On April 3, 2026, a person later identified as Kaden Edmund Hillquist, hereafter defendant, went to the Geo Auto Sales in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, to go car shopping. On that day, defendant selected a Jeep and paid for it with a check for $3300. The check had the defendant's name on it. Defendant also gave his identification to the dealership to pay for the car. The dealership did not wait for the check to clear but gave him the car. On April 5, 2026, defendant met with a different third party and sold the Jeep for $2500. The car had been for sale on Facebook Marketplace.
The transaction was conducted using Venmo. The DMV informed the third party that title could not be transferred. The third party identified the defendant using a picture from defendant's online LinkedIn profile. On April 6, 2026, defendant went back to Geo Auto Sales and selected a Subaru. Defendant gave the dealership a check in his name for $8800 and presented the same forms of identification. The dealership, again, did not wait for the check to clear, and gave him the car. Shortly after, the dealership found out that the checks could not be paid and both checks were returned.
They tried to contact the defendant via phone, but the Milwaukee based phone number he gave them had been disconnected. The State seeks a warrant for defendant's arrest based on his ongoing criminal activity.
