Christopher Djonne is charged in Beltrami County District Court under court file 04-CR-26-1326.<\/p>\n
The complaint alleges money was withheld from employee paychecks but was not deposited into SIMPLE IRA accounts.<\/p>\n
Retirement Contributions Questioned<\/h2>\n
Djonne created Djonne, Inc. in Minnesota in 2010, according to the complaint.<\/p>\n
The Bemidji parcel delivery company established a SIMPLE IRA plan for employees in 2015.<\/p>\n
The plan required employee deductions and matching contributions from the employer.<\/p>\n
Investigators said contributions from September 2021 through June 2023 remained unpaid.<\/p>\n
Former employees reported that paycheck deductions never reached their retirement accounts.<\/p>\n
They also said required employer matching payments were not deposited.<\/p>\n
Federal Investigation Followed<\/h2>\n
The allegations led to an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor\u2019s Employee Benefits Security Administration<\/a>.<\/p>\n The agency oversees protections for private retirement and workplace benefit plans.<\/p>\n Investigators compared company payroll records with employee account statements from Edward Jones.<\/p>\n The complaint says employees were owed more than $40,000 in combined employee and employer contributions.<\/p>\n It says $25,709.12 was deposited into the plan for employees.<\/p>\n Investigators calculated $14,468.24 in combined unpaid contributions during reviewed periods.<\/p>\n The complaint later alleges $13,736 was taken during specific charging periods.<\/p>\n That amount included $9,518.50 withheld from paychecks and $4,217.50 in employer contributions.<\/p>\n The first count alleges theft exceeding $5,000.<\/p>\n That charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years, a $20,000 fine, or both.<\/p>\n The second count alleges theft between $1,000 and $5,000.<\/p>\n That charge carries up to five years, a $10,000 fine, or both.<\/p>\n Both counts cite Minnesota\u2019s theft statute<\/a>.<\/p>\n Readers can review public case information through Minnesota Court Records Online<\/a>.<\/p>\n The charges are allegations and do not prove guilt.<\/p>\n Djonne is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.<\/p>\nTwo Felony Theft Counts Filed<\/h2>\n
![\"Bemidji](\"https:\/\/trfnews.i234.me\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Bemidji-Owner-Faces-Felony-IRA-Theft-Charges-300x169.png\")