A 34-year-old South Boardman woman is facing charges of identity theft after Michigan State Police say she charged more than $12,000 to her recently deceased mother’s credit card.
According to MSP, in April 2022, a man came to the MSP Kalkaska Detachment to to report an alleged identity theft and illegal use of a credit card by a family member. The man stated his sister, Sarah-Lea Marie Helsel, had made multiple charges on their recently deceased mother’s credit card totaling over $12,000. Troopers say Helsel also used her deceased mother’s identity to apply for additional credit cards.
A search warrant was served at Helsel’s residence and evidence was seized. An arrest warrant was issued on July 17. Helsel turned herself in at the Kalkaska County Jail on Aug. 3.
Helsel was arraigned Wednesday in a Kalkaska County court on one count identity theft, one count false statement of identity for financial transaction device, one count stealing/retaining a financial transactions device without consent and one count false pretenses over $999 but less than $20,000.
Helsel’s bond was set at $10,000.
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