Snohomish County Sisters Busted In Alleged $80K Gift Card Hustle

Two Snohomish County sisters are at the center of a federal case that accuses them of turning gift cards and stolen identities into a lucrative fraud scheme that allegedly cost a national retailer more than $80,000. Hayley Brown Lundquist, 30, pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in Seattle on Wednesday and was ordered detained, while her sister, Samantha Fleischacker Gillihan, 34, of Arlington, also pleaded not guilty and was released on personal recognizance. Prosecutors say the indictment charges both women with multiple counts of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Indictment Lays Out Gift Card Sequencing Scheme

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, prosecutors allege the women used a gift card "sequencing" technique, loading numbers for cards they had not actually purchased onto smartphones, then using any available balance to buy merchandise and returning those items for cash or other value. The indictment further alleges the pair sometimes used stolen debit cards and combined fraudulently obtained debit and gift cards to complete purchases. Prosecutors say the scheme cost the retailer more than $80,000.

Charges, Weapons Found and Potential Penalties

Each woman is charged with multiple counts of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, and authorities say Brown Lundquist also faces an unlawful possession of a firearm charge after officers found two handguns in her bedroom during an Aug. 5, 2024, search. Wire fraud carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory minimum two year term that must run consecutive to any other sentence, and unlawful possession by a felon can bring up to 10 years, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. "As alleged in the indictment, these two defendants cut a wide swath of fraud in Snohomish County," First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd said in the release.

Court Timeline and Local Response

Brown Lundquist appeared Wednesday in federal court and pleaded not guilty. She was ordered detained pending trial, which is currently scheduled for Aug. 3, 2026, while Gillihan was arrested last month and released on her own recognizance, as reported by KOMO. Lynnwood Police Chief Coleman Langdon said the investigation began with local officers and then broadened with help from federal partners, and FBI Seattle's top agent emphasized the bureau's focus on pursuing wire fraud and identity theft cases.

Why Gift Cards Are a Magnet for Thieves

Gift card "draining" and sequencing have become common tools for organized retail crime because prepaid cards can be quickly turned into resaleable value, consumer advocates say. The Better Business Bureau urges shoppers to inspect packaging for any signs of tampering and to favor cards with covered PINs or barcodes, noting that scammers can reseal packaging or cover barcodes to divert value. For examples of how these schemes can range in scope, from inside the company thefts to multimillion dollar federal cases, see the Covington high-roller case and guidance from the Better Business Bureau.

If you suspect a compromised card, experts say to check for stickers or scratches over the barcode or PIN, save your receipt, and alert store staff or law enforcement so the card can be pulled from circulation. The defendants are presumed innocent, and the charges, which allege fraud across Snohomish County, are being handled by federal prosecutors in Seattle.