04/29/2026
To ensure compliance with tax regulations, please submit an accurate tax return to avoid potential penalties. Note that the IRS receives income information from your employer, making it essential to report income correctly. Business owners, in particular, should exercise caution and avoid attempting to misrepresent their financial information, as this can lead to severe consequences.
Christine Conrad, the 44-year-old owner of [Reese & Riley’s Olive Oil and Bistro Bar](https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/g/11gd0wxh1d) in Moorhead, was charged in April 2026 with 24 felony counts for allegedly underreporting income and fraudulently obtaining public assistance. [1, 2]
# # Summary of Charges
* Tax Fraud: Conrad is accused of significantly underreporting her income to the state between 2019 and 2024. During this time, she reported an adjusted gross income between roughly $17,000 and $28,000, and zero taxable income for most of those years.
* Public Assistance Fraud: Based on her reported low income, she allegedly received over $51,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (food stamps) while actually earning an income that made her ineligible.
* Amended Charges: On April 28, 2026, prosecutors filed an amended complaint adding six felony counts specifically for wrongfully obtaining assistance. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
# # Financial Discrepancies
Investigators conducted a "lifestyle analysis" that uncovered major spending inconsistent with her reported income: [7, 8]
* Assets: Conrad has three vehicles, four trailers, a pontoon boat, and three jet skis registered in her name.
* Major Purchases: In 2023, she purchased a boat valued at over $105,000, and in 2024, she bought a new home for $560,000.
* Bank Deposits: Records show more than $900,000 was deposited into her personal account and over $1.8 million into her business account between 2019 and 2025.
* Estimated Debt: Authorities allege she owes approximately $123,000 in unpaid income tax and $55,000 in sales tax. [1, 3, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13]
# # Penalties and Status
* Maximum Sentence: Each of the 24 felony counts carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
* Current Status: As of late April 2026, Conrad's business remains open, and she has been issued a summons to appear in [Clay County District Court](https://www.valleynewslive.com/2026/04/14/tax-fraud-case-filed-against-owner-moorheads-reese-rileys-bistro-bar/). [1, 11, 14]
Would you like to know more about the specific dates for her upcoming court appearances in Clay County?
[1] [https://www.startribune.com](https://www.startribune.com/moorhead-business-owner-defiant-in-face-of-24-felony-charges-alleging-tax-crimes-snap-benefits-fraud/601807374)
[2] [https://www.inforum.com](https://www.inforum.com/business/additional-charges-filed-against-moorhead-business-owner)
[3] [https://www.inforum.com](https://www.inforum.com/business/moorhead-business-owner-faces-24-tax-charges)
[4] [https://www.valleynewslive.com](https://www.valleynewslive.com/2026/04/14/tax-fraud-case-filed-against-owner-moorheads-reese-rileys-bistro-bar/)
[5] [https://www.startribune.com](https://www.startribune.com/moorhead-business-owner-defiant-in-face-of-24-felony-charges-alleging-tax-crimes-snap-benefits-fraud/601807374)
[6] [https://www.inforum.com](https://www.inforum.com/business/additional-charges-filed-against-moorhead-business-owner)
[7] [https://www.fox9.com](https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesota-business-owner-facing-dozens-tax-charges)
[8] [https://www.fox9.com](https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesota-business-owner-facing-dozens-tax-charges)
[9] [https://www.fox9.com](https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesota-business-owner-facing-dozens-tax-charges)
[10] [https://kfgo.com](https://kfgo.com/2026/04/14/moorhead-business-owner-charged-with-multiple-counts-of-tax-fraud/)
[11] [https://www.am1100theflag.com](https://www.am1100theflag.com/news/tax-fraud-case-filed-against-owner-of-moorheads-reese-rileys-bistro-bar/)
[12] [https://www.inforum.com](https://www.inforum.com/business/moorhead-business-owner-faces-24-tax-charges)
[13] [https://www.startribune.com](https://www.startribune.com/moorhead-business-owner-defiant-in-face-of-24-felony-charges-alleging-tax-crimes-snap-benefits-fraud/601807374)
[14] [https://www.am1100theflag.com](https://www.am1100theflag.com/news/tax-fraud-case-filed-against-owner-of-moorheads-reese-rileys-bistro-bar/)
4.5 ⭐ · Olive oil bottling company in Moorhead, Minnesota
