A Louisiana woman is wanted after deputies say she walked into a bank with fraudulent identification and tried to withdraw money while impersonating the person who actually owned the account.
The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as Angie Tennille Wester, 50, of Alexandria. The investigation began September 14 after bank employees refused the attempted transaction and contacted the account holder.
The victim then reported the attempted identity theft to deputies. Patrol officers took the initial complaint before the case was transferred to the sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division for follow-up.
Detectives identified Wester during that investigation and obtained arrest warrants September 17 for bank fraud and unlawful production, manufacturing, distribution or possession of fraudulent documents for identification purposes. The sheriff’s office said Wester had not been located when it asked the public for help finding her.
The False Identification Led to a Separate Warrant
Louisiana’s bank fraud statute covers attempts as well as completed schemes. Under Louisiana Revised Statute 14:71.1, bank fraud includes knowingly executing or attempting a scheme to obtain money or other property under a financial institution’s control through false or fraudulent representations, practices or transactions.
The statute provides for up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, or both. Because the law expressly includes an attempt to execute the scheme, a completed withdrawal is not required by the statutory language.
Detectives also obtained a warrant under Louisiana Revised Statute 14:70.7, which prohibits knowingly producing, manufacturing, distributing or possessing fraudulent documents for identification purposes.
The law defines those documents as identification presented as genuine even though it is false, forged, altered or counterfeit. Its examples of personal identification information include driver’s licenses, state-issued identification cards, passports and financial institution account cards.
Detectives Are Asking for Help Finding Wester
The sheriff’s office described Wester as 5 feet 2 inches tall and approximately 155 pounds, with gray hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information about her location has been asked to contact Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office Main Office Detectives at 318-473-6727 or the sheriff’s office at 318-473-6700. Tips can also be provided to Crime Stoppers at 318-443-7867.
Wester is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.