Moorhead Man Charged in Stolen F-150 Case
Moorhead (trfnews.i234.me) — Rylee Allen Mehtala faces a felony receiving stolen property charge in Clay County.
A district court complaint links Mehtala to a stolen black 1998 Ford F-150.
The truck was reported stolen from a Fargo residence.
The owner valued the pickup at about $10,000, according to the complaint.
The case is filed as 14-CR-26-2996 in Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District.
Truck Found on Barnesville-Area Property
The owner later told investigators he suspected Mehtala and Xander Michael Quarve were involved.
He also reported the truck was being kept at Michael Paul Johnson’s property near Barnesville.
Authorities visited the property on April 28, 2026.
A Ford F-150 matching the stolen truck was visible from a nearby road.
The complaint says the truck was missing its doors, hood, and large parts of the engine.
Investigators checked the vehicle identification number.
The VIN matched the truck reported stolen in Fargo.
Johnson told investigators that Mehtala and Quarve brought the truck to his property months earlier.
He said they quickly removed the tires and began taking parts from the vehicle.
Johnson said Quarve claimed the truck had been purchased through Facebook Marketplace.
He also said the truck was damaged and later shot with a gun.
Mehtala Denies Involvement
Investigators later contacted Mehtala at his Moorhead address.
A different Ford F-150 was found there, according to the complaint.
Investigators saw an air compressor and a spare tire inside Mehtala’s truck.
Mehtala denied involvement in stealing the other truck.
Quarve also told investigators he knew nothing about the vehicle.
The stolen truck disappeared from Johnson’s property before authorities could remove it.
It was found the next day in a ditch near Barnesville.
The location was about four miles from where investigators had previously seen the truck.
Investigators later reported seeing similar items at Johnson’s property.
Those items matched an air compressor and spare tire seen earlier in Mehtala’s truck.
Phone Records Cited
Authorities obtained search warrants for phone records linked to Mehtala and Quarve.
The complaint says both phones used the same cell towers on April 28.
Those towers covered the areas where the truck was taken and later found.
Prosecutors allege Mehtala possessed or handled the stolen vehicle while knowing it was stolen.
He is charged under Minnesota Statute 609.53.
The complaint lists a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
It also lists a possible fine of up to $10,000.
The charge is an allegation and does not establish guilt.
Mehtala is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Readers can search public cases through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.
Copyright 2026 TRF News. All rights reserved.
