Winneshiek County man accused of stealing 20 half loads of grain

WINNESHEK COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – A Winneshiek County man has now been released, accused of stealing 24.5 half loads of grain in 2023. It amounts to about $175,000 in illegal profits.

This is evident from criminal complaints in connection with Kurt Krauskopf of Decorah. He is charged with persistent criminal conduct, two counts of first-degree theft and one count of second-degree theft.

The Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office says the charges stem from a lengthy investigation. They served a search warrant on the afternoon of October 30 and then issued an arrest warrant. Authorities arrested Krauskopf on Monday, November 4. During his first court appearance later that day, the Sheriff’s Office said the magistrate reduced his bond from $50,000 cash to a signature bond, and Krauskopf was released.

Criminal complaints detail how Krauskopf allegedly obtained the stolen soybeans and corn.

An examination of K&B Farms’ company data shows that a large amount of corn and soybeans were taken in 2023. “Secretly and without authorization, Kurt Patrick Krauskopf removed corn and soybeans from grain bins and transported them to grain elevators for sale. By depositing the checks for this grain into his personal bank account, he intended to permanently deprive Brad Herman and K&B of his property.

Records also show that he withheld income from grain sales from monthly profit and loss statements in Federal Bankruptcy Court.

They say Krauskopf actually shipped 65 semi-loads of corn in 2023, averaging 1,028.36 bushels per load, but failed to report approximately 20,293.63 bushels of corn, which documents show matches the amount stolen from K&B Farms .

The documents also detail 9 semi-loads of soybeans that Krauskopf sold in 2023, averaging 860.68 bushels per load, then failed to report 3,928.67 bushels on his monthly income statement in the federal bankruptcy.

Documents show this was all the equivalent of 24.5 semi-charges, which they say demonstrates “an ongoing pattern of criminal activity for financial gain,” and more than $175,000 in stolen profits.

Another document shows that authorities checked Krauskopf’s combine data, indicating areas that were not combined but were actually chopped for silage from Krauskopf fields and from K&B Farms fields. It was equivalent to approximately 7.9 acres or 1,853.82 bushels of corn.

The document further showed that “Kurt Krauskopf confirmed that he was not paid in corn for the partnership with K&B. Kurt Patrick Krauskopf admitted to having less crop than he sold during October-December 2023 and admitted to chopping silage on the K&B farm without permission.”