Red Lake Falls Man Charged in Account Theft

THIEF RIVER FALLS (trfnews.i234.me) — A Red Lake Falls man faces a theft-by-swindle charge.

Korbyn Charles Dale, 29, was charged after two disputed business account purchases were reported to police.

The criminal complaint was filed on June 26. It describes purchases totaling $579.76 at two Thief River Falls stores.

First Purchase Raises Concerns

Police received the first report on March 19 from Brodin Comfort Systems.

The company said someone allegedly used its account at L&M Fleet Supply.

The purchase happened five days earlier. It involved a tool valued at $345.71.

A company manager noticed the tool’s brand and questioned the listed approval.

The employee named as the approving person was out of town that day.

The manager later obtained a store surveillance image. He identified the person as Dale, according to the complaint.

Dale had worked for Brodin about two years earlier. He had trained under the employee listed as approving the purchase.

Police received another report from Brodin Comfort Systems on April 6.

The company said Dale allegedly used its account at Ace Hardware on March 14.

That purchase totaled $234.05. The complaint states that surveillance footage showed Dale completing the transaction.

Authorities allege both purchases were made without permission from Brodin Comfort Systems.

The complaint does not state that either store knowingly took part in wrongdoing.

The complaint also lists earlier theft convictions involving Dale.

It states he was convicted of two gross misdemeanor theft offenses in Itasca County on June 1.

The document also cites gross misdemeanor theft convictions in Ramsey County and Pennington County.

Those convictions were entered in May 2016 and September 2016, according to the complaint.

Readers can search public case information through Minnesota Court Records Online.

The current theft-by-swindle charge is an allegation. Dale is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

No court outcome was included in the information provided for this report.

I’m Chris Harper, reporting for TRF News.