Iowa criminal charge
Financial exploitation of an older individual in Iowa
Current through 2026 Iowa legislative session
Financial exploitation of an older individual is a criminal offense under Iowa law, defined by Iowa Code § 726.25. Its classification is not fixed: Iowa assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Iowa Code § 726.25.
What is the penalty for financial exploitation of an older individual in Iowa?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 1 years (First offense — value $100 or less — First offense of financial exploitation of an older individual where the value of the benefits, property, resources, belongings, or assets is one hundred dollars or less.; the court may order imprisonment in addition to the fine (§903.1(1)(b))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $430 to $2,560 (First offense — value $100 or less — First offense of financial exploitation of an older individual where the value of the benefits, property, resources, belongings, or assets is one hundred dollars or less.; fine may not be suspended by the court (§903.1(1)); §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 2 years (First offense — value exceeds $100 but not $1,000 — First offense where the value of the benefits, property, resources, belongings, or assets exceeds one hundred dollars but does not exceed one thousand dollars.; a sentence of more than one year is an indeterminate term (§903.1(2))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $855 to $8,540 (First offense — value exceeds $100 but not $1,000 — First offense where the value of the benefits, property, resources, belongings, or assets exceeds one hundred dollars but does not exceed one thousand dollars.; fine may not be suspended by the court (§903.1(1)); §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (First offense — value exceeds $1,000 but not $10,000 — First offense where the value of the benefits, property, resources, belongings, or assets exceeds one thousand dollars but does not exceed ten thousand dollars.; indeterminate term (§902.3); maximum only, release determined by the board of parole) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Fine | $1,025 to $10,245 (First offense — value exceeds $1,000 but not $10,000 — First offense where the value of the benefits, property, resources, belongings, or assets exceeds one thousand dollars but does not exceed ten thousand dollars.; §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | up to 10 years (First offense — value exceeds $10,000 but not $50,000 — First offense where the value of the benefits, property, resources, belongings, or assets exceeds ten thousand dollars but does not exceed fifty thousand dollars.; indeterminate term (§902.3); maximum only, release determined by the board of parole) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Fine | $1,370 to $13,660 (First offense — value exceeds $10,000 but not $50,000 — First offense where the value of the benefits, property, resources, belongings, or assets exceeds ten thousand dollars but does not exceed fifty thousand dollars.; §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | up to 25 years (First offense — value exceeds $50,000 or heightened victim-age/value thresholds — First offense where the value exceeds fifty thousand dollars, or the older individual is 70-80 years old and the value is at least fifteen thousand dollars, or the older individual is 80 or older and the value is at least five thousand dollars.; indeterminate term (§902.3): the statute sets only the maximum; release is determined by the board of parole. No fine for a class “B” felony under §902.9) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | up to 10 years (Second or subsequent offense — value not exceeding $50,000 — Second or subsequent offense where the value of the benefits, property, resources, belongings, or assets does not exceed fifty thousand dollars and the heightened age/value thresholds of subsection 3(e) do not apply.; indeterminate term (§902.3); maximum only, release determined by the board of parole) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Fine | $1,370 to $13,660 (Second or subsequent offense — value not exceeding $50,000 — Second or subsequent offense where the value of the benefits, property, resources, belongings, or assets does not exceed fifty thousand dollars and the heightened age/value thresholds of subsection 3(e) do not apply.; §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
Applies to current (2026 Iowa Code; fine levels per 2020 Acts ch 1074).
How is financial exploitation of an older individual classified in Iowa?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| First offense — value $100 or less | Serious Misdemeanor | First offense of financial exploitation of an older individual where the value of the benefits, property, resources, belongings, or assets is one hundred dollars or less. | Iowa Code § 726.25(3)(a) |
| First offense — value exceeds $100 but not $1,000 | Aggravated Misdemeanor | First offense where the value of the benefits, property, resources, belongings, or assets exceeds one hundred dollars but does not exceed one thousand dollars. | Iowa Code § 726.25(3)(b) |
| First offense — value exceeds $1,000 but not $10,000 | Class “D” Felony | First offense where the value of the benefits, property, resources, belongings, or assets exceeds one thousand dollars but does not exceed ten thousand dollars. | Iowa Code § 726.25(3)(c) |
| First offense — value exceeds $10,000 but not $50,000 | Class “C” Felony | First offense where the value of the benefits, property, resources, belongings, or assets exceeds ten thousand dollars but does not exceed fifty thousand dollars. | Iowa Code § 726.25(3)(d) |
| First offense — value exceeds $50,000 or heightened victim-age/value thresholds | Class “B” Felony | First offense where the value exceeds fifty thousand dollars, or the older individual is 70-80 years old and the value is at least fifteen thousand dollars, or the older individual is 80 or older and the value is at least five thousand dollars. | Iowa Code § 726.25(3)(e) |
| Second or subsequent offense — value not exceeding $50,000 | Class “C” Felony | Second or subsequent offense where the value of the benefits, property, resources, belongings, or assets does not exceed fifty thousand dollars and the heightened age/value thresholds of subsection 3(e) do not apply. | Iowa Code § 726.25(4) |
Common questions about financial exploitation of an older individual in Iowa
Is financial exploitation of an older individual a felony or a misdemeanor in Iowa?
It depends on the circumstances: financial exploitation of an older individual ranges from a Serious Misdemeanor to a Class “B” Felony in Iowa under Iowa Code § 726.25.
First offense — value $100 or less: Serious Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 726.25(3)(a)) · First offense — value exceeds $100 but not $1,000: Aggravated Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 726.25(3)(b)) · First offense — value exceeds $1,000 but not $10,000: Class “D” Felony (Iowa Code § 726.25(3)(c)) · First offense — value exceeds $10,000 but not $50,000: Class “C” Felony (Iowa Code § 726.25(3)(d)) · First offense — value exceeds $50,000 or heightened victim-age/value thresholds: Class “B” Felony (Iowa Code § 726.25(3)(e)) · Second or subsequent offense — value not exceeding $50,000: Class “C” Felony (Iowa Code § 726.25(4))
What are the penalties for financial exploitation of an older individual in Iowa?
Which Iowa statute covers financial exploitation of an older individual?
Financial exploitation of an older individual is governed by Iowa Code § 726.25 (Financial exploitation of an older individual).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.