AI Facial Recognition Error Leads to Wrongful Imprisonment of Tennessee Grandmother

Tennessee. A terrifying example of how a minor technical glitch can ruin a person's life has unfolded in the life of Angela Lippus from the U.S. state of Tennessee.

Due to a misidentification by an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based facial recognition software, this 59-year-old grandmother was forced to spend 6 months in jail, ultimately losing her home and her pets.

She was arrested by armed police while caring for her grandchildren at home, treated like a criminal for a bank fraud case in North Dakota—a state she had never even visited.

The incident began in April and May 2025, when an unidentified woman stole thousands of dollars from a bank using a fake military ID. West Fargo police used AI software on CCTV footage, which identified a match with the face, physique, and hairstyle of Angela from Tennessee.

Instead of conducting further investigation or gathering evidence, the police treated the AI result as absolute truth and issued an arrest warrant. Angela, who lived nearly 1200 miles away and had never flown on a plane in her life, was labeled a fugitive and sent to jail.

After spending three months in a Tennessee jail, she was transferred to North Dakota in October, where she had to fight a legal battle. Finally, on December 23, her lawyer presented bank records that proved her innocence.

The court dismissed the case after confirming she was at her home in Tennessee when the crime occurred. Ironically, when she was released from jail on Christmas Eve, the police did not even offer an apology.

Stranded in an unfamiliar place, a non-profit organization provided her with a plane ticket to return home. Due to this six-month ordeal, she was unable to pay her bills on time, resulting in the loss of her home and her beloved pets.