A former sheriff’s deputy in Jones County, Iowa, has been given 13 years in prison for fraud linked to a fire he set at his vacant home.
Prosecutors say 50-year-old James Plower, of Olin, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids. Plower had pleaded guilty to mail fraud and using fire to commit a felony.
At his plea hearing, Plower said he made up a scheme to defraud his insurance company. He said he set fire to his vacant home in Martelle and submitted an insurance claim asserting the fire was accidental. He collected more than $66,000 from the insurance company.
Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Florida House Gives Final Approval to Much-Debated Citizens Clearinghouse Bill 
CRC Group CEO on Casualty: ‘It’s More About the Coverage’ Than Price 
Kyle Busch and Wife Settle Lawsuit With Pacific Life and Insurance Agent 
Fund Trying to Turn New Mexico Desert into an Advanced Tech Hub 
