Grandmother Jailed for Months Due to Facial Recognition Error

Angela Lipps claims she was wrongfully arrested and jailed in connection with a North Dakota bank fraud case she had no involvement in.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 12:21am

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A 50-year-old grandmother from Tennessee, Angela Lipps, claims she was arrested at her home in July 2025 and jailed for nearly six months after Fargo, North Dakota police mistakenly identified her as a suspect in a bank fraud case using facial recognition software. Lipps says she has never been to North Dakota and had proof she was in Tennessee at the time of the crimes, but was unable to plead her case until she was extradited to North Dakota, where she was finally released after five days of questioning.

Why it matters

This case raises concerns about the accuracy and reliability of facial recognition technology, especially when used by law enforcement to identify criminal suspects. It also highlights the potential for wrongful arrests and detentions when such technology makes mistakes, as well as the challenges individuals can face in clearing their names after being falsely accused.

The details

Fargo police were investigating a string of bank fraud cases in April and May 2025 involving a suspect who used a fake U.S. Army ID to withdraw thousands of dollars. They used facial recognition software on surveillance footage to identify the suspect, which mistakenly flagged Angela Lipps. A Fargo detective then looked at Lipps' social media and driver's license, and determined she appeared to be the suspect based on her facial features, body type and hair. Lipps was arrested in Tennessee and jailed for four months without bail before being extradited to North Dakota, where she was finally able to provide bank records proving she was in Tennessee at the time of the crimes.

  • In April and May 2025, a suspect used a fake military ID to commit bank fraud in Fargo, North Dakota.
  • In July 2025, Angela Lipps was arrested at her home in Tennessee and jailed as a fugitive from justice from North Dakota.
  • Lipps sat in jail in Tennessee for four months before being extradited to North Dakota.
  • On December 19, 2025, Lipps was interviewed by Fargo police for the first time.
  • Five days after the interview, on December 24, 2025, Lipps was released from jail in North Dakota.

The players

Angela Lipps

A 50-year-old grandmother from Tennessee who was wrongfully arrested and jailed for nearly six months in connection with a bank fraud case in North Dakota that she had no involvement in.

Fargo Police Department

The law enforcement agency in Fargo, North Dakota that used facial recognition software to mistakenly identify Lipps as a suspect in a bank fraud case.

Jay Greenwood

The attorney who represented Lipps and was able to prove her innocence by obtaining her bank records showing she was in Tennessee at the time of the crimes.

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What they’re saying

“I've never been to North Dakota, I don't know anyone from North Dakota.”

— Angela Lipps

“It was so scary. I can still see it in my head, over and over again.”

— Angela Lipps

“Around the same time she's depositing Social Security checks ... she is buying cigarettes at a gas station, around the same time, she is buying a pizza, she is using a cash app to buy an Uber Eats.”

— Jay Greenwood, Lipps' attorney

What’s next

The Fargo Police Department has stated that the investigation into this matter remains ongoing, and that the charges against Lipps may be re-filed if additional evidence is found to support doing so.

The takeaway

This case highlights the significant risks and consequences of relying too heavily on facial recognition technology, which can produce false matches and lead to wrongful arrests and detentions. It underscores the need for greater oversight, transparency and accountability around the use of such technologies by law enforcement.