Iowa attorney faces sanctions for Medicaid scheme involving his Rolls Royce

At his plea hearing, Anderson admitted that as an Iowa-licensed attorney, he provided financial services to elderly clients hoping to qualify for Medicaid that would pay for nursing home care. Eligibility for the Medicaid program typically hinges on one’s assets since it’s designed to pay for care for those who can’t afford it. In determining the assets and resources of individuals and their spouses, one automobile is typically excluded from consideration, regardless of its value.

Court records show that one elderly couple Anderson assisted in 2021 had more than $400,000 in assets, including a 2020 Chevrolet valued at $30,000, but was hoping to have Medicaid pay their nursing home expenses while passing their remaining assets on to their heirs.

Iowa Medicaid determined the couple would have to either reduce their assets by $300,000 or spend that amount of money on excluded assets — such as a car.

Anderson later admitted that in October 2021, he deposited a $186,000 check from the couple into his personal savings account and transferred the certificate of title to his 1961 Rolls Royce Phantom V to them. Just two days before that transfer, Anderson had been driving the Rolls Royce when he was involved in an accident that rendered the car inoperable.

On Nov. 4, 2021, Anderson later acknowledged, he gave Iowa Medicaid a series of documents to qualify the husband for Iowa Medicaid benefits.  The documents reflected the couple’s ownership of the Rolls Royce and indicated it had a fair market value of $194,000.

Iowa Medicaid rejected the application, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation launched an investigation that resulted in the criminal charge and guilty plea. Anderson now faces a sentence of up to five years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

Citing the guilty plea and the fact that the underlying offense is directly related to Anderson’s practice of law, the Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board recently asked the court to temporarily suspend Anderson’s law license while the board considers other action to be taken.

Anderson is contesting that proposal, arguing such a suspension is not necessary and suggesting that a hearing on the matter be scheduled sometime after his Sept. 11, 2026, sentencing date in the criminal case.

“Mr. Anderson fully appreciates the significance of his misconduct,” his lawyers told the court in a recent filing. “Mr. Anderson is remorseful and has fully accepted responsibility … Mr. Anderson has had an exemplary record of good conduct and has had no prior allegations. Additionally, Mr. Anderson has cooperated with the government, cooperated with the Attorney Disciplinary Board, self-reported his conduct, has begun to make efforts to transfer his practice, has not had any complaints since his self-report, and has conducted himself in an honorable fashion.”

When contacted Wednesday by the Iowa Capital Dispatch, Anderson declined to comment on the criminal and disciplinary matters, noting that both cases remained open and active.

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