Waterloo Man Charged in Rural Marion Phone Scam Robbery

Authorities say the suspect stole $10,000 from the victim after convincing him to turn over bank cards.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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A 35-year-old Waterloo man has been arrested and charged with robbery after allegedly scamming a rural Marion resident out of $10,000 through a phone scheme. Police say the suspect convinced the victim to turn over his bank cards, which he then used to steal the large sum of money.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing threat of phone-based financial scams targeting vulnerable rural residents, as well as the challenges law enforcement faces in tracking down and prosecuting these types of crimes that can have a significant financial impact on victims.

The details

According to authorities, the suspect, identified as Liam Donovan, called the 68-year-old victim on Monday and claimed there was suspicious activity on the victim's bank accounts. Donovan then convinced the victim to provide his bank cards, which he used to withdraw $10,000 from the victim's accounts.

  • The incident occurred on Monday, February 24, 2026.
  • Liam Donovan was arrested later that same day.

The players

Liam Donovan

A 35-year-old man from Waterloo, Iowa who has been charged with robbery after allegedly scamming a rural Marion resident out of $10,000.

The 68-year-old victim

A resident of rural Marion, Iowa who was the target of the phone scam and had $10,000 stolen from his bank accounts.

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What they’re saying

“Crimes like this can have a devastating impact on vulnerable residents, especially in rural areas. We're committed to tracking down these scammers and holding them accountable.”

— Sheriff John Anderson, Marion County Sheriff (The Gazette Cedar Rapids)

What’s next

Liam Donovan is being held on $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on February 28th to face the robbery charges.

The takeaway

This case underscores the importance of seniors and rural residents being vigilant about phone scams and not providing personal financial information to unknown callers, in order to protect themselves from becoming victims of these types of financially devastating crimes.