Iowa Woman Charged with Insurance Fraud and Theft

press-releases

Filed January 13th, 2026

Detected March 17th, 2026

Summary

The Iowa Insurance Division announced the arrest and charging of Cristal Gale Kastantin for ongoing criminal conduct, theft, and fraudulent submission related to her former employment at an insurance agency. The charges stem from alleged misuse of work funds for personal gain and submission of false insurance claim documentation.

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What changed

Cristal Gale Kastantin, a former insurance agency employee in Wheatland, Iowa, has been arrested and charged with multiple felonies including Ongoing Criminal Conduct, Theft (1st and 2nd Degree), and Fraudulent Submission. The charges allege that Kastantin misused company funds for personal purchases and a vehicle down payment, and submitted false insurance claim documentation for services that were not rendered, resulting in financial loss to an insurer. The Iowa Insurance Division's Fraud Bureau and the Clinton County Sheriff's Office filed the criminal complaints.

This enforcement action highlights the risks associated with employee misconduct and fraudulent activities within the insurance sector. Regulated entities should review internal controls related to fund management and claims processing to prevent similar schemes. While no specific compliance deadline is mentioned, this case underscores the importance of robust oversight and adherence to fraud prevention measures to avoid severe legal and financial penalties, including felony charges.

What to do next

Review internal controls for fund management and employee expense authorization.
Enhance oversight of insurance claim documentation and verification processes.
Reinforce employee training on fraud prevention and ethical conduct.

Penalties

Felony charges including Ongoing Criminal Conduct (Class B Felony), Theft 1st Degree (Class C Felony), Theft 2nd Degree (Class D Felony), and Fraudulent Submission (Class D Felony).

Source document (simplified)

Clinton County Woman Charged with Insurance Fraud

Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Press Release

Image credit: Photo courtesy of the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office.

Des Moines – Cristal Gale Kastantin, of Wheatland, Iowa, was arrested on Saturday, January 3, 2026, on outstanding arrest warrants. Kastantin was charged with one count of Ongoing Criminal Conduct (Class B Felony), one count of Theft 1st Degree (Class C Felony), one count of Theft 2nd Degree (Class D Felony), and one count of Fraudulent Submission (Class D Felony).

According to criminal complaints filed by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau and the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, the criminal charges relate to conduct perpetrated by Kastantin during her former employment at an insurance agency located in Wheatland that has since been permanently closed. Kastantin employed a scheme to commit theft through the misuse of work funds for her own personal gain. Kastantin surreptitiously used work funds on at least several dozen occasions to make unauthorized personal purchases at various retailers. Additionally, Kastantin used work funds to make a down payment on her personal vehicle.

In addition to the charges relating to the misuse of funds, according to the criminal complaints, Kastantin also intentionally submitted or caused to be submitted, false documentation related to an insurance claim. The documentation falsely purported that restoration services had been provided to an insured party that had not truly been provided. According to the false documentation, the services had been provided by a business in which Kastantin had a vested financial interest. The business ultimately received payment for the services that had not truly been provided, which resulted in a financial loss to the insurer.

Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and defendants should be presumed innocent until they are found guilty.

Photo courtesy of the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office.