Eight women have been charged for allegedly using a handful of stolen credit cards to purchase more than $8,000 worth of goods during a series of shopping sprees late last year.
Elizabeth J. Freeman, 32, Tonya S. Fry, 44, Samantha J. Fry, Joanna L. Samson-Sills, 44, Bridget L. Samson, 28, Desiree J. Guilliam, 23, Teri L. Bannach, 42, and Savanna M. Enix, 32, were each charged with theft for allegedly using credit cards belonging to a deceased man to purchase groceries, gas, snacks, cigarettes and Christmas decorations, among other items, between November and December 2017, according to an Alaska State Troopers affidavit filed with the court.
The women allegedly charged $8,155.71 on the cards, which were inside a wallet that was reported stolen from a Soldotna home in late November 2017, according to the affidavit. Two cell phones and $300 cash were also reported stolen at the time.
The cards were reportedly used at different times by different women at local stores, including Walgreens, Walmart, Fred Meyer and Tesoro. A stolen card was also used to pay for work on a home septic system, according to the affidavit.
Freeman, who was arrested last week, was charged with five counts of second-degree theft, a class C felony and one count of third-degree theft, a class A misdemeanor. She was also charged with one count of first-degree vehicle theft, a class C felony, for allegedly stealing a truck. She is being held at Wildwood Pretrial Facility on $10,000 bail.
Samson-Sills, who was arrested at her Soldotna home Monday on an outstanding warrant, faces five counts of second-degree theft and one count of fourth-degree theft, a class B misdemeanor. She was taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility on $5,000 bail.
Bridget Samson, who is facing unrelated theft and forgery charges, was arrested Monday on three outstanding warrants. She was charged with four counts of second-degree theft, two counts of fraudulent use of an access device, a class A misdemeanor; and three counts of unauthorized use of an access device, a class A misdemeanor. She was taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility and held on $5,000 bail.
Bannach was arrested on an outstanding warrant and charged with three counts of second-degree theft and nine counts of unauthorized use of an access device. She was additionally charged with fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor, and first-degree promoting contraband, a class C felony, after she was allegedly caught with heroin at Wildwood Pretrial Facility, according to an online trooper dispatch.
Enix, who was issued a summons, is charged with one count of second-degree theft, one count of third-degree theft and two counts of unauthorized use of an access device.
The court issued a warrant for Guilliam, who is charged with one count of second-degree theft, one count of fourth-degree theft and two counts of fraudulent use of an access device.
Warrants for Samantha and Tonya Fry, who are both charged with one count of second-degree theft and one count of fourth-degree theft, were issued by the court.
Reach Erin Thompson at ethompson@peninsulaclarion.com.
