Charges filed in Davis County against West Valley couple in identity theft

FARMINGTON — The Davis County Attorney's office filed charges Monday against two people allegedly involved in identify fraud. 

Police said Moses Smith, 34, and Brittany Benson, 19, both from West Valley, tried to use a stolen credit card at a Target in Centerville. The card had recently been stolen out of a vehicle in Kaysville, and police were informed that the card had been used illegally by the card owner's bank. 

After police obtained a description of the suspects and their vehicle, an officer located them leaving a gas station, heading toward the freeway. Police said the suspects had also used the stolen credit card to make purchases at Kohl’s and Chevron Top Stop. The suspects attempted to gain cash at an ATM but were declined by the machine. 

Police said they believe Smith and Benson have been involved in multiple vehicle burglaries, identity thefts and credit fraud cases throughout Davis County. During an investigation of the suspects, police found several other stolen credit cards and IDs, a pipe containing methamphetamine, merchandise obtained from the stolen credit cards, stolen wallets and cash, according to a press release.

The suspects were booked into jail Saturday and now face two counts of unlawful acquisition of a credit card, one count of identity fraud, and one of count possession or use of a controlled substance, all third-degree felonies; burglary of a vehicle, a class A misdemeanor; and three counts unlawful use of a financial transaction card, one count use or possession of drug paraphernalia and one count theft, all class B misdemeanors.

— Amanda Verzello