Couple accused of using stolen debit card for $1K shopping spree

DUCHESNE COUNTY, Utah — A couple is suspected of stealing a debit card from a mailbox and going on a $1,000 shopping spree, according to police.

Russell Robert Sweat, 47, and Darci Kaye Gerhardt, 39, were booked into the Duchesne County Jail on Wednesday for 16 felony counts of unlaw acquisition of financial card and 16 misdemeanor counts of theft, according to the affidavits.

The victim contacted the Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office in September as she noticed her checking account went into a negative balance.

She discovered several charges on her card, resulting in $1,551 spent within 14 days, according to the affidavits. The charges were at gas stations and stores from Duchesne County to Salt Lake County.

Police obtained security footage from several businesses where the card was used and identified Sweat and Gerhardt as the suspects.

On Oct. 12, Duchesne County deputies interviewed the two about their use of the card, according to the affidavits.

Sweat and Gerhardt told police they thought they had permission to use the card from a person named “Duckie.”

“According to them, Duckie had given this card to [Sweat] and [Gerhardt] to use on different occasions,” according to the affidavits. “Neither [suspects] provided much information about this Duckie.”

The two suspects told police that Duckie was with them when they used the stolen card and, after each use, gave it back to Duckie. They also mentioned a “Bobbert” was with Duckie.

Police obtained security footage from seven of the 14 businesses and only observed Sweat and Gerhardt using the stolen card, according to the affidavits. There was no sign of other suspects with the two.

Sweat and Gerhardt are both on probation, with Gerhardt convicted of multiple felony fraud and theft charges in the last 10 years.