A registered nurse at Lakeland Regional Health is being accused of stealing a patient’s wallet and using their credit card, according to an affidavit.
On April 4, Jessica Lynn Cuthbertson, 44, was taking care of a patient, when the patient was momentarily taken to another room to undergo procedures, leaving behind personal belongings including her wallet, in the room.
The affidavit said the victim noticed her wallet was gone and checked her bank account, to find a fraudulent charge from a RaceTrac gas station. Officials confirmed the transaction was the victim’s Truist bank card which was stolen from their wallet.
Security footage from the gas station showed Cuthbertson filling her gas tank in her Dodge Ram pickup truck for $74.63. She then tried buying alcohol and cigarettes inside for $67.58, but the card declined, according to the affidavit.
In total, she allegedly attempted to deprive her patient of $142.21.
One of Cuthbertson’s co-workers positively identified her from the footage, and the hospital confirmed that she was caring for the patient from whom she stole the card.
Cuthbertson is facing charges of using another person’s ID, fraudulent use of credit cards more than two times or over $100, petit theft, and possessing a stolen credit card.