A woman opened a bank account in another person’s name and deposited stolen rent checks from multiple Sauk Rapids businesses, using the funds for purchases and cash withdrawals, according to the complaint.

Lindy Marie Suedel, 40, faces three felony charges in Benton County District Court: possession or sale of stolen or counterfeit checks, identity theft and financial transaction card fraud.

According to the complaint, Sauk Rapids police began investigating on September 15 after learning of possible theft involving businesses on 2nd Avenue North in Sauk Rapids. The building houses three businesses and two apartments, one occupied by the building owner, the victim and the other by Suedel.

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The owners of the businesses told police they had paid their rent by check as usual, but the victim said the payments were never received. The complaint states that the rent checks were deposited into a Huntington Bank account opened in the victim’s name, but the victim said he had never banked there and was unaware of the account.

Police confirmed the account was opened online on June 21, using an address in Bemidji that was associated with Suedel and a phone number.

Investigators found that a financial transaction card tied to the fraudulent account was used for purchases at Kwik Trip stores in Clearwater, Buffalo and Hinckley between July 2 and September 8. Surveillance video showed Suedel using the card to buy merchandise, withdraw cash from an ATM and purchase fuel for her vehicle. The card was also used at a Sauk Rapids grocery store between July 31 and August 3.

Bank records showed ATM withdrawals totaling more than $3,000 and CashApp transfers of $2,830. The complaint states that numerous checks written to the victim were deposited into the fraudulent account without the victim’s knowledge. Police allege Suedel possessed, received or transferred the checks knowing they were stolen.

Business A had four checks totaling $5,363 deposited into the account, while Business B had three checks totaling $1,800, according to the complaint.

The charges were filed October 16 in Benton County District Court.

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