A Minnesota state employee who vandalized six Tesla vehicles last year, causing up to $21,000 in damage, received no jailtime and just a single-day suspension from his job, state records show.
Dylan Adams, an employee with the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), was caught on Tesla security cameras keying the vehicles in March and early April 2025, amid a rash of anti-Tesla vandalism and firebomb attacks throughout the nation.
The anti-Tesla attacks coincided with nationwide “Tesla Takedown” demonstrations organized by ActBlue-funded groups to agitate against Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
As the Fiscal Policy Analyst and Compliance Lead on DHS’s Program Integrity Team, Adams is reportedly responsible for preventing waste, fraud and abuse in public benefit programs in a state that has recently seen an estimated $300 million in child nutrition funds and $9 billion in Medicaid funds lost to waste, fraud, and abuse.
According to a report on the Minnesota DHS investigation, Adams indicated that he was “concerned” about Musk making a “Nazi salute” during a 2024 campaign event, a malicious smear propagated by Democrats and their allies in the media.
He also admitted that he vandalized the Teslas “in hopes the owners would disassociate themselves from Elon Musk and Tesla.”
Adams told investigators he was “on a break” or “out sick” during the times he was out keying Tesla vehicles, however Adams’ state time card, obtained by Alpha News, shows he logged a full eight-hour workday during the time period he was committing some of the crimes.
Regardless, he was “punished” with just an unpaid, one-day suspension on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026.
“You are reminded that you are expected to comply with all Enterprise and Agency policies and fulfill your responsibility of maintaining public trust; failure to do so could result in further disciplinary action up to and including termination of your employment,” a letter sent to Adams on Jan. 20 reads.
Adams was informed that he had the right to appeal the day off, but there is no indication that he objected to the minor slap on the wrist.
Minnesota House Republican Leader Harry Niska said “the message is clear: if you belong to a certain class of state employees, Gov. Walz and Minnesota Democrats will protect you.”
Soros-backed Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty (D.) announced last year that the vandal would not be charged with a crime and would instead opt for a “diversion program” for him.
“We offered diversion as we often do with property damage cases when the person has no record,” Moriarty’s spokesman said. “Mr. Adams will have to complete the requirements of the program. He will also have to pay every penny in restitution to the victims. If he does not meet those requirements, we will proceed through the criminal legal system process.”
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara expressed frustration with the decision not to pursue felony charges, noting the significant damage and impact on multiple victims.
“The Minneapolis Police Department did its job. It identified and investigated a crime trend, identified, and arrested a suspect, and presented a case file to the Hennepin County Attorney Office for consideration of charges,” O’Hara said in a statement to media outlets last April. “This case impacted at least six different victims and totaled over $20,000 in damages. Any frustration related to the charging decision of the Hennepin County Attorney should be directed solely at her office. Our investigators are always frustrated when the cases they poured their hearts into are declined. In my experience, the victims in these cases often feel the same.”
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March 07, 2026, 09:22 AM
preten2b
Not even restitution? The judge should be ashamed of himself and the charges should just be like any other Thug who risks a catastrophe and causes property damage.
EDIT TY wcb, reading too quickly and likely looking for the matching amount.This message has been edited. Last edited by: preten2b,
------------------ The plural of anecdote is not data. -Frank Kotsonis
March 07, 2026, 09:27 AM
wcb6092
quote:
Originally posted by preten2b: Not even restitution? The judge should be ashamed of himself and the charges should just be like any other Thug who risks a catastrophe and causes property damage.
Restitution is part of the court order.
"He will also have to pay every penny in restitution to the victims. If he does not meet those requirements, we will proceed through the criminal legal system process.”
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March 07, 2026, 09:43 AM
hberttmank
Minnesota is trying hard to beat out CA and most of the left coast and yankee states to be the most fucked up.
"But, as luck would have it, he stood up. He caught that chunk of lead." Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock "If there's one thing this last week has taught me, it's better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it." Clarence Worley
March 07, 2026, 09:48 AM
RichardC
" unpaid, one-day suspension"
Harsh.
March 07, 2026, 09:56 AM
Graniteguy
What are the odds he pays all 21K back? And what are the odds he ends up back in court when he doesn't?
March 07, 2026, 10:46 AM
bcereuss
quote:
Originally posted by hberttmank: Minnesota is trying hard to beat out CA and most of the left coast and yankee states to be the most fucked up.
Unfortunately, Minnnesota (my beloved home state) is California with bad weather.
March 07, 2026, 11:09 AM
KMitch200
quote:
”You are reminded that you are expected to comply with all Enterprise and Agency policies and fulfill your responsibility of maintaining public trust”
Well they just shot that in ass with a load of rock salt. Maintaining Public Disgust is more like it.
-------- After the game, the King and the pawn go into the same box.
March 07, 2026, 11:47 AM
Ripley
Not cruel but surely unusual.
Set the controls for the heart of the Sun.
March 07, 2026, 11:50 AM
mrvmax
I would have filed an insurance claim and then let the insurance company get their money back through subrogation. Sometimes injustice is not worth fighting for when there are better things to do. Other times it is worth fighting for no matter the cost. You have to choose which one it is.
March 07, 2026, 11:54 AM
jljones
quote:
Originally posted by Graniteguy: What are the odds he pays all 21K back? And what are the odds he ends up back in court when he doesn't?
Zero point zero. His diversion is xx years. Not until the restitution is paid. So let’s say his diversion is 18 months. And during those 18 months he is paying $20 a month to stay in compliance. After the 18 months is over, he simply stops paying. His diversion is complete. If the victims want to get their money, they now have to take him to small claims court to sue. It’s a violation of his civil Rights to charge him again with a diversion he has already completed.
This isn’t just in Minneapolis, it is every where. The victim always gets screwed.
________________ People hate you. Train like it.
March 07, 2026, 01:59 PM
Pipe Smoker
Justice isn’t blind in Minnesota.
Serious about crackers.
March 07, 2026, 04:20 PM
bendable
On planet bendable it would be, 300 hours of community service Fri. 6 p.m. to Monday 6 a.m. in jail. until full restitution is payed.
Driving prvledges to and from work only. Until restitution payed.
Nine months probation. Mandatory drug testing upon request.
And one kidney donation to suitable donor.
Safety, Situational Awareness and proficiency.
Neck Ties, Hats and ammo brass, Never ,ever touch'em w/o asking first
March 07, 2026, 04:43 PM
Prefontaine
quote:
Originally posted by bcereuss:
Unfortunately, Minnnesota (my beloved home state) is California with bad weather.
I feel for you. It’s a hard thing to see a state you love get trashed. This virus has spread to Texas as well.
This idiot will have to pay more than $21k to fix those cars. I have a lot of reasons why I don’t like that brand of vehicle and it has nothing to do with Elon. Tesla makes you use who they want to use for service and paint and body work. And it ain’t cheap. 6 cars he keyed? Hard time believing $21k is going to cover it. Unbelievable he didn’t lose his job. And that kind of property damage should be a felony.
What am I doing? I'm talking to an empty telephone
March 07, 2026, 06:26 PM
Keystoner
quote:
Originally posted by Graniteguy: What are the odds he pays all 21K back? And what are the odds he ends up back in court when he doesn't?
Doesn't that depend on the victims enforcing the decision through garnishment of his wages? If they do that, and he's still working, it will be 100%.
The danger of baobabs is so little recognized.
March 07, 2026, 06:43 PM
patw
Unreal. With some judges, it is a race to the bottom. How does this person not get a felony?
March 09, 2026, 07:43 AM
Blackmore
Harshest Dream, Reality
March 09, 2026, 07:53 AM
400m
I’d love to see the history of this judges decisions.
March 09, 2026, 07:56 AM
CharlieSW
quote:
Fiscal Policy Analyst and Compliance Lead on DHS’s Program Integrity Team
They are clearly buying him off do he won't report on all the fraud he knew about.
Pragmatism: the relentless pursuit of seeing things as they really are.
March 10, 2026, 06:37 AM
egregore
quote:
Minnesota State Employee Who Vandalized Teslas Last Year ‘Punished’ With 1-Day Suspension
And made to promise to never do it again. *wink/nudge*
"The Almighty, He put some livin' things on this earth so a man can eat." - Festus Haggen, Gunsmoke