Wanted for fraud and theft against the elderly out of Iowa, Redding PD’s NPU arrests fugitive

September 9, 2021 Trevor Montgomery

REDDING, Calif., — Authorities say a Birmingham, Iowa man, wanted in connection with two felony first-degree theft cases involving elderly victims in that state, was arrested as a fugitive from justice in Redding on Tuesday, Sept. 7.

The now-arrested fugitive, 64-year-old, Roger Lee Manning, has been called a “confidence man”, who has been falsely and fraudulently presenting himself as a “wealthy benefactor, a millionaire patron of the arts and a generous donor to benevolent causes throughout Jefferson County and beyond”, according to the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office in Iowa. He was located by Redding PD’s Neighborhood Police Unit after their department was contacted and asked for assistance locating the wanted man.

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In a press release issued last Thursday, Jefferson County Attorney Chauncey Moulding said that his office had two active felony cases against Manning. He was first arrested and charged with theft in February 2020. His second arrest – in a separate and unrelated case – occurred the following month, while Manning was on supervised release from his first arrest.

A fugitive from justice out of Jefferson County, Iowa, 64-year-old, Roger Lee Manning, was arrested in Redding on a felony first-degree theft warrant related to two cases against him in that state. Jefferson County Attorney Office first photo, Redding PD second photo

According to a press release from Moulding, Manning has been posing as a millionaire patron of the arts to gain trust in the community and has used that false-trust to pass bad checks worth more than $25,000.

Calling Manning a “confidence-man” and saying, “If a story sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Moulding explained the fugitive had “gained the trust of members of this community by holding himself out to be a wealthy benefactor, a patron of the arts and a generous donor to benevolent causes throughout Jefferson County and beyond.”

“There are facts surrounding the filing of these charges that should be made public in order to ensure the safety of the public and to prevent further criminal harm by the Defendant Mr. Manning,” Moulding went on to explain in last Thursday’s announcement.

Despite his public claims of being a wealthy benefactor, according to his own sworn financial affidavit in his ongoing criminal cases, Manning has admitted he is not a millionaire; stating he has a total income of $1,000 per month, and made $12,000 in the past twelve months, according to Moulding.

As his first criminal case was being investigated, on Feb. 14, of last year, Manning was criminally charged in Jefferson County with one count of theft in the first degree.

“This charge arises from allegations that Mr. Manning obtained services and/or property in excess of $10,000 in value by passing a check knowing the check would not be honored by the bank,” explained Moulding.

Then, on March 5 of that year, Manning was again arrested at the Department of Corrections office by Fairfield police officers on a warrant for theft in the first-degree relating to an entirely separate incident.

“In this second case, Mr. Manning allegedly passed a check in the amount of $16,000 in order to repay a loan that was given to him in order to purchase real property, knowing that this check would not be honored by the financial institution,” said Moulding.

After learning that Manning may have fled the state and headed to the Redding area, in violation of the terms of his supervised release from incarceration pending his next court case, the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office contacted Redding PD and asked for assistance locating him.

Assigned to finding and apprehending Manning, officers with the department’s elite Neighborhood Police Unit (NPU) soon located Manning in the 1000 block of State Street; where he was arrested without incident.

Manning was later booked into the Shasta County Jail in Redding for his outstanding warrant and will be extradited back to Iowa to face charges in that state, Redding PD has since explained.

“The Redding Police Department works with PSA2 Area Agency on Aging, ShiningCare, and Shasta County Adult Protective Services to help protect the elders in our community,” officials said after Manning’s swift apprehension.

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Full Press Release from the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office

In District Court for Jefferson County, Iowa, there are now two felony theft cases pending against Roger Lee Manning of Birmingham, Iowa.

There are facts surrounding the filing of these charges that should be made public in order to ensure the safety of the public and to prevent further criminal harm by the Defendant Mr. Manning. Roger Lee Manning is a 64 year old man living in Birmingham, Iowa.

On February 14, 2020, Mr. Manning was criminally charged in Jefferson County with one count of Theft in the First Degree. This charge arises from allegations that Mr. Manning obtained services and/or property in excess of $10,000 in value by passing a check knowing the check would not be honored by the bank.

Theft in the First Degree is a Class C felony and carries a maximum sentence of ten years incarceration. Mr. Manning was placed on pre-trial supervision to the 8th Judicial District Department of Corrections.

On March 5, 2020, Mr. Manning was again arrested at the Department of Corrections office by Fairfield police officers on a warrant for Theft in the First Degree relating to an entirely separate incident. In this second case, Mr. Manning allegedly passed a check in the amount of $16,000 in order to repay a loan that was given to him in order to purchase real property, knowing that this check would not be honored by the financial institution.

Roger Lee Manning is a confidence-man. He has gained the trust of members of this community by holding himself out to be a wealthy benefactor, a patron of the arts and a generous donor to benevolent causes throughout Jefferson County and beyond.

Members of the public are advised: If a story sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Mr. Manning filed a sworn financial affidavit in his criminal case stating he has a total income of $1,000 per month, and made $12,000 in the past twelve months.

A Jefferson County Court found Mr. Manning to be indigent, at or below 125% of the poverty guidelines set by the court, and appointed a court-appointed attorney to him.

According to his own affidavit, Roger Lee Manning is not a millionaire. Persons with information regarding fraud, theft, or other criminal acts involving Mr. Manning are advised to contact the appropriate law enforcement agency or the Jefferson County Attorney’s office. A criminal charge is only an accusation and the Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless found guilty in a Court of Law.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 50, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).

Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.