as alleged in the Indictment, Defendants orchestrated a nationwide scheme to defraud financial institutions and draw funds from stolen business checks. Defendants, located across the country, first obtained the stolen checks from uncharged co-conspirators.

They then registered sham entities with the IRS and state government agencies—including the Iowa Secretary of State—with names which were identical or similar to the legitimate recipients of the checks. After obtaining registration documents and IRS employer identification numbers, Defendants opened or attempted to open accounts at banks and credit unions in the names of the sham entities, intending to deposit the stolen checks. While attempting to open the accounts, Defendants made material misrepresentations to or concealed material facts from the banks and credit unions.

The Indictment alleges that once Defendants were able to open the accounts for the sham entities, they deposited or attempted to deposit the stolen checks in the accounts. If the deposit was successful, Defendants withdrew large amounts of cash from the accounts and/or obtained cashier’s or official checks from the accounts. Defendants distributed the proceeds among their co-conspirators.

Oftentimes, Defendants obtained cashier’s or official checks written to sham entities that were created for the purpose of laundering stolen check proceeds. Defendants used the money obtained from the stolen business checks for their personal benefit and purposes.

The Indictment alleges the Defendants’ conduct affected at least twelve business victims and at least fourteen financial institution victims. Defendants and their co-conspirators attempted to deposit at least $10 million worth of stolen checks into fraudulent accounts and were able to obtain at least $2.1 million in proceeds from their criminal conduct.

If convicted, Defendants face a maximum penalty of thirty years in prison on counts alleging bank fraud or bank fraud conspiracy and ten years in prison on counts alleging money laundering or money laundering conspiracy.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case with assistance from the Postal Inspection Service, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and Secret Service, as well as with assistance from numerous state and local agencies. Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle Essley, Kristin Herrera, and Joseph Lubben are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Konrardy Named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week

Sports

September 9th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State kicker Kyle Konrardy has been named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday.

The redshirt freshman from Dubuque, Iowa connected on two crucial field goals in the fourth quarter in a 20-19 come-from-behind victory at No. 21 Iowa on Saturday. His biggest kick was a game-winning 54-yarder with six seconds remaining to give Iowa State its second consecutive victory inside Kinnick Stadium.

The Cyclones trailed 13-0 at the half and 19-7 with 4:47 left in the third quarter. Konrardy, who had no field goal attempts in Week 1 against North Dakota and missed a 41-yard attempt on the first half’s final play against Iowa, was instrumental in the comeback against the Hawkeyes, adding a 46-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.

Konrardy’s 54-yard field goal tied Grant Mahoney (2009) for longest field goal by a Cyclone against Iowa.

Iowa State is off with a bye this weekend but returns to Jack Trice Stadium against Arkansas State on Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. To purchase tickets, click here.

Porter Named East-West Shrine Bowl Co-Breakout Defensive Player of the Week

Sports

September 9th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State defensive back Darien Porter has been named the East-West Shrine Bowl’s Co-Breakout Defensive Player of the Week, given weekly to an all-star game eligible defensive player that displayed the most NFL traits that week.

Porter had a big day in Iowa State’s 20-19 road victory over the No. 21 Hawkeyes, snagging the first two interceptions of his career to became just the third player in ISU history to have two interceptions in a game against Iowa (Larry Crawford, 1980; David Sims, 2009). He is one of seven FBS players nationally, and the only Big 12 player, with two interceptions in a game this season.

Porter’s first interception came at the ISU 25-yard line to prevent a Hawkeye score in the third quarter while the second came on Iowa’s Hail Mary attempt to end the game.

The Bettendorf, Iowa native also broke up a pass on a key Iowa two-point conversion in the fourth quarter which eventually allowed Iowa State to win by a point.

Porter finished the game with two tackles.

Iowa State is off with a bye this weekend but returns to Jack Trice Stadium against Arkansas State on Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. To purchase tickets, click here.

UNI’s Mark Farley previews Nebraska

Sports

September 9th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Northern Iowa is 21st in the FCS Coaches Poll as the Panthers get ready to visit Nebraska. The Panthers are 2-0 and face a Husker team that enter the national rankings at number 23.

That’s Panther coach Mark Farley. It will be a homecoming of sorts for several players from Nebraska on the UNI roster.

Farley on the opportunity to play the Huskers.

Through two games the Panthers are averaging nearly 300 yards on the ground but just 107 of passing.

Nebraska’s Matt Rhule previews Northern Iowa

Sports

September 9th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Nebraska coach Matt Rhule says the Huskers have bigger plans than just being nationally ranked. Nebraska is 23rd in the latest AP Poll after a win over Colorado and take a 2-0 record into Saturday’s game against Northern Iowa.

At the beginning of his second season rebuilding the Husker program Rhule is seeing progress.

After facing two spread teams in the first two games Rhule says the Panthers provide a different challenge.

Rhule says the Panthers will provide a physical test.

RUBY DIBEL, 89, of Greenfield (Celebration of Life 9/14/24)

Obituaries

September 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

RUBY DIBEL, 89, of Greenfield, died July 17, 2024. A Celebration of Life for RUBY DIBEL will be held September 14, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Macksburg, Iowa. Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield has the arrangements.

Burial is the Moon Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to Living in the Right Lane, the foundation established in Ruby’s great grandson, Lane McDaniel’s honor, which assists families of children with disabilities. Send your memorial contributions to Lamb Funeral Home, PO Box 390, Greenfield, Iowa 50849.

RUBY DIBEL is survived by:

Her daughters – Sylvia ‘Starr’ (John) Cain, Mary Lynn Wallace, and Dorie Dibel.

10 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandson, and her daughter-in-law, Karen Dibel.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

 

Becht Named in Manning Award’s Stars of the Week

Sports

September 9th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht has been given one of the Manning Award’s eight Stars of the Week.

College football fans can follow the Manning Award on social media (@ManningAward) to vote for what they think was the best performance from this past weekend. After voting closes on Wednesday at 9 a.m. (Central), the top vote-getter will be announced as the Manning Award Quarterback of the Week.

Becht led Iowa State to a 20-19 comeback victory at No. 21 Iowa Saturday. The Cyclones trailed 13-0 at halftime, and 19-7 with less than five minutes remaining in the third quarter but left with their second consecutive win in Kinnick Stadium.

Becht started the game 11-of-19 for only 72 yards and an interception but finished 12-of-16 for 200 yards and two touchdowns to engineer the comeback. His final stat line read 23-of-35 for 272 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

After Iowa scored a touchdown to take a 19-7 lead late in the third quarter, Becht found Jaylin Noel on the next play for a 75-yard touchdown pass to pull ISU back to within five points. It was Iowa State’s second-longest play against Iowa since 1971.

The Cyclone offense got the ball back one final time trailing 19-17 and the Wesley Chapel, Fla. native delivered a critical 30-yard completion to Noel with 29 seconds to go to set up the game-winning 54-yard field goal.

Iowa State is off with a bye this weekend but returns to Jack Trice Stadium against Arkansas State on Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. To purchase tickets, click here.

Wastewater discharge in Crawford County reaches Boyer River

Ag/Outdoor, News

September 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Crawford County, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a wastewater bypass at the City of Denison in Crawford County. Officials at the Iowa DNR Field Office in Atlantic received a call today (Monday) from Denison Municipal Utilities (DMU) regarding a wastewater bypass due to a lateral service line that had become plugged.

The discharge was discovered around 7:40 a.m. at the Denison Country Store located at 1108 4th Avenue S. in Denison. It is estimated that up to 300 gallons of sewage flowed onto the ground and a portion of it flowed into a storm sewer which outlets to the Boyer River.  DMU staff were able to remove the blockage and officials say the discharge has stopped.

Cleanup efforts have begun. Residents are advised to avoid the area. Water samples have been collected for testing. No dead fish have been observed at this time. The Iowa DNR will follow up with the city for further assessment.

To report a release after hours, please call the DNR’s emergency spill line at (515) 725-8694. Quick reporting can help DNR staff identify the cause of an incident. The DNR website has more information about spill reporting requirements.

Packing your child a healthy school lunch doesn’t have to be a chore

News

September 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A new state-by-state report on adult and childhood obesity will be released this week, and Iowa health officials are hoping to see improvement after a poor showing last year. Ellen Compton, a registered dietician with Gundersen Health, says Iowa parents who are packing their kids’ lunches can make eating healthy a priority.

“It just takes a little bit more prep work,” Compton says, “so making sure that you are preparing things like fruits and vegetables in advance and pre-packaging them into little Ziploc bags, having them available and ready, so that you can just grab that from the fridge, instead of something like a bag of chips.” Compton says the same goes for snacks, and rather than letting kids dive into a big bag of munchies, portion out their helpings in advance, and focus on healthy.

“Trail mix is a great one. It helps to keep kids feeling full, and sometimes can add a little sweet treat in there with some chocolate chips, and just making sure that you’re packaging them in appropriate portion sizes,” Compton says, “so typically, following the serving size on the back of the package is a good idea.” She encourages parents to send their kids off to school with a lunch that’s nutritious, and size-appropriate — not too much food, and not too little.

“Make sure that you have your fresh foods in there, like fruits and vegetables, kind of catering a little bit to what your kids like, so they’re more likely to eat what you pack them,” Compton says, “and making sure that there’s some sort of a protein in there. Protein is going to help to keep them feeling fuller for longer.”

Last year’s report from Trust for America’s Health found Iowa’s adult obesity rate held steady at 37-percent. Colorado had the nation’s lowest obesity rate at 25-percent, while West Virginia was highest at 41-percent.

Landowners plan gathering in advance of Summit’s meeting about expanding pipeline

Ag/Outdoor, News

September 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A group of northern Iowans, including landowners along the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline route, plan to host a meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) in Titonka. Bud Jermeland of Forest City says they’ll discuss the options people have when they’re contacted by Summit.

“To know what’s currently happening with the pipeline, to know legal wise what they need to know — if they need to seek legal counsel,” Jermeland says, “questions they need to have answered, options as far as letting their land go to eminent domain and what that process entails.”

In late August, Summit began holding informational meetings in areas where the original pipeline route would be expanded if regulators approve extending the route. Summit will host a meeting in Kossuth County next Monday and in Hancock County this Friday. “It’s an individual choice,” Jermeland says, “but we just want them to know there are options out there.”

Summit will host an informational meeting tonight (Monday) in Buchanan County. Meetings are scheduled for Tuesday in Fayette and Bremer Counties. On Wednesday, Summit’s information meetings will be in Butler and Floyd Counties.

Summit’s project would be the largest carbon capture and storage project in the world and the company’s executives say the pipeline will expand economic opportunities for ethanol producers and for corn farmers.

(Here’s the link to when and where Summit’s informational meetings are being held: https://summitcarbonsolutions.com/iowa-utilities-commission-approves-public-information-meeting-dates-for-summit-carbon-solutions-expansion-counties/)