Stephens County SO Investigates Identity Fraud Case

By Charlie Bauder, WNEG Radio, Toccoa

Stephens County authorities arrest a man on identity fraud charges.

According to Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley, his office began investigating a report of identity fraud In December involving an elderly woman.

Shirley said the woman told authorities that between February and December of 2015, a person suspected to be a relative used her personal information to obtain a line of credit without her authorization or permission.

The sheriff said his investigators spent the next few months diligently going through documents, filing court orders, and obtaining search warrants.

They also worked with various companies and obtained a warrant for 24-year-old Dustin Edward Garrett, who had a last known address of Savannah.

According to Shirley, investigators and deputies were able to develop tips of Garrett’s whereabouts and he was arrested on March 31.

Garrett has been charged with identity fraud and was being held in the Stephens County Detention Center on a $10,000 bond.