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.