fraud Archives - KVRR Local News

Four more plead guilty in Feeding Our Future scam

September 9, 2023

Hami Arain,

Documents seized as part of investigation. (FBI)MINNEAPOLIS (KVRR/KFGO) — Four more people plead guilty for their roles in the $250 million Feeding our Future fraud scheme in Minnesota, according to U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger. Prosecutors say two defendants – 54-year-old Qamar Hassan of Brooklyn Park and 62-year-old Sahra Nur of St. Anthony – and their co-conspirators each received $16.5 million…

Documents Reveal Why FBI Raided West Fargo Businesses Last March

February 28, 2023

KVRR Staff,

FARGO (KFGO/KVRR) – The FBI is investigating the owner of a number of Fargo-area businesses who court documents allege has been engaged in a years-long conspiracy to defraud the federal government. KFGO News reported a raid by federal agents last March on two West Fargo businesses – Pro-Mark Services and MDM Construction. The search warrant for that raid was unsealed…

47 people charged in $250 Million Feeding Our Future fraud scheme

September 20, 2022

TJ Nelson,

MINNEAPOLIS (KVRR) — The founder of Feeding Our Future and 46 others have been charged in what federal officials are calling the largest pandemic fraud in the country. U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger of Minnesota announced charges against founder Aimee Bock and others that include conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and bribery. Authorities allege the massive fraud scheme took at least…

Fargo Police Give Letter of Recognition to Walmart Employee Who Spotted Credit Card Thieves

August 10, 2022

TJ Nelson,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — A Walmart employee is awarded a Letter of Recognition by Fargo Police for alerting authorities about a theft in progress. Travis Roerich, an action protection manager for Walmart in Fargo, contacted police when he spotted four people making suspicious transactions that appeared consistent with credit card fraud. Officers found the suspects in a vehicle with credit…

IRS says tax preparer filed fraudulent returns in North Dakota, several states

June 8, 2022

Jim Monk,

FARGO (KVRR) – The Internal Revenue Service is investigating a tax preparer from Houston, Texas in connection with allegedly filing fraudulent tax returns for clients in at least 15 states, most of them in North Dakota. A newly unsealed search warrant affidavit in U.S. District Court in Fargo identifies the man as Casper Akoto. The affidavit says Akoto is under…

Minnesota man targeted in meals fraud probe faces passport charge

April 22, 2022

Jim Monk,

MINNEAPOLIS – A Twin Cities area man who authorities say is a target in a sweeping investigation into alleged fraud in a student meals program has been arrested on a passport charge. Federal prosecutors say 49-year-old Mohamed Jama Ismail of Savage, Minnesota was charged with making a false statement when he applied for a new passport in March – after…

North Dakota oil executive sentenced to prison for fraud

April 8, 2022

Jim Monk,

BISMARCK, N.D. – A former North Dakota oilfield executive whose false claims about his company’s value resulted in more than $886 million in shareholder losses has been sentenced to three years in federal prison and ordered to pay back $406 million. The government had asked for a 20-year sentence for 61-year-old Joseph Kostelecky before his sentencing hearing. Kostelecky, of Dickinson,…

Minnesota farmer sentenced to prison for farm loan fraud

April 4, 2022

Jim Monk,

MINNEAPOLIS (KVRR) – A Slayton, Minnesota, man has been sentenced to 12 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution for converting collateral that secured loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger says 54-year-old Mark Alan Engelkes pledged 15,641 bushels of soybeans as collateral in order to obtain loan proceeds of…

Police in Grand Forks Continue To Warn of Scams As Calls Keep Coming In

May 23, 2021

TJ Nelson,

GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Police in Grand Forks are pleading with people to not give out banking or personal information to anyone that is unknown to you. The department continues to take numerous reports daily of people falling victim to scams. They recommend that you not send cash in the mail or by other services. They say legitimate businesses will…

Sen. Amy Klobuchar stops in Moorhead to address scams targeting seniors

Tips on how to avoid falling victim to a scam are below

April 8, 2021

Site Staff,

MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR) – Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson address a problem that’s grown exponentially throughout the pandemic: scams targeting seniors. “This is on the rise once again and it could get worse,” Klobuchar said at a press conference Thursday morning. Older Americans lose an estimated $3 billion every year from financial scams, according to AARP. The…