Otter Tail County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Fargo man is facing a felony theft by swindle charge after allegedly scamming a Minnesota church out of $7,000.
According to court documents, in February 2024, Gregory Deforest Johnson submitted a $26,000 proposal to an Otter Tail County church for reshingle work on its steeple. The agreement required a $7,000 prepayment to cover the cost of shingles.
However, Johnson reportedly cashed the check and vanished, doing no work at all. The church later discovered the deception and brought the matter to authorities, resulting in felony charges being filed against Johnson.
Johnson could face serious penalties under Minnesota law for theft by swindle if convicted.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
Did you know?
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Theft by swindle in Minnesota can carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and $20,000 in fines for amounts over $5,000.
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Churches are increasingly targeted in contractor-related scams due to trust and urgency in repairs.
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Otter Tail County is one of the largest counties by land area in Minnesota.