DES MOINES – A 29-year-old Des Moines man was arrested Friday for allegedly attempting to defraud the Iowa Secretary of State last summer, authorities said.
Zachary S. Edwards
According to the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Zachary S. Edwards is accused of using or attempting to use Secretary of State Matt Schultz’s identity, and/or brother Thomas Schultz’s identity, June 24, “with the intent to obtain a benefit, in an alleged scheme to falsely implicate Secretary Schultz in perceived illegal or unethical behavior while in office,” according to the release.
According to a criminal complaint, authorities have obtained e-mail evidence and a statements from Edwards regarding his charge of identity theft, an aggravated misdemeanor.
Edwards reportedly turned himself in to Iowa DCI agents at the Polk County Jail Friday afternoon, but was released later in the evening on $2,000 cash bond, according to Polk County Jail authorities.
There were little other details available Saturday.
Reports indicate Edwards was a former Obama campaign staffer who was most recently working with Democratic consulting firm, LINKStrategies.
Edwards could face up to two years in prison and $6,250 in fines, according to the release.
