14 arrested in ID theft case

Published 6:29 pm Saturday, May 11, 2013

Tift County Sheriff Gene Scarbrough reports that the sheriff’s office Criminal Investigation Division has arrested 14 people over the past two months after extensive investigations into the crime of identity theft and other types of fraud.

Those arrested and the violations they are charged with are as follows:

• Tammy Westbrook, 36, of 616 W. Madison Ave., Ashburn, was charged with identity theft.

• Samantha Angelette Byrd, 37, of 734 W. Madison Ave., Ashburn, was charged with seven counts of identity theft, abuse/neglect/exploitation of a disabled or elderly person, a probation violation (original charge – three counts of defrauding the state) and seven counts of financial transaction card fraud.

• Gregory Montae Byrd, 38, of 112 Hudson St., Sylvester, was charged with five counts of identity theft.

• Chelsey Briaunna Martin, 19, of 734 W. Madison Ave., Ashburn, was charged with identity theft.

• Geraldine Height, also known as Geraldine Mayo, 45, 1315 Brookvale Drive, Tifton, was charged with 16 counts of identity theft and abuse/neglect/exploitation of a disabled or elderly person.

• Shantrell Denise Brown, 27, of 305 Elm St., Tifton, was charged with 87 counts of identity theft and a probation violation (original charge – aggravated assault).

• Brittany Gladys Gray, 26, of 305 Elm St., Tifton, was charged with 84 counts of identity theft and abuse/neglect/exploitation of a disabled or elderly person.

• Richard Larry Gray, 26, of 1109 Shady Lane, Tifton, was charged with 69 counts of identity theft, a parole violation and a child support violation.

• Kayla Maria Fowler, 30, of 1109 Shady Lane, Tifton, was charged with 74 counts of identity theft and a probation violation (original charge – forgery in the first degree).

• Valerie Bell, 48, 500 MLK Drive, Tifton, was charged with identity theft and abuse/neglect/exploitation of a disabled or elderly person.

• Shannon Shydia Murray, 22, of 17 Clint Circle, Tifton, was charged with two counts of identity theft.

• Cassandra Michelle Brownlee, 26, of 382 Highway 125 S., Lot E-6, Tifton, was charged with 199 counts of identity theft and a probation violation (original charge – giving a false name, etc.).

• Jatin Suresh Patel, 41, of 129 Pinewood Drive Tifton, was charged with 18 counts of identity theft and possession of hydrocodone with the intent to distribute.

• Alejandra Lorenzo-Vega, 25, of 222 Davis Ave., Tifton, was charged with four counts of identity theft, possession of hydrocodone with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Scarbrough said agents from the United States Secret Service assisted in some of the investigations and some of the arrests. He said at this time, nine of the suspects have been released on bond while five remain in the Tift County Jail.

Lt. Col. Bobby Brannen told The Gazette that from 2011 to 2012, reports of fraud that were reported to the sheriff’s office rose from 234 to 337, an increase of 44 percent. He added there have been 29 reports of various types of fraud reported between April 1 and May 10. He said the majority of these are identity theft related.

Brannen said citizens should not give out their personal identifying information except in cases when they know they are dealing with reliable and reputable businesses or individuals that they know are legitimate.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft is a serious crime that can wreak havoc with your finances, credit history and reputation — and can take time, money and patience to resolve. Visit www.ftc.gov/idtheft to learn more about protecting your identity.