Russian agent's boyfriend accused of fraud scheme in North Dakota Oil Patch

WILLISTON — A South Dakota man, whose girlfriend admitted to being a Russian agent who tried to influence U.S. policy as the 2016 election approached, allegedly defrauded investors in several fake ventures, including one to develop housing for oilfield workers in western North Dakota, according to federal documents.

FBI documents unsealed this week detail accusations against 57-year-old Paul Erickson, a Sioux Falls, S.D., businessman. In South Dakota’s U.S. District Court, Erickson faces one count of wire fraud and 10 counts of money laundering. He first appeared in court Feb. 6 on the indictment and has since been released on bail.

An affidavit supporting an application for a search warrant was filed in April 2018. The document — unsealed almost a year later on Monday — alleges Erickson defrauded 76 investors out of about $2.2 million. Some of the money was supposed to go toward a venture in western North Dakota's oil patch.

Erickson allegedly solicited investors as early as 2013 for the venture to build single-family homes in Williams County, according to his indictment. He promised high returns, but he never bought any property in the oil patch, court documents said.

Read more: https://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/russian-agent-s-boyfriend-accused-of-fraud-scheme-in-north/article_83e07171-a623-5fd5-a8db-f2fd9c443c5e.html