MASON CITY – A can redemption scam that landed a Mason City couple in jail charged with felonies resulted in a plea deal for one of the accused.
The Mason City Police Department investigated a report of fraudulent refundable deposit tickets being redeemed at a local business. The fake tickets were exchanged for hundreds of dollars in cash.
On Wednesday, January 4, the department served a search warrant at the residence of 35-year-old Joni Michelle Thayer and 34-year-old Kelsey Lewis Thayer in Mason City.
As a result, both Joni Thayer and Kelsey Thayer were taken into custody and each charged with Forgery, a class D felony.
Later, Kelsey Lewis Thayer pled guilty to one count of fraud and fourth-degree theft in the case as other fraud charges were dropped. He was given a suspended 2-year prison term, 2 years of probation, and ordered to pay $800.00 in court fees and costs on the fraud charge. He was given 7 days in jail and ordered to pay $800.25 in fines and court costs on the theft charge.
His accomplice, Joni Thayer, awaits a plea hearing on May 22.
