Brown County District Court

• Felony perjury-in any writing-under oath, gross misdemeanor financial transaction card fraud-use forged, financial transaction card fraud-false statement and misdemeanor wrongfully obtaining assistant-theft-by willfully false statements, concealment, impersonation were filed Sept. 5, 2023 against Catrena Lynn Jutz, 43, 205 1/2 Minnesota Street South, New Ulm. A Zoom hearing was set for 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023.

According to court documents, Brown County Fraud Investigator Preston Cowing received a complaint June 28, 2023 that an individual’s EBT (electronic benefits transfer) card was re-issued without their knowledge and used by an unauthorized individual to make purchases.

During his investigation, Cowing saw the complaining individual received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits based on his income and residence in Brown County, Mn. Benefits were determined for individual needs, based on circumstances and are not transferable to others.

The individual said his SNAP EBT card was cancelled and a new card was issued to his ex-girlfriend identified as Catrena Lynn Jutz. The new card was used and benefits were depleted. The individual said he did not give Jutz permission to cancel his EBT card, apply for a new card, or use benefits on the new card.

Investigator Cowing learned Jutz tried to retrieve the EBT card from jail while the complaining individual was incarcerated, but she was not allowed to access his personal items. Jutz then tried to have a child go to the jail office, claiming to be the complaining party’s child, to get his EBT card, but the child was denied access to the personal property as well.

Jutz then applied for a new EBT card, claiming the old one was stolen and received a new card in the complaining party’s name. Jutz used that card while the complaining party was in jail from May 18, 2023 to June 27, 2023, depleting all of the complaining party’s benefits and leaving him with nothing left for groceries after he was released.

Investigator Cowing saw Jutz used the new card to access the complaining party’s benefits five times in May and June 2023, totaling $236.60. Cowing sent Jutz a letter on June 30, 2023, requesting a July 7, 2023 meeting. Jutz failed to appear for the meeting or call to reschedule.