⏱ 2 min read
Dickinson Public Schools in North Dakota was the target of a business email compromise scheme, resulting in the loss of $4.8 million. The scam occurred when fraudsters tricked school officials into transferring funds to a Citibank account. The FBI and US Attorney’s Office worked together to seize the funds, with the goal of returning the money to the school. The seizure occurred on April 22, 2026, after a federal Warrant of Arrest in Rem was obtained.
The investigation, led by the FBI and US Attorney’s Office, traced the fraudulent funds to a Citibank account. A civil forfeiture complaint was filed on March 27, 2026, and a federal Warrant of Arrest in Rem was obtained, allowing for the seizure of the funds. The US Attorney’s Office is pursuing an ongoing civil forfeiture lawsuit to obtain a final judgment for the seized $4,856,578.51.
The seized funds will be held by the United States Marshals Service until the District Court enters a final order of disposition. The US Attorney’s Office is working diligently to pursue a speedy resolution of this matter, with the ultimate goal of remitting the seized funds back to Dickinson Public Schools. The FBI remains committed to protecting Americans from scams and fraud.
The case, filed as civil case number 1:26-cv-008, is still ongoing. The US Attorney’s Office and FBI are working together to bring those responsible for the business email compromise scheme to justice. The recovery of the $4.8 million is a significant step towards making Dickinson Public Schools whole again.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: North Dakota
- Location: ND
- Source: DOJ Press Release
