Minnesota

Smash-and-grabs in Minnesota being investigated for ties to Felony Lane Gang

Published

1 year ago

September 10, 2024

Smash-and-grabs in Minnesota being investigated for ties to Felony Lane Gang

MINNEAPOLIS — There are at least eight victims across the Twin Cities metro of smash-and-grab thefts from cars and the forgery that follows. Some agencies, including the FBI, are investigating the cases as part of an organized crime ring.

Andrea walked out of a workout class in Savage to a busted window and broken glass in mid-July.

“I felt completely violated. I was kind of in shock. Did this really happen? And then I went down and saw my purse was gone, and like, okay, they just took everything,” Andrea said.

A few days earlier, that was the scene in the parking lot of a Nature Center in Dayton: broken glass strewn across a car seat and a mom with her purse stolen.

In May, it also happened to Karissa. The rear driver’s side window of her car was smashed outside her gym in Plymouth.

“You can see right out the windows. So it was, I mean, kind of like the audacity to be able to do that,” Karissa said.

The thieves left items in the car behind, even a cell phone. It appears the purse was the target. The victims shut down accounts and closed credit cards.

“Nothing really came about it right away, like no one tried to use credit cards, no one tried to use anything that I had that I could find, not until three months later in July,” Karissa said.

That’s when the women discovered their cases were connected.

“Well, the next morning, I got a Facebook message from this gal, Karissa, and she asked if my checks had recently been stolen,” Andrea said.

Someone wrote checks from Andrea’s account to the other victims, plus to a woman in Pennsylvania, and cashed them.

“They had written two checks for like, over two grand. One was almost three grand,” Andrea said.

They’re not the only victims in the metro or even the country.

Elk River police say they have 10 cases of theft and fraud spanning from January to June. They believe they’re connected to what’s called the “Felony Lane Gang.”

Investigators in Minnesota with active cases won’t talk about it, but a New York case explains the fraud scheme.

Last December, a judge sentenced three men and six co-conspirators to federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

According to documents, the men admitted to being part of a fraud scheme called the “Felony Lane Gang.”

They target cars parked by women, taking purses with checkbooks and IDs. Then they recruit women to impersonate the victims using drive-thru bank lines to cash stolen checks.

“They drive through the farthest lane in the drive-thru — they’re called the Felony Lane Gang for that reason — and they get checks cashed. They’ll wear wigs, they’ll do whatever they have to do to look like you or look enough like you to get the checks cashed,” Karissa said.

These women want to warn others and say they’ve changed what they leave in the car.

“I think that the awareness of that is, is great because I wasn’t thinking of it like that prior. Was probably pretty naive to it. Obviously, I had things in my car, and you probably shouldn’t have, so, you know, that was a big lesson learned for me,” Karissa.

None of the locations had cameras outside.

Police say it only takes seconds to smash a window and grab an item. They say it’s a good idea to take valuables with you or hide them in your car. Lock them in a glove compartment or in your trunk before getting to your destination and they say to remember to lock your door.

Jennifer Mayerle

Jennifer Mayerle happily returned to Minnesota and WCCO, where she began her career as an intern. The Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist joined WCCO as a reporter in May 2014. She also anchors “WCCO Saturday Morning” from 8-9 a.m.

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Minnesota

Lawmakers demand Keith Ellison resign as Minnesota fraud grilling turns brutal

Published

12 minutes ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Lawmakers demand Keith Ellison resign as Minnesota fraud grilling turns brutal

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) called on Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to resign during the House Oversight Committee’s hearing on the widespread fraud in Minnesota.

Higgins began his line of questioning by referring to Ellison’s open statement.

“Under Minnesota law, my Office has limited jurisdiction over criminal matters. The only kind of criminal case we can prosecute on our own is Medicaid fraud; any other criminal case must be specifically referred to us by county attorneys or the Governor,” Ellison said in his opening statement.

Higgins stated Ellison said that his office only had the authority to investigate Medicaid fraud, to which Ellison nodded his head in response.

But, Higgins pointed out that was incorrect.

“Under your own law, you have authority if the county district attorney asks you to get involved, or if the governor asks you to get involved, then your office can take the lead on any criminal investigation,” Ellison said.

Ellison remained speechless after Higgins asked him if that his statement was correct.

“So you have the authority to lead your state’s effort to respond to this massive fraud at the state level, from within the health care realm, where government money has been stolen at very, very high levels, unprecedented levels, in your state,” Higgins said.

“Are you leading that effort for the state of Minnesota?”

Ellison replied but his response was not picked up by the microphone.

“You’re addressing it,” Higgins asked. “Are you leading it?”

Ellison responded, “we are leading the effort to prosecute Medicaid fraud.”

“I’m not talking about Medicaid fraud,” Higgins yelled.

“Don’t hide behind that. You have the authority to prosecute anything criminally that the governor asked you to. And this thing is big.”

“I’m giving you an opportunity, sir. Are you leading the criminal investigative effort into this massive fraud across the board in the healthcare spectrum, in the state of Minnesota or not,” Higgins continued.

Ellison replied, saying his office was “following the law,” prompting Higgins to interject.

“You are not leading,” Higgins responded. “You’re not leading. I must say, Mr. Chairman, that the Attorney General of Minnesota should resign.”

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Minnesota

Maddy Kimbrel Named Minnesota’s 2026 Ms. Hockey Winner

Published

12 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Maddy Kimbrel Named Minnesota’s 2026 Ms. Hockey Winner

Maddy Kimbrel joined an illustrious group of players as Minnesota’s 2026 Ms. Hockey winner. The award is annually given to the best high school women’s hockey player in the state of Minnesota.

The Holy Family forward scored 37 goals and 57 points this season in only 26 games for her school.

She was also an assistant captain for Team USA at the 2026 U-18 World Championships winning gold. It was her second time representing USA at the event.

Kimbrel spent four seasons playing for Orono High before moving to Holy Family this season.

The 17-year-old Mound, Minnesota product is headed to the University of Wisconsin next season.

The other four finalists for the award were Alaina Gentz (Centennial/SLP), Jasmine Hovda (Roseau), Lorelai Nelson (Edina), and Mia Miller (Northfield).

Past winners of the award include current PWHL players such as Taylor Heise (2018), Peyton Hemp (2021), Olivia Mobley (2020), Grace Zumwinkle (2017), and Hannah Brandt (2012), and 2024 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Krissy Wendell-Pohl.

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Minnesota

Bemidji declares March as Minnesota Food Share Month; hears Project Graduate report

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Bemidji declares March as Minnesota Food Share Month; hears Project Graduate report

BEMIDJI — The city of Bemidji declared March as Minnesota Food Share Month in partnership with the

Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign

during a

city council

meeting on Monday. This campaign is the largest grassroots food and fund drive in Minnesota.

“Food insecurity affects thousands of Minnesotans, including residents of Bemidji and the greater Beltrami County area, and access to nutritious food is fundamental to the health and dignity, and well-being of every community member,” the proclamation reads. “Local food shelves depend on the generosity of community donations to meet the growing needs of our neighbors, and every contribution — whether food, funds or time — makes a direct difference in the lives of Bemidji residents.

“The city of Bemidji proudly recognizes the extraordinary contributions of the volunteers, donors and partner organizations whose compassion and dedication ensure that no neighbor goes without, and the city of Bemidji is committed to fostering a compassionate and caring community where all residents are supported and encouraged to look out for one another in times of need.”

Ward 2 Councilor Josh Peterson read the proclamation as Mayor Jorge Prince attended the meeting virtually. Peterson attempted to award the proclamation to a Bemidji Community Food Shelf representative, but no one was available to receive it.

John Eggers,

a former educator, gave a presentation to the council regarding his Project Graduate initiative, which promotes 100% graduation rates within Beltrami County during Monday’s meeting.

“It’s not an easy task to do, but we can do it,” Eggers remarked.

Eggers shared personal efforts to promote a 100% graduation rate within Beltrami County, such as promoting graduation as a teacher at Red Lake High School recently. He hopes to do more work in Red Lake in the future.

Eggers also formed an alliance of local Bemidji businesses to promote Project Graduate. Each business will find a unique way to promote higher graduation rates while working with the alliance. Additionally, Eggers has spent the last several years forming an advocacy program that has now spread to 12 states and five countries worldwide.

He then shared ideas for the council to follow to promote the initiative. This included joining the alliance, displaying posters, “relentlessly” promoting high graduation rates, starting a PSA campaign, adding the initiative to the city’s website or newsletter and signing a proclamation.

He noted that in 2025, the city signed a proclamation and other Beltrami County cities followed suit, meaning Bemidji could once again set the trend to promote higher graduation rates.

Ward 1 Councilor Gwenia Fiskevold Gould asked how the initiative addresses underlying issues that affect

declining graduation rates

within Beltrami County, such as housing instability and food insecurity.

Eggers did not have a direct answer, but noted that graduation often helps young people climb out of bad situations. He believes that all people deal with adversity and that graduation is an important tool to help improve their quality of life.

He also pointed out that graduation rates among white students have remained steady when compared to statewide trends, but that students of color and Indigenous students’ graduation rates are lower than the state average, something that needs to be addressed to help these communities.

Finally, Eggers noted that the initiative’s drop-out prevention hotline was recently discontinued, but that students or parents can reach out to Eggers directly to receive the help needed to stay in school.

Overall, council members thanked Eggers for his Project Graduate presentation. His contact information can be found on his website,

johnrogereggers.com.

The council will next meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 16, at City Hall for a regular meeting. Meetings can be viewed on

the city’s website.

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