DES MOINES, IA – An Ottumwa man and woman were convicted of conspiring to defraud
the Internal Revenue Service by filing hundreds of fraudulent tax returns and of defrauding
applicants out of unemployment insurance benefits and the Iowa Workforce Development out of
benefits payments.
On May 22, 2023, Thein Maung, 47, pleaded guilty to 49 fraud and tax charges. On June 2,
2023, a federal jury convicted Phyo Mi, 21, of 16 fraud charges. According to court documents and
evidence presented at Mi’s four-day trial, Maung and Mi ran a fraudulent tax-preparation business
out of their family’s Ottumwa home. In exchange for a cash fee, Maung and Mi prepared and filed
their customers’ tax returns. Maung and Mi primarily catered to immigrants and refugees who
worked at meat-packing facilities in Iowa and who had little or no ability to read, write, or speak
English.
Without their customers’ knowledge or approval, Maung and Mi included on their
customers’ federal tax returns, schedules, and forms, fraudulent items, such as false claims for
residential energy credits, business-expense deductions, or moving-expense deductions for members
of the United States Armed Forces. The effect of Maung and Mi including fraudulent items on the
tax documents was to increase the refunds their clients received and increase Maung and Mi’s
customer base. In all, from 2018 to 2022, Maung and Mi caused over 1600 tax returns to be filed
from their Ottumwa residence. The fraudulent tax returns claimed over $3.5 million in residential
energy credits.
From 2018 to 2022, Maung and Mi received approximately over $200,000 in cash fees from
their customers. In addition, on their customers’ returns, Maung and Mi sometimes directed portions
of the fraudulent refunds be sent to financial institution accounts accessible to Maung and Mi.
Maung and Mi also offered to help customers apply for unemployment benefits from Iowa
Workforce Development. Without their customers’ knowledge or approval, Maung and Mi
submitted materials to Iowa Workforce Development directing that their customers’ benefits
payments be sent to financial institution accounts that Maung and Mi had access to. From
October 2020 through March 2021, Maung and Mi directed nearly $100,000 in fraudulent
2
unemployment insurance benefits payments be sent from Iowa Workforce Development to their
accounts, instead of to the eligible claimants.
“This guilty verdict brings Phyo Mi and Thein Maung to justice. They created and
implemented this massive energy credit and false deduction scheme to fund their greed at the
expense of trusting taxpayers,” said Special Agent in Charge Thomas F. Murdock of the IRS
Criminal Investigation St. Louis Field Office. “This conviction should serve as notice that we will
vigorously prosecute those criminals who engage in any form of tax fraud.”
Sentencings for both Maung and Mi are scheduled for September 27, 2023, in Des Moines,
before Chief United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the
announcement.
The investigation was conducted by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the
Ottumwa Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle Essley and Laura Roan
prosecuted the case.

Southeastern Community College is offering free health career exploration camps. The camps are for area youth age 12 and up, to spend the day exploring two healthcare professions.

The explore respiratory care camp will be from 12:30-4 p.m. Monday, June 12, on the West Burlington Campus.

There will be two explore nursing camps, one at the West Burlington Campus and the other at the Keokuk Campus. The first will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, June 16, on the West Burlington Campus and the second on Friday, June 23, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Keokuk Campus.

Space is limited for the camps. Email kschreiner@scciowa.edu to register. Visit www.scciowa.edu for more information.

The West Burlington Police Department has announced the arrest of a man on multiple charges.

According to a news release, at about 4:52 AM Monday, June 5th West Burlington Police Officers responded to 1223 W. Mt. Pleasant St. for a report of a burglary. It was found that thousands of dollars of items had been stolen from the residence.

Detectives were called to the scene to assist in the investigation.

West Burlington Police traveled to 619 Hedge Avenue, where they discovered a man, later identified as Leo Edwards Jennings , unloading stolen items out of a vehicle from the burglary.

An officer and detective attempted to detain Jennings which led to a struggle.  Jennings was taken into custody, and the officer and detective sustained minor injuries during the struggle.

Jennings was arrested for Interference with Official Acts causing Bodily Injury, Theft 2nd Degree, Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense (Methamphetamine), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

DES MOINES, Iowa (June 5, 2023) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented today on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.

“In between spotty thunderstorms last week, farmers took advantage of the opportunity to begin applying crop protection products, adding side-dress fertilizer, and cutting and baling hay,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “Widespread rain totals were below average and much of the state remains abnormally dry, but forecasts do indicate chances for precipitation and a return to more seasonal temperatures.”

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.

Crop Report
Isolated rain showers during the week led to 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 4, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Farmers were still planting some corn and soybeans this week, however nearly all planting activities are finished. There were limited reports of crop replanting in certain fields. Other field activities included cutting hay and spraying emerging crops.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 13 percent very short, 42 percent short, 44 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 12 percent very short, 41 percent short, 46 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Corn emergence reached 94 percent, 1 week ahead of last year and 8 days ahead of the 5-year average. Corn condition declined 5 percentage points to 72 percent good to excellent. Ninety-eight percent of Iowa’s expected soybean crop has been planted, 10 days ahead of last year and 2 weeks ahead of normal. Eighty-seven percent of soybeans have emerged, 10 days ahead of last year and 12 days ahead of the average. Soybean condition rated 70 percent good to excellent. Thirty-eight percent of the oat crop has headed, 8 days ahead of last year and the average. Oat condition declined to 70 percent good to excellent.  

Seventy-eight percent of the State’s first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed, 12 days ahead of the 5-year average. Hay condition fell 6 percentage points to 52 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition dropped to 42 percent good to excellent. Some livestock producers have already had to feed hay due to drying pastures.

Weather Summary
Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

A large-scale high-pressure system over Canada produced anomalous southeasterly to easterly flow across Iowa towards the end of the reporting period. Widely scattered pop-up thunderstorms also formed over portions of Iowa on several days, though rainfall was below average. Unseasonably warm conditions continued with positive departures of up to 12 degrees in northwest Iowa; the statewide average temperature was 73.7 degrees, 8.3 degrees above normal.

Sunshine and southeasterly winds continued through Sunday (28th) afternoon with daytime temperatures in the low 80s statewide. Clouds increased in southwestern Iowa overnight as scattered showers formed near sunrise on Monday (29th) before dissipating in west-central Iowa by mid-morning. Partly cloudy skies remained in western Iowa with afternoon highs in the mid to upper 80s at many stations. A disturbance moving across the Dakotas produced isolated thunderstorms over northwestern and north-central Iowa late in the day and through the early morning hours of Tuesday (30th). Only a handful of stations observed rainfall totals above 0.10 inch though Mapleton (Monona County) measured 0.78 inch. Storms refired in western Iowa as temperatures pushed into the upper 80s with southerly flow. Many stations observed 0.25 to 0.50-inch totals with slower moving thunderstorms dropping 3.13 inches and 3.66 inches at two stations in Fort Dodge (Webster County); 20 stations reported at least an inch. Wednesday (31st) morning lows remained in the 60s with light showers over northern Iowa. Afternoon thunderstorms popped up in northwestern Iowa with locally heavy rainfall and flash flooding in O’Brien County; Sheldon measured 1.34 inches with a half-inch total at Rock Rapids (Lyon County). Pockets of showers and thunderstorms formed from southwest to central Iowa into Thursday (1st) morning with afternoon heat producing scattered pop-up storms across the state several hours later.

Partly to mostly cloudy skies persisted into Friday (2nd) as temperatures rose into the upper 80s at many stations. In the presence of ample low-level moisture and instability, afternoon thunderstorms again fired over much of Iowa. Most of the thunderstorm activity fizzled out around sunset with rain showers remaining in western Iowa. Rain totals over the previous 48 hours were above 0.30 inch at most stations receiving rainfall with Atlantic (Cass County) and Little Sioux (Harrison County) reporting 2.09 and 2.30 inches, respectively. Saturday (3rd) was generally quiet across Iowa with daytime conditions in the upper 80s and low 90s at southern and eastern stations; the statewide average high was 89 degrees, 12 degrees above normal. Easterly flow pushed scattered thundershowers across northern Iowa during the afternoon hours; Rock Valley (Sioux County) reported 1.24 inches while Swea City (Kossuth County) picked up 1.45 inches. Skies remained mostly clear into Sunday (4th) with unseasonably warm morning temperatures in the mid to upper 60s, up to 10 degrees above average.

Weekly rain totals ranged from no accumulation at eastern Iowa stations to 3.93 inches in St. Charles (Madison County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.64 inch, while the normal is 0.97 inch. Dubuque Lock and Dam (Dubuque County) reported the week’s high temperature of 94 degrees on the 3rd, 16 degrees above normal. Anamosa (Jones County) and Centerville (Appanoose County) reported the week’s low temperature of 43 degrees on the 29^th, on average 10 degrees below normal.

1. Roll Call

2. Consent Agenda

Note: These are routine items and will be enacted by one motion without separate discussion unless a Council member requests an item be removed for separate consideration.

a. Minutes of May 17, 2023

b. Bills for Payment

c. Treas. Report

d. Clerks Budgetary Report

e. Utility Dept. Report

f. Police Dept. Report

g. Firefighter Dept. Report

3. Citizen Forum

The Mayor and City Council welcome comments from the public for items not listed on the agenda. You are asked to state your name and address for the record and to limit your remarks in order that others may be given the opportunity to speak. The Order of Business is at the discretion of the Chair. No action will be taken.

4. Unfinished Business

5. New Business

a. USDA – Dana Boone – Community Programs Presentation

b. Res. 2023-12 “A Resolution Establishing a Public Purpose”

c. Nominations to Board of Adjustment and Planning & Zoning Commission Boards

6. Building Permits – Approved

Joe Paulsen – 10’ x 12’ addition to existing wood deck at 212 W 2nd Street

Jeff Perry – Move in 16’ x 10’ x 12’ frame storage shed at 207 W Front Street

Danny Crawford – 96 sf Patio addition and 480 sf concrete driveway at 102 E Main St.

Seth Wenger – Replace Conklin roof coating and apply Conklin coating to East wall of commercial building at 208 W Main St.

7. Adjournment