Cass County: Fargo Activist to Plead Guilty in Fraud Case
CASS COUNTY (trfnews.i234.me) — A well-known Black Lives Matter activist in Fargo is expected to plead guilty to multiple theft charges connected to a large-scale fraud case involving state grant money.
According to court records, Faith Dixon faces five theft-related felony charges after being accused of misusing funds awarded to her nonprofit organization, the Faith4Hope Scholarship Fund. Prosecutors allege Dixon and her husband, Charles Dixon, used the nonprofit to defraud the State of North Dakota of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation began looking into the case in September 2023. The nonprofit, founded by Dixon in 2016, was created to provide after-school programs to help students develop essential life skills. In 2021, the organization received a $350,000 state grant to support local youth programs.
However, according to court documents, Dixon submitted three reimbursement requests totaling roughly $170,000, which triggered a state compliance review. Investigators cited concerns about missing fiscal oversight and possible conflicts of interest. The review found Dixon funneled thousands of dollars to family-owned businesses, including Diezel Double Barrel BBQ, Be the Light Dance Studio, Revolution Records, and Identity Design Studio.
Financial records allegedly show Dixon and her husband transferring grant money from the nonprofit’s account into personal accounts. Investigators say the funds were used for ATM withdrawals, fast food, gas, groceries, and other personal expenses. Documents also allege Dixon sold food that had been donated to her program by The Great Plains Food Bank, which later ended its partnership with her.
Court filings further state that Dixon owes about $5,000 to the Department of Human Services. Another one of her organizations, Children of Hope, stopped operations in 2022, yet she allegedly continued submitting reimbursement requests afterward.
A felony jury trial for her husband, Charles Dixon, is scheduled for November 18, 2025, in Cass County District Court. Terms of Faith Dixon’s plea agreement have not yet been made public.
The case was investigated by the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office. Officials have not released additional comments pending the upcoming plea hearing.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
