A 36-year-old rural Salem woman has been charged with financial institution fraud after allegedly spending more than $19,000 from two checking accounts opened with fraudulent checks.
Ashley Scarlett was arrested at her home on Tuesday following an investigation that began the end of July when they were notified by the bank about the bad checks used to open the accounts that were then used to make multiple purchases via debit card and checks from July 11th through the 31st totaling $19,423. Police say through that period of time other fraudulent checks were also presented to allegedly add money to the two new accounts.
Scarlett was also arrested on an Effingham County warrant for financial aid fraud with bond set at $15,000 and a Clay County warrant for felony theft with bond set at $7,500.
Scarlett is currently being held in the Marion County Jail.