Two individuals, Eddie Benitez Abreus and Carlos Yadier Garrido Guzman, both from Florida, were arrested in connection with scams in Hamilton and Kossuth Counties, Iowa. The scammers allegedly posed as public officials to deceive victims into handing over large sums of money.
On February 24, 2025, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a resident who had been scammed out of $10,000. The scam involved individuals posing as a lawyer and a judge, convincing the victim that their neighbor had been arrested and required bail money. One of the scammers, pretending to be a public official, visited the victim’s home and took the money.
Later that same day, the Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office received a similar scam report, identical to the one in Hamilton County. After identifying the vehicle used by the scammers, Kossuth County deputies issued a warrant for the vehicle’s renter. On February 27, authorities located the vehicle, and the driver, Eddie Abreus, was arrested. Abreus was found in possession of three cell phones, one of which contained the address of the Hamilton County victim.
Following this, an arrest warrant was issued for Carlos Guzman, who was also linked to the crime. Both Abreus and Guzman were charged with:
First-Degree Theft
Impersonation of a Public Official
The investigation involved collaboration between the Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, and Deputy Alex Sharp.
Authorities urge residents to be cautious and report any suspicious activity immediately to avoid falling victim to similar scams.
