PRESTON, Minn. – A North Iowa woman already serving time for passing bad checks in Fillmore County is now facing another trial.
Mindy Jo Jones, 44 of Cresco, IA, is facing three counts of theft, four counts of check forgery, and two counts of possession of stolen checks.
Jones is accused of stealing checks from a man she was living with and depositing them into her accounts. The victim says he is employed by Reicksview Farms and is sent checks by the company to fill out for his payment. The victim says he noticed several checks missing, contacted the company, and was told some of the checks had been cashed.
Investigators say Jones deposited a total of $37,138.50 in stolen checks into accounts for two businesses she owns, Tin Rust and Harmony and Shirt Off My Back, and her personal account.
A trial is now scheduled to start on July 15.
Jones already stood trial in Fillmore County in October 2023 for eight counts of theft by swindle, three counts of theft, and three counts of issuing a dishonored check. She was accused of writing four back checks totaling $32,417.67 for merchandise to be sold at Tin Rust and Harmony. Jones was found guilty of one count of theft by swindle, two counts of theft, and one count of issuing a dishonored check.
She was sentenced to two years and three months in prison.
