DES MOINES- A Johnston man has been arrested following an investigation that uncovered an alleged scheme to defraud his insurance company over roof damage claims.
Shawn Heuss, 46, was taken into custody on Thursday, October 30, 2025. He is charged with one count of Fraudulent Submission, one count of Second-Degree Theft, and one count of Second-Degree Fraudulent Practice, all Class D felonies. He was also arrested on an outstanding warrant for Failure to Appear related to a previous charge involving an Animal at Large.
According to criminal complaints filed by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau, Heuss submitted an insurance claim in September 2024 for weather-related roof damage at his Johnston home. The insurer approved the claim and issued an initial payment to cover the actual cash value of the repairs.
However, investigators allege that instead of repairing the damage, Heuss painted sections of the roof to alter its appearance and fabricated an invoice from his own business, Allure Roofing & Construction, falsely stating that the work had been completed. On January 2, 2025, Heuss submitted the document to his insurer and received additional recoverable depreciation funds he was not entitled to.
Heuss was arrested on October 30 and booked into the Polk County Jail, where he is currently being held. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing.
