Des Moines – Officials with the Iowa Division of Insurance report John A. McAfee of Hannibal, Missouri, and McAfee & Associates were recently ordered by the Iowa Insurance Division to cease and desist from creating or purchasing and sending certain mailers or envelopes to Iowa residents or Iowa locations as stated in the enforcement order. McAfee and McAfee & Associates are now subject to a one year monitoring period and are also ordered to pay a total of $10,000 in civil penalties and $1,800.00 in costs of investigation.

McAfee, the owner and registered agent of McAfee & Associates, sent mailers to Iowa consumers that were deceptive, misleading, and created a false impression that the mailers were sent by the government. The mailers were sent for the purpose of generating marketing leads for life insurance, even though that information was not disclosed on the mailers. Chance McElhaney, Iowa Insurance Division spokesman said “We encourage Iowa consumers to reach out to our office if something seems misleading. Scammers will use a variety of tactics to be deceptive in order to take advantage of folks.”

McAfee & Associates were previously barred on February 4, 2019 from sending mailers to Iowa residents or any location in Iowa that “create a false impression that the mailer is sent from any government entity or department” and ordered to pay $5,000 to the Iowa Attorney General to be deposited in the Consumer Education and Litigation Fund.

Iowans are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division if they need assistance.

A Wyoming man being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail, was charged Wednesday with bringing contraband into the jail. 33-year old Aaron Russell Schucker, of Lander, WY., remains in the jail on a $1,000 bond for the contraband charge, and a total of $5,300 on previous drug and drug paraphernalia charges.  And, an investigation into the alleged assault of a 17-year old male in Neola, resulted in the arrest of 36-year old Sean Michael  Moore. He faces a charge of Assault – Causing Serious Bodily Injury (without intent).

Firefighters from Minden, Neola and Underwood responded at around 3-p.m. Wednesday, to a report of a semi on fire on Interstate 80, just south of the I-80/I-880 split, in Pottawattamie County. According to the Minden Fire Department’s Facebook page, units enroute to the scene advised they could see heavy smoke from miles away. Strong winds and the trailers’ content made the fire difficult to fight. No injuries were reported. It’s not clear what caused the blaze, which completely destroyed the semi tractor & trailer.

Photos via the Minden Fire & Rescue Dept. Facebook page.

Minden Fire officials said they very much appreciated all the efforts of the Iowa Department of Transportation in keeping the interstate closed down for an extended period of time, which allowed crews space to fight this blaze and clean-up the scene.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man suspected of killing two women at his northeast Iowa home has been arrested in Illinois. Matthew Buford III was found in Peoria, Illinois, and arrested late Wednesday night on warrants listing two counts of first-degree murder in Iowa’s Black Hawk County. Court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for him. He’s accused of killing 42-year-old Tamica Allison and 41-year-old Andrea Anderson. Police say Allison lived in the home with Buford, and Anderson was visiting. Officers and medics who were called to the home around 11:20 p.m. Monday found the two bodies.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A prosecutor told jurors on the opening day of a murder trial that they were going on a journey in time to learn about an Iowa high school girl who was slain more than 40 years ago. Testimony began Wednesday in the trial of Jerry Burns. He’s accused of fatally stabbing 18-year-old Michelle Martinko at a Cedar Rapids mall. A prosecutor says Martinko’s lungs and aorta were pierced and she lost about a third of her blood. The prosecutor also says DNA shows that Burns’ blood was found at the crime scene. But defense attorney Leon Spies told jurors that evidence will show Burns isn’t guilty of first-degree murder.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office has issued a report on nine arrests that occurred over nearly the past couple of weeks. Last Saturday, 33-year old Hector Manuel Quinones-Cardona, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated 2nd Offense. Quinones-Cardona was released on $2,000 cash/surety bond. Last Thursday (Feb. 6th), 34-year old Justin Blake Richardson, of Farragut, arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault, 2nd Offense. Richardson was released after posting $2000 cash/surety bond.

On Feb. 5th:

• 35-year old Zachary Michael Anderson, of Sidney, was arrested for a Failure to Appear for a Child Support hearing. Anderson was released after posting $1000 cash bond.
• 25-year old Cicy Miracle Castro-Pinske, of Sidney, was arrested on an outstanding out of state warrant. Castro-Pinske was extradited out of state.
• 49-year old Joseph Steven Stiegmann, of Hamburg, was arrested for Feb. 5th Sexual Abuse 2nd Degree, on victims under the age of 12, Class B Felonies. Stiegmann was released after posting $50,000 cash/surety bond.
• 26-year old Colton Frank Sederburg, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for 3 counts of First-Degree Harassment, for an incident that occurred in Farragut. Colton is being held on $5,000 cash/surety bond.
• And, 42-year old Christopher Dos Santos, of Riverton, was arrested Feb 5th at the Fremont County Jail, on a warrant for Operating While Intoxicated 2nd Offense. Dos Santos is being held on $5,000 cash/surety bond.

On Feb. 3rd, 28-year old Travis Jay Tubbs, of Jupiter, FL, was arrested in Fremont County for Possession of a Controlled Substance. He was later released on $1000 cash/surety bond. And, on Feb. 2nd. 61-year old Gregory James Springer, of Riverton, was arrested for Domestic Assault 1st Offense. He was later released on $300 bond.