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A Johnston, Iowa roofing contractor is facing felony charges after investigators say he faked a repair invoice to squeeze extra money out of his own insurance company. But court records show this isn’t the first time Shawn Heuss has run into financial trouble.

The Insurance Fraud Case

According to the Iowa Insurance Division, 46-year-old Shawn Heuss, owner of Allure Roofing & Construction, filed a storm-damage insurance claim in September 2024 for his home. The insurer approved it and issued the initial payment.

Instead of repairing the roof, investigators say Heuss painted part of it to make it look fixed.

Then, on January 2, he allegedly submitted a fake invoice from his own company claiming the work was completed. Prosecutors say that false document allowed him to receive additional funds he wasn’t entitled to.

Heuss was arrested October 30 and charged with:

  • Fraudulent Submission (Class D Felony)
  • Second-Degree Theft (Class D Felony)
  • Second-Degree Fraudulent Practice (Class D Felony)

He is currently being held in the Polk County Jail.

A Pattern in the Public Record

While the insurance fraud case is new, Roofing Insights reviewed court filings showing Heuss has a long history of judgments, debts, and collection actions dating back more than 15 years — many tied to banks, credit card companies, and suppliers.

Across Polk County alone, Heuss has racked up more than $50,000 in civil judgments. Many are tied to consumer debts, small-claims filings, or contractor-related obligations — showing a consistent pattern of unpaid balances and creditor disputes. 

In 2020, Heuss filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, claiming over $450,000 in liabilities. The list of creditors included multiple roofing suppliers, collection agencies, and high-risk lenders like Elevate.

While Heuss has been operating under the name Allure Roofing since 2018, he used the name ST Heuss Construction as far back as 2008. The combined records and judgments against both companies paint a clear picture of long-term financial instability.

Industry Impact

Roofing is already one of the most heavily scrutinized industries in insurance. Cases like this make it harder for honest contractors to operate:

  • Insurers become more skeptical.
  • Claims take longer.
  • Adjusters look for red flags everywhere.
  • Homeowners lose trust in the industry.

When a contractor is accused of faking invoices or altering a roof to trick an insurance company, that behavior doesn’t just hurt one claim — it creates ripple effects across the entire roofing community.

A Lesson For Homeowners 

Unfortunately, Heuss is not unique. When contractor fraud comes to light, there is often a long history of questionable behavior and financial instability. 

That’s one of the reasons we recommend using Directorii.com – which runs both a criminal background check and financial check on every contractor. Every job you book is backed by a $30,000 guarantee, so you don’t have to worry about a roofer running off with your deposit.