CEDAR RAPIDS — Quenden Hart, 18, of Waterloo, has been accused of stealing $10,000 from a rural Marion resident after allegedly orchestrating a phone scam involving fraudulent banking claims.
According to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Hart faces charges of second-degree robbery and first-degree theft. Authorities say the incident began in December when a rural Marion couple reported the theft.
Investigators allege the victim received a phone call from someone posing as a credit union investigator addressing a supposed fraud issue. The caller instructed the man to place his bank cards in his mailbox for pickup and later directed him to withdraw $10,000 in cash. The victim was told an “investigator” would come to his home to verify the funds.
When a young man arrived at the residence, the victim showed him the cash. Authorities say the suspect grabbed the money and attempted to flee in a vehicle. The victim tried to intervene and was dragged a short distance, suffering injuries.
The following day, the victim discovered unauthorized ATM withdrawals totaling $1,150 from the bank cards left in his mailbox.
Using vehicle descriptions and nearby video footage, investigators identified the suspect’s vehicle. The car was registered to Quentin Hart, who served as mayor of Waterloo from 2015 to 2025. Authorities determined the driver was his son, Quenden Hart, based on the victim’s description and investigative findings.
In a Facebook post, Quentin Hart addressed the allegations, describing the situation as one of the most difficult moments for his family. He expressed love and support for his son while acknowledging the seriousness of the charges and asking for privacy and prayers for all involved.
Hart was arrested Monday on a warrant and is currently being held at the Linn County Jail. As of now, formal charges have not yet appeared in the online court system, and his initial court appearance is pending.
