A Sioux Falls man has been brought to justice for his role in a brazen wire fraud scheme that bilked a local business out of nearly $740,000.
Dallas Harkness, 64, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to wire fraud in June 2021.
According to court documents, Harkness was a sales manager at Curry Seed Company in Elk Point, South Dakota, when he began the scheme in 2010.
Harkness would receive checks from Curry Seed customers as payment or pre-payment for seed, but instead of depositing the checks, he would fraudulently deposit them into his own checking accounts.
He then used the funds for his own purposes, leaving Curry Seed and its customers out of pocket.
The scheme continued until Harkness was caught and charged in October 2020.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman prosecuted the case.
Harkness has been allowed to self-surrender by October 12, 2021, and will be required to pay restitution in the amount of $738,557.34 to Hoegemeyer Hybrids (formerly Curry Seed Company), as well as a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Related Federal Cases
- Michele Ann Palm, Wire Fraud, South Dakota 2017 · South Dakota
- Robert Rodney Bland, Wire Fraud, South Dakota 2019 · South Dakota
- James Garrett, Crop Insurance Fraud, South Dakota 2024 · South Dakota
- Lawrence Parker III, ATM Vandalism, South Dakota 2016 · New Hampshire
- Tammy Twiss, Wire Bank Fraud, SD 2023 · South Dakota
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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