Attorney General’s Office secures conviction for wrongfully obtaining public assistance

Michael John Marick pleads guilty in Itasca County to wrongfully obtaining public assistance for 9 ½ years, involving over $100,000 of stolen benefits

July 13, 2026 (SAINT PAUL) — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office today secured the criminal conviction of Michael John Marick in Itasca County for wrongfully obtaining public assistance. Marick pleaded guilty of stealing nine and a half years' worth of public-assistance benefits.

In April 2014, Marick applied for and received Medical Assistance (MA) and Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) through Itasca County, which he received until September 2023. Marick intentionally misrepresented his employment status and monthly income to fraudulently meet the eligibility requirements. Marick’s actual monthly income was substantially higher than disclosed and consistently above the public assistance limits. The overpayment of benefits to Marick between April 2014 and September 2023 totaled $106,098.62.

At today’s plea hearing, Marick admitted he is “definitely guilty” of wrongfully obtaining assistance and acknowledged multiple sources of income he did not disclose in order to obtain public benefits that he was ineligible to receive. Marick pleaded guilty to one count of wrongfully obtaining public assistance in excess of $35,000.

Attorney General Ellison’s office prosecuted Marick upon a referral from Itasca County Attorney Jacob Fauchald under Minnesota Statutes section 8.01, which provides, “Upon request of the county attorney, the attorney general shall appear in court in such criminal cases as the attorney general deems proper.” The authority vested in the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office is primarily civil. Aside from referrals submitted under section 8.01 and Medicaid fraud, the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office does not have prosecuting authority over most criminal acts. That authority generally rests with county and city attorneys.

“My job as attorney general is to help Minnesotans afford their lives, which means going after fraudsters and thieves like Marick,” said Attorney General Ellison. “Defrauding programs that provide healthcare and food assistance to low-income Minnesotans is an unconscionable act. We will continue to do all we can to protect Minnesota tax dollars and the services Minnesotans rely on.”

Attorney General Ellison thanks the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Itasca County Human Health and Services, who assisted in the investigation and successful prosecution of this crime.