>>FBI Investigates Red Lake Detention Center Inmate Death
(Red Lake, MN) — The FBI is investigating the death of an inmate earlier this month at the Red Lake Detention Center. On April 2nd, 53-year-old Robin Hanson was brought to Red Lake Indian Health Service Hospital and pronounced dead. No other information is available.
>>Chisago County Prisoner Briefly Escapes Jail, Recaptured
(Center City, MN) — A Chisago County Jail prisoner is back in jail after a brief escape. 46-year-old Donald Warner was awaiting trial on first-degree sexual assault charges when he escaped around 1:30 this morning during a supervised routine trash detail. Multiple officials launched a search, and Warner was found around 3 a.m. about a mile away from the jail. Escape charges are pending. The incident is being reviewed internally.
>>Deputies Respond to Report of Gun at Hinckley-Finlayson High School
(Hinckley, MN) — A student at Hinckley-Finlayson High School is in trouble for bringing a BB gun to class. Pine County sheriff’s deputies were called this morning for a possible firearm on campus. They say a firearm was located within minutes, but it was determined to be a BB gun. A juvenile was arrested, and there were no injuries.
>>Former Teacher Sentenced to 6 Years for Distributing CSAM
(Minneapolis, MN) — A former Mankato high school teacher has been sentenced to six years in prison for distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). 54-year-old Daniel Janke pleaded guilty to one count of child pornography distribution on October 29th, 2024. An investigation into a specific chatroom on Kik, a social media app, sent an undercover law enforcement agent to converse online with Janke, who used the pseudonym “Jack Frost.” Between October 23rd and November 1st, 2023, they messaged each other and Janke sent multiple CSAM images and a video containing sexually explicit images of pubescent and pre-pubescent minors.
>>MN Couple Indicted in $15B Medical Billing Fraud
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Minnesota couple has been indicted in a $15 billion medical billing fraud of Medicare, Medicaid, and other insurers. Court documents say 39-year-old Gabriel Luthor and 40-year-old Elizabeth Brown carried out a scheme to overbill insurers for neurofeedback therapy through their company, Golden Victory Medical LLC. The two founded GVM in 2018. They submitted hundreds of thousands of false claims, and millions of dollars were transferred and retained by Luthor and Brown. The funds were used to buy a mansion in Eden Prairie and to pay the living expenses of other girlfriends of Luthor’s, who lived with the couple during the crime. Luthor and Brown were arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada, and made their first court appearances this week.
>>AG Ellison Celebrates Ban of Vapes Disguised as Highlighters
(St. Paul, MN) — Attorney General Keith Ellison and anti-smoking agencies are celebrating a court order banning the sales of vapes disguised as highlighters. A Ramsey County court ruled High Light Vapes, its owner, and a related entity are banned from doing business in the state. The settlement stems from Ellison’s January lawsuit claiming the company sold e-cigarette products designed to mimic highlighters and be easily concealable and usable by school-age children. High Light Vapes is subject to a $50,000 penalty and contempt sanctions if they re-enter the Minnesota market. This follows Ellison’s successful litigation against JUUL Labs. His 2019 lawsuit was resolved in 2023, the largest of its kind per capita in the U.S.
>>Brady Aune and Joseph Anderson Safety Act One Step Closer to Law
(St. Paul, MN) – The Minnesota Senate has passed the Brady Aune and Joseph Anderson Safety Act. The two young men died tragically while scuba diving and working for aquatic plant removal companies. The legislation will create new requirements for scuba gear safety equipment and require that workers are certified and have gone through training and all employees of these companies will be required to undergo first aid and CPR training. The Senate passed the bill 54-10 but added a technical amendment, which means it must go back to the House for agreement before the governor can sign it into law.
>>Twins Lose Series Finale to Royals at Kaufmann Stadium
(Kansas City, MO) — The Minnesota Twins fell to the Royals 3-2 this afternoon in the series finale at Kansas City. Minnesota stranded two runners on base in the ninth inning. Twins starter Bailey Ober allowed one run and struck out four batters over six innings. Cole Sands gave up the go-ahead runs in the seventh inning to take the loss. The Twins are back home tomorrow night to play the Detroit Tigers.
