A Gainesville woman is facing charges for forging checks. Sonya Althea Beauford, 46, was arrested earlier this month for a probation violation, but, after her arrest, an investigation into her actions means she now faces additional charges.
It began on January 29, when an elderly woman in Hoschton reported someone had stolen a check. Beauford is accused of obtaining the check from an acquaintance, making it out to herself and depositing it for $1,500. On February 11, investigators received a warrant for third-degree forgery, while Beauford was already in jail.
Further investigations found that in January, she also opened credit cards in the name of an elderly female family member and deposited a fraudulent check into that person’s account to receive cash withdrawals. That family member has not been identified.
A search of her Braselton home last Thursday found a printer with blank checks in it and numerous checks that had been printed.
Beauford faces charges of third-degree forgery, exploitation of an elder person, identity theft/fraud (two counts), fourth-degree forgery and 26 counts of printing fictitious checks. The case remains under investigation by the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, and additional charges are possible.
Beauford remains in jail.
