A Harlan man faces a felony charge for allegedly forging a Carroll city official’s signature as part of a fraudulent attempt to purchase a home. According to Shelby County District Court records, 41-year-old Patrick James Gaul was arrested by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 14 on one count of forgery, a class D felony. Authorities say Gaul used a document falsely claiming the City of Carroll owed him $430,000 as proof of financing for a real estate transfer between Sept. 1 and Dec. 26, 2024. An investigation found Gaul had forged a city council member’s signature in an attempt to make the document appear legitimate. Gaul’s initial appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 18, at the Shelby County Courthouse. A class D felony in Iowa carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and $7,500 in fines.
