ATLANTA – A bookkeeper at an accounting firm in Glynn County has been indicted on charges of stealing more than $380,000 from an elderly client.
Christie Edwards, 47, of Jacksonville, Fla., is charged with racketeering and theft by taking in connection with a series of fraudulent ATM withdrawals, point-of-sale transactions, checks, and credit card payments.
The case was investigated by the White Collar and Cyber Crime Unit housed in the Attorney General’s Prosecution Division.
“Protecting older Georgians from scams and fraud will always be our top priority,” Attorney General Chris Carr said Wednesday.
“Sadly, those who often perpetrate such crimes are closest to the victims with direct access to their savings and personal information. We encourage older adults and their families to have a plan in place that includes multiple trusted individuals to oversee their finances and file a report with law enforcement if you ever feel something is wrong.”
A guide created by the state agency’s Consumer Protection Division covers a variety of topics important to seniors, including scams, identity theft, reverse mortgages, home repairs, long-term care, elder abuse, and more. The guide is available in English, Spanish, and Korean and is free to download.
Carr’s office has not released further details about the investigation that led to Edwards’ indictment.