Dilworth Stolen Phone Case Leads to Felony Charge
Dilworth (trfnews.i234.me) — Russell Spencer Sunderland faces a felony receiving stolen property charge in Clay County.
The charge involves a cellphone valued at about $1,200, according to a district court complaint.
The case is filed as 14-CR-26-2765 in Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District.
Prosecutors allege the incident happened on May 30, 2026.
Phone Reported Stolen in Fargo
The investigation began after a cellphone disappeared from a gas station in Fargo, North Dakota.
The owner reported the phone stolen on the same day.
The complaint says the owner had originally purchased the phone for about $1,200.
The owner later used the phone’s tracking feature to locate the device.
The tracking information led authorities to the Walmart store in Dilworth.
The phone had allegedly been sold to an ecoATM kiosk inside the store.
Identification Used at Kiosk
Authorities inspected the ecoATM after receiving information from the phone’s owner.
The stolen phone was found inside the machine, according to the complaint.
Investigators also reviewed information connected with the kiosk transaction.
The complaint says the seller displayed identification belonging to Russell Spencer Sunderland.
Photographs were also taken during the ecoATM transaction.
Investigators compared those images with previous booking photographs of Sunderland.
The complaint states the images matched Sunderland.
Sunderland is listed in court records as a resident of Leonard, North Dakota.
Felony Charge Filed
Prosecutors charged Sunderland with felony receiving stolen property.
The charge falls under Minnesota Statute 609.53.
The law applies to certain people who knowingly receive, possess, transfer, buy, or conceal stolen property.
Prosecutors allege Sunderland knew, or had reason to know, that the cellphone was stolen.
The complaint lists a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
It also lists a possible fine of up to $10,000.
No other charge is listed in this complaint.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
Sunderland is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Readers can search public court information through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.
Copyright 2026 TRF News. All rights reserved.
