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Brown County District Court
• Felony financial transaction card fraud and gross misdemeanor financial exploitation-vulnerable adult charges were filed June 29, 2023 against Syndi M. Kump, 43, Mankato. According to court documents, on May 19, 2023, New Ulm Police Officer Christina Wright took a call from a witness who reported debit card fraud on her mother's card and said her mother is a vulnerable adult who moved to a Lamberton nursing home.
The caller said there were transactions on her mother's debit card, mostly through ATM machines. The caller said she asked her mother about the charges and was told she does not use ATM machines, never authorized anyone to use her debit card, never goes to Mankato and was not in New Ulm May 17, when a transaction was made at Kwik Trip.
A Minnesota Department of Human Services Adult Protective Services report read that the victim needs assistance and is unable to protect herself from abuse, neglect and financial exploitation.
Transactions on the woman's card made at ATM machines from May 3 to May 18 at Kwik Trip in North Mankato and New Ulm and a Walgreens in New Ulm totaled $680.
On May 31, 2023, Investigator Moellenhoff received video and still photos of all questionable transactions except at Kwi Trip North Mankato on May 7, 2023. The woman is seen in all videos responsible for ATM withdrawals. In one of the Kwik Trip videos, the woman was wearing an EON, Inc. shirt. A screen shot was forwarded to an EON, Inc. Community Supports Manager who identified the woman as one of their employees, Kump.
• Gross misdemeanor 3rd-degree DWI and misdemeanor driving after revocation charges were filed June 30, 2023 against James L. Cox, 56, 102 S. Logan St., Lake Crystal. According to court documents, Brown County Sheriff's Deputy Jason Fairbairn received information May 22, 2023 about a driving complaint and intoxicated driver from dispatch.
The suspect vehicle was parked on the south side of a driveway on 285h Street, facing east. Deputy Fairbairn activated emergency lights and parked behind the suspect vehicle. He identified the driver as Cox, noticed intoxication clues and saw a one-quarter full vodka bottle and several beer cans in the vehicle and learned Cox' drivers license was revoked due to a 2022 alcohol-related arrest.
Cox failed an intoxication field test. His blood alcohol registered a .129. After a warrant was obtained, Cox provided a blood sample that later revealed a 0.132 ethyl alcohol concentration.
Cox was convicted of 4th degree DWI Aug. 18, 2022 in Blue Earth County.