Man Charged With Felony Theft, Forged Check After $2,200 Motorcycle Sale in Burnsville
Published: September 4, 2026
BURNSVILLE, MINNESOTA: A Grand Rapids man is facing two felony charges in Dakota County after prosecutors allege he used a stolen check to purchase a $2,200 motorcycle advertised for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Burnsville.
Andrew John Burt, 36, has been charged with felony theft by swindling and felony offering a forged check in Dakota County District Court. Both charges stem from an alleged transaction on Aug. 2, 2026. According to the criminal complaint, a Burnsville police officer began investigating a fraud report shortly after 12:29 p.m. on Aug. 3. The victim told police he had advertised a motorcycle for sale on Facebook Marketplace and had reached an agreement with Burt to sell it for $2,200.
The two arranged to meet at approximately 3:30 p.m. on August 2, 2026, according to the complaint.
Buyer Claimed Check Was From His Mother
Court documents allege Burt told the seller he wanted to pay for the motorcycle by check. When the seller noticed Burt's name was not on the check, Burt allegedly claimed it had been written by his mother. The victim agreed to accept the check as payment, and Burt subsequently took possession of the motorcycle, according to the complaint.
The alleged fraud was discovered when the victim attempted to deposit the check and was informed by his bank that it had bounced. The victim then attempted to contact Burt but received no response, prosecutors allege.
Check Allegedly Traced to Mail Theft
The investigation took another turn when the Burnsville police officer examined the check and identified its rightful owners, according to the complaint. Police contacted one of the owners, who reported that checks had been stolen from their mailbox in mid-April. According to prosecutors, the Eagan Police Department had previously recovered some of those stolen checks as part of an unrelated case.
The check owners told investigators they had not given anyone permission to use their checks. The complaint does not allege that Burt was responsible for the original theft of the checks from the mailbox. The charges against him in the Dakota County case concern his alleged use of a check to obtain the motorcycle.
Two Felony Charges Filed
Burt is charged with theft by swindle involving property valued at more than $1,000 but not more than $5,000. Prosecutors allege he obtained the motorcycle through "artifice, trick, device, or any other means." He is also charged with offering a forged check involving more than $250 but not more than $2,500. That charge alleges Burt offered or possessed the check with the intent to defraud.
Each offense carries a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine. A maximum sentence is not necessarily the sentence that would be imposed if a defendant is convicted.
Prosecutors Requested Warrant
According to the criminal complaint, police were unable to contact Burt, and investigators did not have an active address for him. Prosecutors said they did not believe he would respond to a summons and requested that the court issue a complaint warrant. The Dakota County Attorney's Office reiterated those concerns in its August 10 th bail recommendation, stating that law enforcement had informed prosecutors that Burt did not have a "good address" and had not responded to attempts to contact him. Prosecutors said a warrant was therefore necessary.
The state recommended bail be set at $10,000 without conditions or $5,000 with conditions. The warrant for Burt was issued on August 11, 2026, with Dakota County Jail records showing that Burt was arrested by Burnsville Police in Saint Louis County, Minnesota.
Bail Filing Cites Prior Criminal History
In its bail recommendation, the Dakota County Attorney's Office also cited what it described as Burt's "significant criminal history." The criminal-history table included with the filing lists several previous convictions, including felony receiving stolen property in 2025, a felony fifth-degree drug offense in 2023 and a felony check-forgery offense in 2022. It also lists two felony receiving-stolen-property convictions from 2022, as well as felony receiving stolen property and felony first-degree manufacture of methamphetamine offenses from 2013.
The prior convictions are separate from the allegations in the current case and do not establish guilt on the new charges.
Burt is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. His first appearance is set for today, September 4, 2026, at 1 PM in Hastings, Minnesota.
Pictured: Andrew John Burt. Provided by Dakota County Jail.
Written by: Will Wight
