By Sonny Turner
sonny@athensnews-courier.com
March 12, 2008 05:39 pm
—
An Athens woman was in Limestone County Jail on Wednesday charged with 31 counts of first-degree theft in connection with a scheme police said involved stealing identities of people across the nation.
Jennifer Rene Freeman, 22, of 1410 N. Jefferson St., was arrested Tuesday by Athens police accused of opening credit accounts using identities of 31 people.
Capt. Marty Bruce said the arrest is the result of a six-month investigation headed by Detective Dustin Lansford with the assistance of federal postal inspectors.
“The victims were from all over the country including Florida, California, and New York,” Bruce said.
Freeman ran up charges of more than $15,000 using the accounts, Bruce said.
“The actual amounts are still being determined,” said Bruce. “Freeman claims she met a Nigerian male in Huntsville who provided her with names and Social Security numbers of potential victims.”
Investigators said search warrants executed at Freeman’s home and residences of family members produced ledgers with additional names of potential victims.
Police also located copies of credit card statements on the bogus accounts.
Freeman’s bond was set $31,000.
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