FEBRUARY 21, 2015
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA
An Eastern Iowa man has pleaded guilty in federal court to
mail fraud and using fire to commit a felony.
Federal prosecutors say James Marvin Plower of Olin faces at
least 10 years in prison and up to 30 years.
At a plea hearing Friday in federal court in Cedar Rapids
Plower said he made up a scheme to defraud his insurance company. He set fire
to his home in Martelle and submitted an insurance claim asserting the fire was
accidental. He collected more than $66,000 from the insurance company.
Plower, who is 50, was convicted of one count of mail fraud
and one count of using fire to commit a federal felony.
He was released on bond until he is sentenced at a later
date.