NY woman accused of identity of theft arrested
A New York woman accused of allegedly stealing the identity of a South Union Township woman and then racking up more than $12,000 in credit card bills has been arrested.
State police said Tawana Malika Jackson, 38, was arrested in Brooklyn and extradited Wednesday to Fayette County. Police said Jackson of Brooklyn was arraigned and her bond was set at $25,000 before she was placed in Fayette County Prison.
Police said charges against Jackson include eight counts each of identity theft, access device fraud and forgery.
Trooper James A. Pierce said police began investigating after Leslie Johnson of Derrick Avenue reported fraudulent purchases made in her name in Maryland and Virginia in May and June of 2011.
Pierce said investigators were able to gather surveillance footage from one of the stores where purchases were made in Bowie, Md., that showed a woman, later identified as Jackson, and another woman shopping at the store and then using a credit card in Johnson’s name to make their purchases. Pierce noted that Jackson also used a fraudulent Pennsylvania driver’s license to complete the transaction.
Pierce said officers were able to get a license plate number on the vehicle that Jackson was traveling in and subsequently the officers were able to interview the owner of the car as well as the woman who was shopping with Jackson.
Pierce said they provided police with Jackson’s identity.