On September 26, 2025, at approximately 8: 51 pm, Wright County Deputy Strandmo was dispatched to a fraud report located at [ADDRESS REDACTED] NE in Hanover, Wright County, Minnesota. ALJ reported that someone attempted to cash a fake check for ALJ’s business, but the bank refused the check. Deputy Strandmo made contact with ALJ who owns a childcare business in Hanover. ALJ uses Bank West in Hanover for banking for ALJ’s business. ALJ was informed by the bank that a man, identified as Justin Michael Pfaff [DOB REDACTED] hereinafter defendant attempted to cash a check for her business for $1,950. Bank West has had ALJ as a customer for many years and noticed the check did not look like ALJ’s normal checks.
The bank observed that the check defendant was trying to cash was gray and the bank knows ALJ’s business checks to be yellow. The bank also noticed the signature, the logo of the company, and the design of the check had discrepancies. ALJ mentioned that she recently paid a bill to B&D Heating and Air Conditioning for $185. ALJ stated that the check number for that payment was 8843. ALJ observed the check defendant attempted to cash was check number 8844. Defendant used his ID at the bank to attempt to cash the check.
A mugshot of defendant from Wisconsin was located and appeared to match the male who attempted to cash the check. Deputy Strandmo received still photos from the bank and observed the male appear to be defendant from previous booking photos.
