Iowa City man charged after allegedly diverting insurance money to business owner
Hunter
06/23/22
An Iowa City man was arrested on a warrant stemming from a November incident where he received alleged “kickback” money for diverting funds to a business owner who did derecho restoration work.
According to the criminal complaint, an unnamed co-defendant was working at a sales partner for a storm restoration company, contracted to replace the roof and gutters on buildings damaged by the August 2020 derecho at Turf Masters Lawn and Landscape in Coralville.
In November 2021, the insurance company issued a check for over $129,000 to Turf Masters to pay the remaining balance owed the restoration company. Instead of paying the storm restoration company who completed the work, 39-year old Curtis Dillon reportedly transferred the check from the Turf Masters business checking account directly to the co-defendant’s business checking account.
Bank records allegedly show that after the funds were diverted, the co-defendant transferred $7000 to Dillon’s personal checking account just minutes later, as an apparent “kickback” for diverting the insurance money directly to the co-defendant.
A warrant was issued for Dillon’s arrest on June 3rd; he was taken into custody early Thursday morning. He’s been charged with 1st degree Theft, a Class C felony punishable by a prison term of up to ten years if convicted.
