WELCOME, Minn. — A mother, her son and his wife are facing multiple felony charges in Minnesota for swindling unsuspecting art buyers by claiming to be selling items from wealthy estates that didn’t exist.

Derry Todd Dettmer, 44, of New Ulm, Jessica Confer Dettmer, 35, of New Ulm and Kathleen Frances Dettmer-Skelly, 72, of Welcome were arrested and charged with swindling Jan. 25. 

The couple and Dettmer-Skelly allegedly sent emails using false identities to art collectors across the United States introducing themselves as a group managing the sale of a number of antiques and art pieces from two estates in late 2015 and 2016, according to the complaint filed with the Martin County District Court.

Through the scheme, which involved multiple email addresses, bank accounts, falsified records and fake websites, they took in more than $1 million from several victims and spent much of the money. Buyers would transfer down payments for nonexistent art pieces to Dettmer-Skelly’s account.

An employee of Art Brokerage Inc., a Las Vegas-based company, contacted police in January 2016 concerned that the company was being swindled by the group. The Sherburn/Welcome Police Department then began looking into the situation.  

Sherburn/Welcome Police Chief Brad Hughes told the Mankato, Minnesota Free Press the investigation began with an interview with Dettmer-Skelly, who was not initially aware that she was involved in fraudulent acts.

Hughes said throughout the lengthy and still ongoing investigation, police had to submit numerous warrants to investigate bank accounts and the false email addresses. They were able to trace email correspondence Dettmer-Skelly had sent back to Derry and Jessica Dettmer.

“It became clear that a lot of people she said existed, just didn’t exist,” Hughes said. Dettmer-Skelly said she was in communication with a few other people involved in selling from the “estates.”

Derry and Jessica Dettmer have each been charged with 10 counts of theft by swindle, and Dettmer-Skelly with one count.

Theft by swindle has a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Jessica Dettmer faces 10 counts of aiding and abetting theft by swindle, charges that carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Dettmer-Skelly has been charged with eight counts of theft with the intent to exercise temporary control, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. She has also been charged with one count of forgery, which carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Narveson writes for the Mankato, Minnesota Free Press.