EAU CLAIRE — An Augusta woman was in court Tuesday to face charges that she stole more than $10,000 from a relative.
Carrolee Moore, 52, faces charges of fraudulent use of a financial transaction card, theft of movable property valued between $10,000-$100,000 and a misdemeanor count of intimidating a victim. She faces a separate charge of resisting an officer as well.
According to the criminal complaint, Augusta police became involved after the Department of Human Services contacted them about potential financial crimes. Police checked on the account and, in the course of their investigation, found that the victim had regular automated payments that came from various accounts. There were also routine withdrawals of $500-$700. Those withdrawals were legitimate, they learned, because the victim refused to use an ATM.
The patterns changed in May, when a $1,400 withdrawal was made. Other large transactions followed, with payments to Synchrony Financial, the bank that handles Fleet Farm Rewards credit cards. The card in question was also used to place hundreds of dollars in inmate accounts at the jail.
The card was suspended at the end of July due to suspected fraud.
Moore’s intimidation charge stems from calls she made from the Eau Claire County Jail to the victim, urging him to convince the bank the charges were legitimate, thus ending the case against her.
The bulk of the missing money was restored by the bank, though the victim still suffered a loss of more than $2,000.
The felony counts are Class G offenses under Wisconsin law. Both carry the potential for up to five years in prison and five years’ extended supervision. Fines for Class G felonies can reach $25,000.
Moore is listed as an inmate at the Eau Claire County Jail. A $2,000 signature bond was set for her in September, but court records indicate she refused to sign it. She has yet to enter a plea. That will take place at her arraignment, which is the next step in the case.