(Davenport, IA) — A Colfax woman has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for stealing more than $426,000 from Children and Families of Iowa over nearly seven years.
Jodi Dyan Spargur-Tate, 55, was sentenced August 25, 2026, in federal court. She was also ordered to pay $426,837.11 in restitution and will serve three years of supervised release after completing her prison sentence.
According to court documents and information presented during sentencing, Spargur-Tate worked for Children and Families of Iowa from 2015 through 2022 as a Program Director overseeing youth, adult and dislocated worker programs.
During that time, prosecutors say Spargur-Tate submitted hundreds of fraudulent reimbursement requests that included falsified invoices and receipts. She also diverted more than 100 payments from the organization to herself and family members. The money was used for expenses including cell phone bills and housing costs.
Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor, said Spargur-Tate stole federal funds that were intended to help people find meaningful employment.
D’Esposito said the theft undermined the integrity of federally funded programs designed to assist people facing significant barriers to employment and emphasized that federal grant money cannot be used for personal enrichment.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the Des Moines Police Department.
U.S. Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa announced the sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Lubben prosecuted the case.
