On October 2, 2025, Investigator (Inv.) Henderson with the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office was contacted by Fraud Investigator (Inv.) Richelle Knode with Crow Wing County Community Services in reference to an investigation she had completed on Lacy Jo Berniece Meech, [DOB REDACTED], hereinafter defendant. The investigation established that on approximately June 11, 2025, Inv. Knode received a Fraud Prevention Investigation Referral on the defendant. Inv. Knode was asked to investigate how many adults were living in the household and their income and assets.
Inv. Knode determined that on November 5, 2024, the defendant submitted a Combined Application Form applying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The defendant reported that she had two children living in her household. She reported being self-employed, had a bank account and one vehicle, and no additional sources of income. She reported making approximately $3,000.00 dollars a month. On November 25, 2024, the defendant was interviewed concerning her application. She stated that the father of her two children, RH (fully identified in police reports), was not living in the household.
She also said she was self-employed with "Magnolia Advisors". She said she did not get a paycheck in November or December of 2024 and has no other sources of income. She bought her home with proceeds of the sale of her previous home in South Carolina. Her new home is located on Grand Oaks Drive in the City of Baxter, Crow Wing County, State of Minnesota. She had a bank account at First Citizen Bank. Based on the information presented by the defendant, she was determined to be eligible for SNAP benefits and Medical Assistance.
On March 31, 2025, the defendant completed a combined six-month report form reporting no change in household composition, no change in income and no additional sources of income. Inv. Knode conducted a property search of the defendant's residence in Crow Wing County and learned it was purchased on September 27, 2024, for $625,000.00. The house was titled in both the defendant's and RH's name. Inv. Knode discovered that the defendant was working as an insurance agent working for "Magnolia Advisors LLC". The business was registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State.
The defendant was listed as an agent for the business. Inv. Knode was able to link RH with a business called "Five5Six Media". He apparently worked as a content producer. The business was listed with the Minnesota Secretary of State. The address associated with the business is the defendant and RH's home in the City of Baxter. Inv. Knode searched both the defendant and RH's [DL# REDACTED] in the DVS database. They both use the address on their home in the City of Baxter as their address on their driver's license.
