November 7, 2025
LYON COUNTY, Iowa – On November 6, 2025, a Lyon County jury found Shaun Joseph Benward, 38, guilty of multiple felony charges. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s Special Enforcement Operations Bureau initiated an investigation in 2018, and warrants were issued for his arrest. Benward was later located in Mississippi in April 2025 and arrested for the following:
Five counts of Money Laundering, a class C felony
Five counts of Cheating at Gambling Games, a class D felony
One count of Conspiracy to Commit a Felony, a class D felony
A sentencing date has not yet been set by the court.
On December 16, 2018, SEOB agents and casino staff witnessed Shaun Joseph Benward commit a series of fraudulent activities at the Grand Falls Casino in Larchwood, Iowa. He manipulated casino staff to secure over $10,000 in improper payouts and avoided IRS reporting requirements by breaking up over $12,000 in transactions, changing his outfit multiple times, and using different tellers to stay undetected. Benward has been arrested for similar scams throughout the country.
The SEOB is the primary criminal investigative and enforcement agency for the Iowa gaming industry.
ABOUT THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
The Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) is the largest law enforcement agency in the state. It includes six divisions and several bureaus, all working together with local, state and federal government agencies and the private sector, to keep Iowa a safe place by following our core values: leadership, integrity, professionalism, courtesy, service and protection. Divisions within the Iowa DPS: Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa State Fire Marshal Division, Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center, and Administrative Services Division. The Department of Public Safety is led by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Governor.
Iowa Department of Public Safety
215 E 7th St
Des Moines IA 50319
https://dps.iowa.gov
Steve VanOtterloo, Special Agent in Charge, Special Enforcement Operations Bureau
215 E 7th St
Des Moines, IA 50319