OSKALOOSA – Two people received 25-year prison sentences in Mahaska County last week for their alleged involvement in an invoice fraud scheme.

According to court documents, 52-year-old Jason Michael Freese of New Sharon was a delivery driver for Mahaska Bottling and allegedly generated invoices in the company’s dispatch system for pickups that never occurred at Can Dough Redemption Center in Ottumwa. 58-year-old Leanna Kay Collins of Hedrick was the owner of the redemption center. False invoices were found dating back to September 2020, continuing until Freese was fired from his role in January 2024.

Both Freese and Collins were arrested in December 2024. Freese pleaded guilty to Ongoing Criminal Conduct (a Class B felony) in March of this year; Collins pleaded guilty to the same charge in April. Both had additional charges dropped as part of their plea agreements, including charges of 1st Degree Theft, 1st Degree Fraudulent Practice, and Tampering with Records.

On Friday, September 4, Mahaska County Judge Michael Carpenter sentenced Collins to a 25-year prison term. Freese received a suspended 25-year prison sentence and was placed on probation for a term of 5 years. Collins and Freese were also ordered to pay $895,936.80 in restitution to Mahaska Bottling.