By Shereen Siewert
A Wausau woman is facing an array of charges after she was caught allegedly trying to use credit cards stolen from mailboxes throughout the metro area.
Police say Stephanie McGeshick, 33, had more than $1,000 worth of stolen checks in her pocket, along with a concealed knife, when she was arrested Jan. 31.
McGeshick faces five counts of felony mail fraud, two counts of forgery, two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card, along with charges of carrying a concealed knife and bail jumping. Police say McGeshick and a co-defendant, David Nieuwenhuis, were together when McGeshick tried to use a stolen Amazon Prime Visa card at Walmart to buy merchandise and to rent a room at a Rib Mountain hotel in the early morning hours of Jan. 7. The transactions were denied.
Surveillance video showed the couple leaving Walmart and a taxi leaving the store, court documents state. The taxi driver later told police he took a couple from the hotel to Walmart and back to the hotel but was unable to pay the $31.50 fare. The male passenger, identified as Nieuwenhuis, left his ID and a non-working credit card with the driver as an assurance he would later pay the tab, police said.
Further investigation led police to McGeshick, who denied stealing the credit cards and claimed she found the checks at a local laundromat.
During an initial appearance Feb. 4, McGeshick was ordered held on a $1,000 cash bond.
Nieuwenhuis, 39, faces charges of fraudulent use of a credit card, obstruction, forgery, theft and bail jumping. He is also jailed on a $1,000 cash bond.
Both defendants are set to appear Feb. 12 for preliminary hearings in their cases.
