Iowa Man Pleads Guilty in Home Insurance Fraud Case

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.