Minneapolis Woman Charged With Felony Theft, Forgery in Alleged $15,000 Minnesota Farm Grant Scheme
Published: October 14th 2026.
MINNEAPOLIS - A Minneapolis woman is facing two felony charges after prosecutors alleged she used a fraudulent farmland purchase agreement to obtain a $15,000 grant through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
Danielle Jovani Smith, 42, has been charged in Hennepin County District Court with felony theft by swindle and aggravated forgery. Both charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.
According to the criminal complaint, Smith applied for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's Down Payment Assistance Grant Program in September 2024. The program provides up to $15,000 to qualified farmers purchasing their first farm.
Smith was notified in April 2025 that she had been selected for a $15,000 grant. Prosecutors allege she later submitted a fraudulent purchase agreement claiming she was buying farmland in Sherburne County for $89,000.
According to investigators, the individual listed as the seller denied signing the agreement and confirmed the property had been sold to someone else.
Investigators also allegedly discovered that Smith created an email account associated with the purported seller and used it to sign the purchase agreement. The complaint states that both email accounts were accessed from the same mobile device on the same day.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture officially awarded Smith the $15,000 grant on June 30, 2025. The complaint does not clearly establish whether the funds were ultimately disbursed.
Smith allegedly failed to provide documentation confirming the farmland purchase despite repeated requests from state officials.
The charges stem from alleged conduct occurring between September 2024 and September 2025.
The allegations have not been proven in court, and Smith is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.