Retired State Fraud Investigator Accused of Bank, Wire Fraud

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A retired fraud investigator for the state Department of Revenue accused of targeting banks with nearly $150,000 in fraudulent wire transfer requests has pleaded not guilty to multiple federal charges.

The Rapid City Journal reports that 69-year-old Steven Knigge faces charges including bank fraud and money laundering. While working at the Revenue Department in 2015, Knigge is accused of asking banks in several states to wire money to an account in South Dakota belonging to him.

The banks received emails from someone purporting to be an account holder instructing bank employees to transfer money to a different account.