Tennessee Woman Falsely Accused of Fraud, Spends Months in Jail

Fargo public defender calls case 'unjust' after facial recognition software led to wrongful arrest and incarceration.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:19am

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A 60-year-old Tennessee woman named Angela Lipps was wrongfully accused of bank fraud in Fargo, North Dakota based on faulty facial recognition software. Lipps, who had never been to North Dakota, was arrested and jailed for four months before the case was dismissed. Her public defender was able to prove her innocence using Lipps' bank records.

Why it matters

This case highlights the dangers of over-relying on facial recognition technology, which can lead to false identifications and wrongful arrests, especially for those with no connection to the alleged crime. It also raises concerns about the due process rights of individuals caught up in such cases.

The details

Fargo police identified Lipps as a suspect in an ongoing bank fraud investigation based on facial recognition software that matched surveillance video to her Facebook photos. Despite Lipps having no ties to Fargo or North Dakota, police obtained a warrant for her arrest and she was jailed in Tennessee for four months before being transported to Fargo. Her public defender, Jay Greenwood, was eventually able to prove her innocence using her bank records, and the case was dismissed within a few days.

  • Last fall, Fargo police identified Lipps as a suspect based on facial recognition software.
  • Lipps was arrested and jailed in Tennessee for four months.
  • Lipps was then transported to Fargo, where she was held in the Cass County Jail.
  • The case was dismissed within a few days, and Lipps was released from jail.
  • Last Christmas, the F5 Project founder drove Lipps to Chicago to be reunited with her family.

The players

Angela Lipps

A 60-year-old Tennessee woman who was wrongfully accused of bank fraud in Fargo, North Dakota based on faulty facial recognition software.

Jay Greenwood

A Fargo public defender who was appointed to represent Lipps and was able to prove her innocence using her bank records.

Adam Martin

The founder of the F5 Project, which provides housing and other assistance to people released from jail and prison, and who drove Lipps to Chicago to be reunited with her family.

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What they’re saying

“They put out a warrant for her arrest based on facial recognition, the Fargo Police Department, doing some kind of cross checking through Facebook, looked to see if she kind of looked the same as the lady in this video and then it kind of ended at that, you know the facial recognition software was used to identify her, they went with it, got a warrant for her arrest and then held her in jail in Tennessee for four months and then she was here (Fargo) for a couple.”

— Jay Greenwood, Public Defender

What’s next

The Fargo Police Department has announced it will review its policies and procedures around the use of facial recognition technology to prevent similar wrongful arrests in the future.

The takeaway

This case underscores the need for greater oversight and accountability when it comes to the use of facial recognition software by law enforcement, which can have serious consequences for innocent individuals. It highlights the importance of due process and the need to thoroughly investigate cases before making arrests, especially when relying on emerging technologies.