MOORHEAD (KFGO) – The owner of a Moorhead business has been charged with 24 felonies accusing her of tax fraud and failure to pay various state taxes over several years.
Clay County Attorney Brian Melton has charged Christine Conrad, owner of Riley’s Olive Oil and Bistro Bar.
The complaint says Conrad filed false income tax returns by significantly underreporting her actual income since at least 2019.
During that period, a special investigator with the State Department of Revenue found that Conrad was receiving Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program benefits for six years, based on the fraudulent reporting.
Bank records, mortgage documents, loan applications and other financial documents were used to conduct a lifestyle analysis. The investigation determined that Conrad purchased a new $560,000 home in August 2024, bought a boat valued at more than $105,000 in May 2023, a new vehicle in February 2024, and a new jet ski for $11,000 in 2025. Conrad has three vehicles, four trailers, one pontoon boat and three jet skis registered in her name.
State investigators concluded that Conrad filed false or fraudulent individual income tax returns and false or fraudulent sales and use tax returns for the business between 2019 and August 31, 2025.
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