(Des Moines, Iowa) – An investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau, has resulted in the arrest of three Des Moines residents. Authorities say 52-year-old Lavona Lopez, 29-year-old Dario Ovelry, and 28-year-old Ashly Overly, all pled guilty to one count Insurance Fraud – Presenting False Information (a Class D Felony).

The investigation began in January 2021 after the Iowa Insurance Divisions Fraud Bureau received information indicating Lopez had provided false information to an insurer following an automobile accident in Polk County.

The investigation determined Lopez had made false representations regarding the nature of the loss in an effort to secure benefits of the insurance policy. Lopez made false statements to an insurer regarding the facts and circumstances of a motor vehicle collision. The investigation determined Lopez fabricated independent witnesses who provided statements to an insurer in support of Lopez’s version of events. The investigation identified Lopez’s witnesses as her son, Dario Ovelry, and daughter-in-law, Ashly Overy. The investigation determined that neither Dario nor Ashly Overly had been at, or near the scene of the collision nor had they witnessed the event leading up to the collision. Lavona Lopez, Dario Ovelry and Ashly Overly were all charged with Insurance Fraud and warrants were issued for their arrest.

Ashly Overly was arrested on June 17, 2022 and pled guilty to one count of insurance fraud on October 5, 2022. Dario Overly was arrested on June 17, 2022 and pled guilty to one count of insurance fraud on August 26, 2022. Lopez was arrested on November 9, 2022 and pled guilty to one count of insurance fraud on February 1, 2023.

Following their guilty pleas, Lavona Lopez, Dario Ovelry and Ashly Overy received  deferred sentences and were placed on supervised probation for a period of two years. They were also ordered to pay a fine of $1,025 each.

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

Des Moines – Former insurance producer Oscar Sanchez of Marshalltown was recently sentenced in Marshall County District Court after pleading guilty to his actions in an insurance fraud scheme. Sanchez pled guilty on December 8th, 2022, to three counts of Insurance Fraud – Fraudulent Submissions (Class D Felony) and four counts of Insurance Fraud-Fraudulent Sales Practices (Class D Felony) following an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division Fraud Bureau.

The sentence follows an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau which began in September of 2020. The investigation concluded that Sanchez provided fictitious insurance documents to  multiple individuals in Marshalltown and collected premium payments for insurance policies that did not exist. The investigation also found that, following a derecho, Sanchez collected illegitimate cash deductibles from insureds, which he used for his own personal gain.

Sanchez was arrested on July 26, 2021 and released after posting bond.  On December 8, 2022, Sanchez pled guilty to three counts of Insurance Fraud – Fraudulent Submissions and four counts of Insurance Fraud-Fraudulent Sales Practices.

Sanchez, Oscar

On February 3, 2023, Sanchez was sentenced for the crime of Insurance Fraud – Fraudulent Submission and received a five-year suspended prison sentence, two to five years supervised probation and was ordered to pay a $3,075 civil penalty. Sanchez was also sentenced for the crime of Insurance Fraud – Fraudulent Sales Practice and received a five-year suspended prison sentence, two to five years supervised probation and was ordered to pay a $4,100 civil penalty and $38,070 in restitution.

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

Photo courtesy of the Marshall County Jail.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Authorities in central Iowa are asking for your help in locating a Des Moines man went missing early Monday morning (Feb. 6, 2023), and who may be experiencing medical issues. Des Moines Police say 76-year-old Alan Wayne Conley left his north Des Moines home at around 2-a.m. Monday. Conley was driving a metallic beige/tan 2002 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck with damage on the passenger side. The vehicle has Iowa license plate ESF 376. The rear plate was being held on by a green bungee cord, according to family and friends. There is also a dent on the back bumper and a sticker that may be a Harley Davidson logo.

Authorities say Conley has medical issues that impact his awareness and requires medication. Conley is 6’ tall and weighs about 285 pounds. If you have any information about his location, please call your local authorities, or the Missing Person Information Clearinghouse for the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, at 515-725-6036.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Sentencing for an Atlantic man facing five felony charges in connection with a Sept., 2022 incident, will take place next week. According to online court records, 54-year-old Edward Allen Davenport waived his rights and through his attorney, entered a written plea of guilty to the charges on February 1^st.

Davenport was charged with Burglary in the 1^st Degree, Assault (with serious injury) while participating in a felony, Willful Injury Causing Bodily Injury, Going Armed with Intent, and Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon, all of which are felony offenses. He was set to stand trial in Atlantic on February 28^th. The trial had previously been continued twice before. Davenports remains held in the Cass County Jail on $60,000 bond. His sentencing is set for 9-a.m. Monday, Feb. 13, 2023.

Authorities say at around 2:20-a.m. on Sept. 5, 2022, Atlantic Police were notified an assault had occurred at a residence in the 800 block of Walnut Street, in Atlantic. During an investigation, officers made contact with the victim, who stated they had been assaulted by being struck multiple times with an object.

The victim said shortly after she arrived home, there was a knock at the door. After the door opened, a man entered the residence and began assaulting the victim. On Sept. 6th, Officers made contact with Davenport and arrested him in connection with the incident that occurred the previous day.

(Anamosa, Iowa) — The Iowa Department of Corrections reports it is redesignating the Anamosa State Penitentiary from a Maximum-to strictly medium-security facility. The Anamosa State Penitentiary (ASP) is a maximum/medium security institution that currently houses approximately 950 offenders, both medium- and maximum-security level inmates.  Its current maximum security inmates will now be moved to the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison. The department says the move comes as Iowa’s prison population drops. Both the Anamosa prison, with 915 inmates, and the Fort Madison prison, with 721, were over capacity as of Tuesday (Feb.8), according to I-DOC, although not all of Iowa’s nine prisons were. The state’s prison system Tuesday was over capacity by nearly 13.7 percent — that there were 7,946 inmates Tuesday but capacity for 6,990.

The Department of Corrections says the move to a medium security facility will allow them to focus on treatment opportunities for minimum security inmates.

In 2021, two staff members died after an assault at the State penitentiary. The prison has already undergone significant changes to its security following the murders of officer Robert McFarland and nurse Lorena Schulte during an attempted escape.

A review found the prison was overcrowded, understaffed and in need of stricter work assignment policies. Along with the security change, Anamosa and the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility are also swapping wardens. Anamosa prison’s warden, Kris Karberg, will be transferring into the warden position at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility, effective Feb. 17. The current Fort Dodge warden, Nick Lamb, will be transferring to the warden position at Anamosa. Both wardens have multiple decades of experience in security operations and correctional work.