Jace William Griffis, 23, is charged with one gross misdemeanor count of check forgery.<\/p>\n
The case is filed under court number 04-CR-26-1855.<\/p>\n
The charge stems from a snow removal payment made on February 18, 2026.<\/p>\n
Customer Reports Altered Check<\/h2>\n
According to the criminal complaint, a Bemidji woman hired Griffis for snow removal in December 2025.<\/p>\n
The woman said Griffis removed snow from her property about three times.<\/p>\n
She usually paid him $60 in cash for the work, according to the complaint.<\/p>\n
On February 18, she instead paid Griffis with a $60 check.<\/p>\n
The complaint says Griffis later contacted her and said the check had bounced.<\/p>\n
The woman offered to pay cash if Griffis returned the original check.<\/p>\n
Griffis allegedly told her he had torn up the check and thrown it away.<\/p>\n
The woman later reviewed her bank account and found a $160 withdrawal.<\/p>\n
She then viewed an image of the check through her banking application.<\/p>\n
The complaint says the numerical amount appeared changed from $60 to $160.<\/p>\n
The written amount also appeared altered from sixty dollars to one hundred sixty dollars.<\/p>\n
Bank Records Reviewed<\/h2>\n
Investigators reviewed the check and later obtained a search warrant for Griffis’ bank account.<\/p>\n
Records were received in June, according to the complaint.<\/p>\n
Investigators said the records showed a $160 mobile deposit using the disputed check.<\/p>\n
The deposit went into an account identified as belonging to Griffis.<\/p>\n
The complaint says Griffis was the sole owner of that account.<\/p>\n
Griffis denied altering the check during a phone interview with investigators.<\/p>\n
He confirmed trying to deposit the check into his account, according to the complaint.<\/p>\n
He also said he was the only person possessing the check before disposing of it.<\/p>\n
Gross Misdemeanor Charge Filed<\/h2>\n
Griffis is charged under Minnesota Statute 609.631<\/a>.<\/p>\n The law covers falsely making or altering checks and other financial instruments.<\/p>\n The complaint lists the charge as a gross misdemeanor.<\/p>\n It lists a maximum sentence of one year imprisonment, a $3,000 fine, or both.<\/p>\n The case was filed by summons in Minnesota’s Ninth Judicial District.<\/p>\n Information about Minnesota courts is available through the Minnesota Judicial Branch<\/a>.<\/p>\n A criminal charge is an allegation and does not establish guilt.<\/p>\n Griffis is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.<\/p>\n I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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