Hartley man gets probation for insurance fraud

PRIMGHAR, Iowa -- A Hartley, Iowa, man has been placed on probation after pleading guilty of filing fraudulent insurance documents.

A similar case against his wife has been dismissed.

Jeremiah Poduska, 34, pleaded guilty June 15 in O'Brien County District Court to fraudulent submission to insurer -- fraudulent submission made with intent to defraud insurer.

District Judge Adam Miller on Tuesday deferred Poduska's judgment, placed him on two years probation and ordered him to pay a $1,025 civil penalty.

On Thursday, a case charging Poduska's wife, Alicia Poduska, with fraudulent submission to insurer -- conspire to make fraudulent submission with intent to defraud insurer was dismissed pursuant to terms of a plea agreement.

Jeremiah Poduska was charged with submitting a falsified invoice claiming rental equipment charges totaling $13,685 to his insurance company on July 21, 2024, in an attempt to obtain payment. The invoice contained a fictitious company name and falsely identified Alicia Poduska, who is an insurance adjuster, as the authorized contact person.

The two were arrested Oct. 8.