FARGO — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - North Dakota), published as received.
FARGO - Acting U. S. Attorney Christopher C. Myers announced that on April 17, 2015, Tim Koropatnicki, 56, and Delyte Koropatnicki, 55, both from Pingree, North Dakota, were sentenced before U. S. District Judge Ralph R. Erickson. Tim Koropatnicki pled guilty to a felony charge of Unauthorized Use of Benefits and Delyte Koropatnicki pled guilty to a misdemeanor offense of Conversion of Public Money, Property, or Records. Judge Erickson sentenced each to a term of eighteen (18) months of supervised probation, $6639.19 in restitution to be paid joint and several to the United States Department of Agriculture, perform 100 hours of community service, and ordered Tim Koropatnicki to pay $100 and Delyte Koropatnicki to pay $25 in special assessments to the Crime Victims’ Fund. As a special condition of probation, Judge Erickson ordered that neither Tim nor Delyte Koropatnicki may serve in any capacity over financial or personal affairs of any person for the duration of their probation. An exception was made for Delyte Koropatnicki to continue guardianship of persons she has maintained a long-standing (longer than 7 years) fiduciary responsibility.
From March 2013 through about May 2013, Tim and Delyte Koropanicki knowingly converted Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, a program of the United States Department of Agriculture, which belonged to a client under their guardianship through their company, DKK Guardianship Service; specifically, Tim Koropatnicki changed the personal pin identification number on the card and he and Delyte Koropatnicki then used the client’s Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, without the client’s knowledge or consent, to purchase groceries and meat for their personal use.
This case was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U. S. Attorney Janice Morley prosecuted the case.
