Scammers posing as Spark drivers cost Cranberry Township Walmart thousands
Two Michigan men posing as Spark drivers are accused of stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise in June from Walmart in Cranberry Township, according to police.
Cranberry Township police said Darnell Antonia Rakestraw, 26, and Trey Christian James Nunlee, 27, stole almost $5,000 in merchandise over three trips to the store June 30, according to charges filed Thursday, Oct. 15.
Rakestraw was charged with two felony counts of retail theft, felony receiving stolen property and misdemeanor receiving stolen property. Nunlee was charged with felony retail theft and misdemeanor receiving stolen property.
By posing as drivers for Walmart’s delivery service, Spark, the two were able to access merchandise typically only accessible to Walmart staff, police said.
Police said Rakestraw entered the store first. An employee gave him two Nintendo Switch consoles and two PlayStation 5 consoles. Rakestraw then acted as if he were filling a Spark order and left the store without paying for the items, which had a value of $2,196, according to charging documents.
Police said he returned about two hours later and was given two more Nintendo Switch consoles and a Meta Quest 3 virtual reality headset, for which he left the store without paying. The items were valued at $1,497.
Nunlee entered the store shortly after and was given two PlayStation 5 consoles valued at $1,298, for which he left the store without paying, police said.
The total value of the items stolen is $4,991. Preliminary hearings for the men have not been scheduled.
