Former SDSU employee Kari Fuks was sentenced to 90 days in the Brookings County Detention Center and three years of probation for felony grand theft and felony identity theft, which she will serve concurrently. 

Fuks opened credit cards under the name of a co-worker and used them to spend more than $35,000 in a span of nine months. A portion of this money was used to take her family on vacation and a Disney Cruise in Florida.

Her husband, Matt Fuks, had served as the SDSU Alumni Association president. Matt Fuks is no longer employed at the Alumni Association.

Fuks faced charges for identity theft, a Class 6 Felony; and grand theft, a Class 4 felony for an identity theft that occurred over the course of several months in 2013. Fuks faced a possible five years in the state penitentiary for the grand theft, and a possible two years in the state penitentiary for the identity theft. Two pleas were accepted. Fuks had no prior convictions.

The judge read a letter written by Fuks in 2011 to another victim she had taken advantage of that stated: “inside I am a good person who made a horrible judgment. I know I have learned from this greatly.”

Judge Stoltenburg said that it was not an isolated crime; it took many hours of coordination and action on Fuks’ part.

“I believe you are ashamed and embarrassed because you got caught,” Stoltenburg said.

Tim Hogan, Fuks’ attorney said she got the money to settle the restitution. Hogan also said she has been seeing a counselor and was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety.

“I want to say I’m sorry for the hurt I’ve caused everyone. I took advantage of a good friend … and am really sorry for any pain I caused financially and emotionally,” Fuks said.

Fuks has been working for her father’s photography company for about two months and is granted work release during her sentence. 

She must report for her 90-day sentence in the Brookings County Detention Center on or before March 14 at 5 p.m. She will serve both sentences concurrently. Fuks must write an apology letter to the victim and complete 100 hours of community service as part of her probation.