Burnsville Woman Charged with Stealing Friend's $5,000

A Burnsville woman is accused of helping herself to $5,000 that a friend asked her to wire to Ghana so he could buy gold and antiques.

Rosalinda Gage, 51, faces one felony count of attempted theft in connection with the incident, which happened last fall, according to a complaint filed in Dakota County District Court in Hastings. The maximum penalty is five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

According to the complaint, Gage’s friend contacted Apple Valley police last Oct. 20 and told them that he had asked Gage to wire $5,000 to Ghana for gold and antiques.

The two went to the Apple Valley Walmart and wired the money, then went their separate ways, the complaint says.

However, the victim subsequently learned from his contacts in Ghana that the wire transfer had been canceled by Gage, who kept the $5,000, according to the complaint.

Police questioned Gage, who “eventually admitted” that she helped her friend wire the money, and after he left, she canceled the transfer and took his money, the complaint charges.

Gage told police that her friend paid her $100 to complete the wire transfer.

Police were able to recover the money from Gage and return it to the victim.