A federal grand jury has indicted Amanda Rutherford, 45, of Kansas, on one count of interstate transportation of stolen goods, according to a statement released today. According to the indictment, Rutherford crossed state borders into Missouri to sell more than $100,000 in stolen gold and silver coins from an elderly couple in Kansas.
The Dickinson County, Kansas Sheriff’s Office first got a report in 2022 about the theft of various items from an old couple’s farm, including rifles and a collection of coins. Rutherford, who allegedly resided on the couple’s property and claimed to be their caregiver, became a subject of interest.
The inquiry gained speed in early 2024, when the Sheriff’s Office acquired information indicating that Rutherford had sold gold coins to a jewelry business in Clay County, Missouri. Authorities were able to confirm this information, determining that Rutherford got checks totaling $100,000 from the transaction.
Following the discovery, the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) issued a search warrant on Rutherford’s vehicle shortly after she cashed the checks.
The search uncovered newly acquired products, the remaining bundled cash from the sale, and extra coins that the elderly victims eventually identified as part of their stolen collection.
The indictment emphasizes federal law, which forbids the movement of stolen items over state boundaries. If convicted, Rutherford faces a possible prison sentence of ten years and a fine of up to $250,000.
