A Walcott, Iowa, insurance agent is facing more than two dozen criminal charges after state investigators accused him of opening insurance policies in relatives’ names without their knowledge.
The Iowa Insurance Division identified the agent as Stanly Blythe, 61. He was arrested June 26, 2026, and booked into the Scott County Jail.
Blythe is being held on a $75,000 cash-only bond, according to the agency. Criminal complaints filed by investigators said the activity happened between February 2024 and January 2025.
The charges are allegations. Blythe is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Investigators Say Relatives Did Not Know About The Policies
Investigators said Blythe opened insurance policies under the names of at least 11 family members who did not know the policies were being taken out. The Iowa Insurance Division also said he forged family members’ signatures on policy documents.
The Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, citing criminal complaints in the case, reported that the policies were life insurance policies. The complaint summary said Blythe electronically signed relatives’ names and listed himself as the beneficiary on some policies.
Investigators said the activity would have resulted in at least $36,360.76 in commissionable premiums. The Iowa Insurance Division did not release the names of the insurance companies involved or say whether any relatives paid money directly because of the policies.
The Complaint Summary Lists Multiple Policy Dates
The criminal-complaint summary published by the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud lists several dates when Blythe is accused of using family members’ personal information or signatures to obtain life insurance policies.
The listed examples include February 21, March 21, July 1, August 1, September 5, September 21, October 7, October 15, two entries on November 12, and January 24. Several entries include commissionable premium amounts, ranging from $994.72 to $6,283.22.
The Iowa Insurance Division’s official release summarized the same broader time period, saying investigators identified conduct from February 2024 through January 2025.
The Case Includes 24 Counts
Blythe was charged with one count of ongoing criminal conduct, a Class B felony, and one count of fraudulent sales practice involving more than $10,000, a Class C felony.
He also faces 11 counts of forgery and 10 counts of identity theft involving more than $1,500 and less than $10,000. Those counts are Class D felonies.
The final count is identity theft under $1,500, listed as an aggravated misdemeanor. In total, the case includes 24 counts, 23 of them felonies.
The Fraud Bureau Investigated The Case
The Iowa Insurance Division said its Fraud Bureau conducted an extensive investigation before the charges were filed.
The agency’s release did not include additional details about how the case was discovered, whether the policies were canceled, or whether the affected family members learned about the policies through notices, statements, or investigator contact.
Families Should Watch For Policies They Never Approved
Insurance identity fraud can show up through mail, email, bank drafts, policy documents, beneficiary notices, cancellation letters, or agent messages that do not match anything a person requested.
People should review unexpected life insurance, annuity, health, auto, or property insurance paperwork carefully, especially if the document lists a policy number, premium amount, electronic signature, beneficiary, or agent they do not recognize.
Iowa consumers can use the state’s licensed insurance agent and company lookup to check whether an agent or company is licensed. Suspected insurance fraud can be reported to the Iowa Insurance Division through its insurance fraud reporting page.
Anyone who finds a policy opened without permission should save the policy documents, envelopes, emails, premium notices, bank records, signatures, agent communications, and screenshots before contacting the insurance company, state insurance regulator, or law enforcement.