Vale Man Indicted for Filing a False Claim

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Vale, South Dakota, man was charged in federal district court with False Claim.

Dale Knutson, age 57, was charged on September 19, 2017.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on September 29, 2017, and pleaded not guilty to the charge. 

The maximum penalty upon conviction is 5 years of imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The charge relates to Knutson knowingly filing a false claim with the Farm Service Agency in May 2014. The charge is merely an accusation and Knutson is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Patterson is prosecuting the case.

Knutson was released pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.