(Ayrshire)– A two-month investigation into illegal lottery activity in Palo Alto county has landed three northwest Iowa women in jail on numerous felony charges.
The Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office was contacted in February about possible thefts and misappropriations at the Ayrshire Quick Stop. The Max Yield Cooperative, which owns the convenience store, told authorities about their suspicions of fraudulent lottery activity by the three women.
A joint investigation by the Sheriff’s Office, Iowa state lottery investigators and the Palo Alto County Attorney’s Office has led to the arrests of 31-year-old Erin Duffney of Gillett Grove, 40-year-old Anesa Bailey of Ayrshire and 42-year-old Sandra Little of Gillett Grove.
Duffney is charged with one count of first degree theft, a class “C” felony; and 15 counts of forgery…each a class “D” felony. She was placed in the Palo Alto county jail with a 159-thousand dollar bond.
Bailey is charged with one count of first degree theft, a class “C” felony; three counts of forgery…each a class “D” felony; one count of third degree theft; and eight counts of accessory after the fact. She was booked into the Palo Alto county jail on a 100,750-dollar bond.
Little was charged with five counts of forgery…each a class “D” felony; and one count of third degree theft. She was booked into jail on a 55-thousand dollar bond.
All three women are awaiting their initial appearance in court.
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted in their investigation by the Max Yield Coop staff.
(Story from Danielle Hitchings of sister station KDWD Hot 100 in Spencer.).
