Woman Jailed for 5 Months After AI Linked Her to North Dakota Bank Fraud

Fargo police chief acknowledges 'missteps' but stops short of apologizing to Angela Lipps, who plans to sue the department.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 9:42pm

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An extreme close-up of a cracked and damaged security camera lens, capturing the harsh textures and dramatic lighting to conceptually represent the flaws and limitations of over-relying on AI-powered surveillance technology in law enforcement.A damaged security camera lens symbolizes the potential pitfalls of using facial recognition as the sole basis for criminal charges.Fargo Today

Angela Lipps, a Tennessee resident, spent over five months in jail in Fargo, North Dakota after the police used a facial recognition app to connect her to a bank fraud case in the state, which she said she had never visited before her arrest. The Fargo police chief acknowledged 'missteps' in the handling of the case and said the department had overhauled its AI policy, but stopped short of apologizing to Lipps, who is planning to sue the police.

Why it matters

This case highlights the potential dangers of over-relying on facial recognition technology as the sole basis for criminal charges, without corroborating evidence or interviews to verify the identification. It raises concerns about wrongful arrests and the erosion of civil liberties when AI is used improperly by law enforcement.

The details

According to the report, the police in Fargo used a facial recognition app to identify Lipps as a suspect in a bank fraud case, despite the fact that she had never been to North Dakota before. She was arrested in Tennessee and taken to Fargo to face charges, spending over five months in jail before being released on Christmas Eve. The Fargo police chief acknowledged 'missteps' in the handling of the case and said the department had overhauled its AI policy, but stopped short of apologizing to Lipps, who is planning to sue the police.

  • Lipps was released from jail in Fargo on Christmas Eve.
  • The Fargo police chief made the comments about the case at a news conference on March 24, 2026.

The players

Angela Lipps

A 50-year-old Tennessee resident who was arrested and jailed for over five months in Fargo, North Dakota after being falsely linked to a bank fraud case through facial recognition technology.

David Zibolski

The police chief in Fargo, North Dakota who acknowledged 'missteps' in the handling of Lipps' case and said the department had overhauled its AI policy.

Jay Greenwood

The lawyer who represented Lipps in the bank fraud case and called it a 'cautionary tale about the use of A.I. and facial recognition as the sole tool to make these kind of charging decisions.'

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What they’re saying

“I had my summer clothes on, no coat — it was so cold outside, snow on the ground — scared, I wanted out, but I didn't know what I was going to do, how I was going to get home.”

— Angela Lipps

“We're happy to acknowledge when we make errors, and we've made a few in this case, for sure. We certainly apologize for any effect, or adverse effect, that this has had on trust in the community.”

— David Zibolski, Fargo Police Chief

“It was a cautionary tale about the use of A.I. and facial recognition as the sole tool to make these kind of charging decisions.”

— Jay Greenwood, Lipps' Lawyer

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Angela Lipps to proceed with her lawsuit against the Fargo Police Department.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for greater oversight and accountability when law enforcement uses AI-powered technologies like facial recognition, to ensure that civil liberties are protected and innocent people are not wrongfully arrested and jailed based solely on algorithmic identifications.