On 12/11/2025, at about 1516 hours, Maplewood Police responded to a fraud at American National Bank [ADDRESS REDACTED] North in Maplewood, Ramsey County. Upon arrival, police spoke to the bank’s manager, ANO, who said that a male suspect, later identified as Cole Gene SMIKRUD [DOB REDACTED], tried to cash a fake check. SMIKRUD was still on scene. The fraudulent check (#301619) was written on the account of Flannery Construction and made out to SMIKRUD for $3,507.74. SMIKRUD presented the check and then presented his North Dakota driver’s license, provided his social security number, and claimed he was a “subcontractor.” Police contacted Flannery Construction and confirmed that the check was fraudulent.
SMIKRUD, who had an active warrant, was taken into custody. In a post-Miranda interview, SMIKRUD said he has been living at the Gospel Hotel. Today, a male named “TERRENCE” stopped him on the street and asked him if he wanted to make money. TERRENCE told SMIKRUD that he had undocumented employees who needed to get paid and asked SMIKRUD to cash a check for him. TERRENCE then printed a check in his SMIKRUD’s name, dropped him off at [ADDRESS REDACTED], and said he would get picked up. For purposes of Rule 6.
