A suspect was charged last week with stealing over $45,000 from an elderly relative in Martinez.
Randy Allen Wilson, 35, of Cartersville, Ga., took funds from the account of his 69-year-old grandmother-in-law, authorities said. He allegedly created a Venmo account, Cash App and Paypal account in his name and transferred $46,135 over a nine-month period from the victim’s account into his accounts.
Last month, the elderly victim contacted the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office about fraudulent activity on her SRP bank account. She notified SRP in October and they rectified the situation.
“She was under the impression they changed her account information to prevent further thefts, however they did not,” a sheriff’s report says. “(She) did not notice the money being withdrawn until she received a statement and noticed a large amount of money missing.”
An investigation led to Wilson’s arrests last Wednesday for exploitation and intimidation of elderly persons. He has since been released on bond.