WATCH: Nunn, Iowa Leaders Highlight $1 Million Wapello County Scam, Urge Senate to Pass GUARD Act

Subscribe For Newsletter Updates! M About Blog News Priorities Issues Sponsored Legislation SHARE YOUR OPINION: 2025 Farm Bill SHARE YOUR OPINION: What are your priorities? 21 County Tours Serving You Get help with a Federal Agency Service Academy Nominations Visit DC Grant Program Application Internships Commendations and Greetings Congressional App Challenge Purchase a Flag Help for Veterans Mobile Office Hours Iowa Medal of Merit Contact Email Zach Get E-Mail Updates Office Locations Website Problem Follow Follow Follow Follow Oct 15, 2026 | News , Press Releases WATCH: Nunn, Iowa Leaders Highlight $1 Million Wapello County Scam, Urge Senate to Pass GUARD Act OTTUMWA, IA — Yesterday, Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03) joined Wapello County Sheriff Don Phillips, Ottumwa Mayor Ben Foote, Iowa Bankers Association Chair Melissa Spurgin, and local leaders at a Wapello County farm to call for Senate passage of his bipartisan GUARD Act . They highlighted the case of a local farmer who lost more than $1 million, his entire life savings, to an international romance scam. B-roll of the press conference can be found here and below. “Scammers stole more than $1 million from a Wapello County farmer who spent a lifetime earning it. His case showed why local deputies need better tools to trace stolen money and pursue the criminals behind these schemes,” said Rep. Nunn . “I introduced the GUARD Act because Iowa law enforcement asked for the resources to follow the money and hold these criminals accountable. We delivered overwhelming bipartisan support in the House. Now the Senate must finish the job, send this bill to the President’s desk, and ensure Iowans can retire with confidence that the savings they earned are protected.” The GUARD Act , which passed the House 414-7 in September, would give local law enforcement access to existing federal grants, specialized training, and financial tracing tools to investigate sophisticated scams and recover Iowans’ stolen savings without new federal spending. The bill has cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee and now awaits a vote in the full Senate. Photos of the press conference are available here , and b-roll is available here . ### Office Locations Des Moines Office 400 Locust Street Suite 250 Des Moines, IA 50309 Phone: (515) 400-8180 Ottumwa Office 223 East Main Street Suite 1 Ottumwa, IA 52501 Phone: (641) 220-9641 Creston Office 208 W Taylor Street Creston, IA 50801 Phone: (641) 220-9093 Washington, DC Office 1410 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-5476 Sign Up For Newsletter Updates Copyright Privacy House.gov Accessibility