Initial court appearances scheduled for five individuals charged with selling a registered security without being licensed in Iowa

Allamakee County authorities continue seeking information from other possible victims

The five individuals from Iowa and Wisconsin recently charged with violations of Iowa securities laws by the Iowa Insurance Division Fraud Bureau had their first scheduled appearances in Allamakee County District Court Wednesday, April 9. Those initial appearances were scheduled after an investigation was conducted following an initial local complaint and a February 1 investment meeting was arranged in Waukon by undercover investigators from the Iowa Insurance Division Fraud Bureau involving the five individuals who were determined to be acting as agents for a company named Bright Silver LLC.

Following the filing of complaints and affidavits in Allamakee County District Court Thursday, March 27, arrest warrants were served on Stanley Pophal, age 63, of Wausau, WI, David Halvorson, age 59, of Galesville, WI, Casey Halvorson, age 51, of McGregor, Gary Halvorson, Sr., age 58, of McGregor, and Debra Mink, age 65, of Prairie Du Chien, WI, and they all cooperated in making themselves available to law enforcement and had their initial court appearances scheduled. All five of them were released soon after their arrest when they posted bond in the amount of $5,000 each, according to court documents.

Court filings also show that Gary Halvorson, Sr. was the only one of the five who made an appearance in person at his April 9 initial court date, entering a plea of not guilty on the charge all five individuals face regarding the selling of securities without proper registration in the state of Iowa. An order for his arraignment was filed for Monday, April 21 in Allamakee County District Court.

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