Crime & Safety

Police Arrest Lakeville Woman on Theft by Swindle Charges

Amy Janette Johnson is accused of swindling her former housekeeper out of more than $800,000.

A Lakeville woman was arrested Friday on a warrant accusing her of swindling her former housekeeper out of more than $800,000.

Amy Janette Johnson, 43, faces a charge of felony theft by swindle, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine, and a felony charge of identity theft, which has a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

A warrant for Johnson’s arrest was issued Aug. 1 after she failed to appear at a court hearing. She was arrested in Hastings, appeared in court Friday and was once again released on her promise to make all future court appearances.

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Johnson has also used the last names Durham and Finholt, according to court documents.

A judge on Friday appointed a public defender to represent Johnson. An omnibus hearing in her case is scheduled for Oct. 24 in Dakota County District Court in Hastings.

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According to the criminal complaint, Johnson’s former housekeeper and nanny – who lived in Apple Valley or Rosemount when the crimes occurred – reported to Apple Valley police in October 2009 that Johnson had used her personal identifying information to take out an $11,000 loan at a Twin Cities furniture store.

Additionally, in April and May 2006, Johnson fabricated documents – including income tax returns – using her housekeeper’s name and personal identifying information to buy a Burnsville home valued at more than $600,000, the complaint says. That loan closed in July 2006.

According to court documents, Johnson used her housekeeper’s name and identity to take out a mortgage for $639,200 and a second mortgage for $159,145.

The housekeeper told police that she didn’t know that Johnson had used her name until bill collectors began calling, one of them telling her that she was late with her mortgage payments. The woman said she has never owned a home.

Johnson lived with her six children in the Burnsville home, where the housekeeper also worked, according to police.

Johnson admitted to police that she had signed her housekeeper’s name on the loan application at the furniture store, according to the complaint.


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