An Iowa couple pleaded guilty to insurance fraud, forgery and theft, the Iowa Insurance Division announced.
Des Moines – Lance Seastrand, age 52, and his wife, Staci Seastrand, age 56, of Davenport, were sentenced on October 31, 2024, after pleading guilty to felony charges stemming from an investigation by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Insurance Fraud Bureau.
The investigation by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office began in December 2021 when a disabled victim reported that family members Lance and Staci Seastrand had fraudulently withdrawn over $200,000 from the victim’s bank account and IRA. Detective Scott Wainwright of the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, along with Certified Fraud Examiner Kathy Barkalow at Schnurr Barkalow, investigated the case.
In March 2024, the Iowa Insurance Fraud Bureau began an investigation after receiving information that Lance Seastrand fraudulently withdrew $170,416.66 from the victim’s insurance annuity. The investigation concluded that Lance Seastrand submitted forged documents to the insurance company to effectuate the withdrawals.
Lance and Staci Seastrand used the fraudulently-obtained funds for their own personal benefit, in the form of cash withdrawals, casino withdrawals, and payments to creditors.
On August 16, 2024, Lance Seastrand pleaded guilty to three counts of Theft in the 2nd Degree (Class D felony), one count of Fraudulent Submission to an Insurer (Class D felony), and one count of Forgery (Class D felony). Staci Seastrand pleaded guilty to three counts of Theft in the 2nd Degree (Class D felony).
The Clinton County Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case.
Lance and Staci Seastrand were each sentenced to five years of prison (suspended), three years of supervised probation, and a $1,025 fine. The Seastrands were ordered to pay a joint sum of $150,000 restitution to the victim.
A No Contact Order is in effect for five years, prohibiting Lance and Staci Seastrand from having contact with the victim.
Source: Iowa Insurance Division
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