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Woman charged with stealing employer's identity

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By BRAD DICKERSON

Highlands Today

Published: May 23, 2009

SEBRING - A Lorida woman was released Wednesday on a $2,000 bond following her arrest on warrants alleging fraud.

Pamela Jean Wyatt, 37, of 3200 Elaine Drive, Lorida, was charged with fraudulently obtaining property under $20,000 and fraudulent misrepresentation.

On March 3, the owner of AK Appliance and AC Repair, based out of Venice, filed a report alleging that Wyatt stole his identity to perform warranty work for GE Appliances, according to the warrant report.

A federal identification number was furnished to both AK Appliance and GE Appliances, so the latter company could pay the victim for any warranty work that was done.

Wyatt worked for the victim as an office manager for several months, the report stated. Because of her position, she had access to all company records and had, on several occasions, filed the warranty work with GE using the federal ID number.

In August 2008, Wyatt left AK Appliance "under terms that were not amicable." In February, the victim started getting invoices from GE, even though his company had not done any warranty work for them since August, the report stated.

Wyatt allegedly used the federal ID number to perform several warranty service jobs for GE appliances. A false billing address was given, but the suspect's personal home address was listed for shipping purposes, according to the report.

GE Appliances was reportedly paying Wyatt for warranty work, while thinking they were doing business with AK Appliance. This placed an added liability on GE since the suspect was not insured under the victim's business for doing such work.

Highlands County Sheriff's Deputy Bobby Green made the arrest. The case was investigated by Roger St. Laurent Jr., with the office's Criminal Investigations Unit.

Highlands Today reporter Brad Dickerson can be reached at (863) 386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

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