Larchwood, Iowa — A Garretson, South Dakota woman has been arrested on serious felony charges after activity at Grand Falls Casino near Larchwood.
According to a criminal complaint filed with the Lyon County Clerk of Court’s Office by the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation or DCI, 79-year-old Judy Kay Ellis of Garretson is accused of taking money from a dependent adult. She was arrested on Thursday.
In his statement, the DCI agent says Ellis was the caregiver for a victim who died about a year ago. The executor of the victim’s estate noticed suspicious banking activity, alleged to be over $20,000, including several ATM withdrawals at the Grand Falls Casino near Larchwood. The total at Grand Falls was allegedly nearly $16,000 in withdrawals and fees in about six weeks in 2025.
Ellis was charged with theft against an older individual, a class B felony, and financial exploitation of an older individual, a class C felony. If convicted, Ellis could face up to 25 years in prison on the class B charge and ten years on the class C charge.
A preliminary hearing has been set for August 3rd.
At last report, Ellis remained in the Lyon County Jail in Rock Rapids in lieu of a $35,000 bond.
