Angela Lipps, a 50-year-old grandmother from Tennessee, claims she was wrongfully jailed for nearly six months after North Dakota police mistakenly identified her as a suspect in a bank fraud case using facial recognition software.
Arrest and Wrongful Identification
Lipps was arrested at her home in Tennessee by a team of U.S. Marshals in July 2025, after being wrongly flagged as a fugitive from justice linked to a series of bank fraud cases in Fargo, North Dakota. The grandmother told WDAY News, “I’ve never been to North Dakota, I don’t know anyone from North Dakota,” describing the experience as “so scary” and something she could not forget.
Lipps was informed that she was facing charges that included four counts of unauthorized use of personal identifying information and four counts of theft in North Dakota. The fraud cases under investigation involved a suspect who used a fake U.S. Army military I.D. to withdraw large sums of money from local banks between April and May 2025.
Facial Recognition Software Flags the Wrong Person
In the course of the investigation, Fargo police used facial recognition software to analyze surveillance footage of the suspect. The software flagged Lipps’ face, prompting further investigation. A detective then reviewed Lipps’ social media account and driver’s license, determining that she resembled the suspect based on facial features, body type, and hair.
Lipps’ Long Detention and Legal Struggles
After being detained in Tennessee, Lipps spent four months in jail without bail, unable to plead her case until she could be extradited to North Dakota. It wasn’t until December 19, after her arrival in Fargo, that she was interviewed by police for the first time.
Lipps’ attorney, Jay Greenwood, provided bank records that showed she had been in Tennessee at the time the crimes were committed in North Dakota. Greenwood pointed out, “Around the same time she’s depositing Social Security checks, buying cigarettes at a gas station, and using a cash app to buy an Uber Eats meal.”
Release and Return to Tennessee
Five days after the interview, the charges against Lipps were dismissed, and she was released from jail in North Dakota. However, she was not provided with any assistance from the police for her return journey home. Lipps had to rely on funds from her defense attorney to secure a hotel and transportation back to Tennessee.
Reflecting on her ordeal, Lipps told WDAY News, “I’m just glad it’s over. I’ll never go back to North Dakota.”
Statement from Fargo Police Chief
Fargo Police Chief Dave Zibolski issued a statement saying, “The issuance of an arrest warrant for Ms. Lipps indicates that a court determined probable cause existed for the charges.” However, he clarified that the charges were dismissed without prejudice, meaning they could be refiled if additional investigation supports them. Zibolski confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing and that no further comments would be made to avoid compromising the case.
