On October 16, 2025, law enforcement received a complaint of check fraud that occurred in Eagan, Dakota County. Victim reported that on October 12, 2025, he met with a man in a parking lot to sell a vehicle. The man provided paperwork from a temporary license that identified him as JOSEPH WILLIAM MILLER ([DOB redacted]), Defendant herein. Defendant gave Victim a check dated October 12, 2025, for $15,000.00 drawn on a Wells Fargo account in the name of “RSB Caulking and Sealants, LLC” with a Duluth address.
Defendant’s name was signed at the bottom. Defendant and Victim arranged the sale over Facebook Messenger. Victim indicated Defendant had messaged him later with questions about the vehicle, then blocked Victim, leading him to believe there might be something wrong with the check. Victim was notified by Wells Fargo that the check was fraudulent. Victim provided a detective with screenshots between himself and Defendant regarding the sale. This included a statement from Defendant offering to pay Victim with a check from his business account, indicating he was a caulker, and assuring Victim the check would go through.
Victim also provided a picture he took of Defendant’s temporary license that contained a photo of Defendant. Victim’s vehicle was entered as stolen. On October 17, 2025, Defendant was stopped in Itasca County, Minnesota, driving the vehicle. Defendant was arrested on unrelated charges at that time. A detective arranged to speak to Defendant, who gave a Mirandized statement, during which he admitted purchasing the vehicle from Victim. Defendant indicated the check was post-dated and supposed to be held until final payment was made, with him paying Victim $1000 per week.
Defendant indicated RSB Caulking was a business that belonged to his friend, but he did not wish give the friend’s name. The detective obtained account records from Wells Fargo, which showed the account had been closed in October 2018.
