Dennis Flaherty, Bettendorf Insurance Adjuster, Charged with Forgery & Identity Theft

Dennis Flaherty faces one Class D felony count of forgery, and three Class C felony counts of identity theft after an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau. The charges against him stem from an investigation that started in August of 2024. According to the criminal complaints filed by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau, Flaherty forged the signatures of his clients and their financial institutions on insurance proceeds checks without their knowledge and then deposited them into his business’s bank account. Flaherty entered into a public adjuster contract with a couple whose home had sustained fire damage in Scott County. He instructed their insurer to send the checks to Continental Fire Adjusters Inc., which they did. He then forged the signatures of his clients, their mortgage institution, as well as a financial institution, and then deposited the checks into his business’s bank account. The forged checks amounted to $250,000. A nationwide warrant for Flaherty’s arrest was issued on May 30, and he was booked into the Scott County Jail on July 2nd. Afterwards he was released when he posted bail for $35,000. Flaherty is currently scheduled for an arraignment on August 14th in the Scott County Court.