FRAUD

Local

Breezy Point man sentenced to 1 year in federal prison for stock scheme

Mark Miller, 45, and a former Breezy Point City Council member, was sentenced Thursday to a year and a day in federal prison for one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud.

Local

How do scams target local seniors? Unlimited Learning tackles issue

The Crow Wing County Adult Protection Multidisciplinary Team will talk about how to identify scams and avoid being a victim.

April 30, 2023 09:57 AM

wood gavel with American flag in background

Minnesota

Duluth nonprofit director pleads guilty in money laundering case

Charles Obije received substantial funds from at least three women caught up in romance scams, forwarding the money to family in Nigeria

March 10, 2023 03:02 PM

Minnesota

Chinese national imprisoned for cyberstalking, stealing identity of Minnesota college student

Federal prosecutors say the man used the victim’s name and image to solicit sex on dating and pornography websites. Strangers would show up at the victim's home expecting a sexual encounter.

December 23, 2022 04:08 PM

Latest Headlines

Minnesota

Longtime Minnesota fraudster accused of operating fake law firm

Gale Rachuy, 72, of Duluth is accused of swindling $2,500 from a client who believed he was a longtime attorney working with prominent judges.

December 16, 2022 09:01 AM

By Tom Olsen

Minnesota

Minnesota psychologist admits to defrauding $550K from Mdewakanton Sioux

The psychologist lied about providing services to at least 29 members of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, resulting in more than half a million dollars in losses to the tribe.

December 02, 2022 02:25 PM

By Hunter Dunteman

FILE PHOTO: Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes and her family leave the federal courthouse after attending her fraud trial in San Jose

National

U.S. seeks 15 years for Elizabeth Holmes over Theranos fraud

A jury convicted the 38-year-old on four counts of wire fraud and conspiracy in January. Each count carries a maximum 20-year prison term. Any sentence would likely be served concurrently.

November 12, 2022 10:20 AM

By Akriti Sharma and Kanishka Singh / Reuters

Breaking News

National

Trump, adult children sued by New York attorney general for fraud

Trump on Aug. 10 declined to answer questions in a lengthy, closed-door deposition at the office of the attorney general, invoking his constitutional right against self-incrimination more than 400 times.

September 21, 2022 11:59 AM

By Karen Freifeld, Jonathan Stempel and Luc Cohen / Reuters

Minnesota

State bars third major provider of meals to needy kids in Minnesota

The summer program spiked in Minnesota during the pandemic. Last summer, providers reported to the state that they dished out 37.3 million meals, up from 21.9 million meals in 2020 and 3.5 million meals in 2019. Part of that rise is because schools could extend the summer program during the school year amid the pandemic.

March 10, 2022 12:26 PM

By Kelly Smith, Jeffrey Meitrodt / Star Tribune

A keyboard includes the word Scam with a question mark.

Local

National Consumer Protection week offers tips to avoid and recover from scams

The FTC will spend March 6-12 sharing information with Americans on how they can avoid scams, identity theft, and other consumer protection issues. People can participate through events on Facebook, Twitter and by attending webinars throughout the week.

March 04, 2022 12:06 PM

By Dispatch staff report

Minnesota

Minnesota woman admits to $860K Medicaid fraud

Prosecutors said Trenea Deshawn Davis recruited family members and friends to feign and exaggerate medical conditions in order to qualify for personal care assistants. They then falsely reported care services and split the money, according to the attorney general.

January 18, 2022 05:19 PM

By Alex Derosier

Business

North Dakota cattle buyer faces felony theft charge for bounced check, owes millions in debts

Napoleon, North Dakota, cattle buyer Brian Gader faces numerous legal challenges, including a theft charge in a cattle deal, has lost his license to purchase cattle and is accused of failing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in some cases. With debts in the millions, Gader, 65, says he is "working on" his issues.

October 11, 2021 07:00 AM

By Mikkel Pates

Columns

Guest Opinion: Tackling the problem of financial fraud that targets seniors

Older Minnesotans are vulnerable to fraud and financial exploitation due to a combination of factors — social isolation, cognitive decline, or simply because scam artists who target seniors are good at exploiting the strong emotions they create like love or fear and people’s good nature.

June 20, 2021 06:00 AM

By Grace Arnold and Mark Cummins