Iowa City woman accused of racking up $3,000 in charges on stolen credit card

IOWA CITY - An Iowa City woman is accused of going on a $3,000 spending spree with a stolen credit card.

According to an Iowa City police criminal complaint, the victim reported her credit card had been stolen and used at 20 locations in Iowa City, Coralville and Riverside June 24-27. The transactions on the stolen credit card totaled $3,089.72, police said.

Police were able to obtain security footage from several of the locations where the credit card was used. The victim identified Raichel K. Stewart, 23, as the person using her credit card at one location. She identified Stewart's boyfriend - who is not named in the complaint - as the person using the credit card in two locations, as well, police said.

Officers spoke with Stewart's boyfriend and he said Stewart gave the credit card to him and said they had permission to use it from the victim. The boyfriend also told police he was with Stewart at most of the 20 locations where the stolen credit card was used.

The victim told police Stewart did not have permission to use her card, which she believes was stolen from her wallet by Stewart. Police said Stewart denied using the card, refused to answer questions about the card and refused to speak to officers in person about the incident. She was arrested and now faces one count of unauthorized use of a credit card, a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

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