The Flowery Branch Police Department is investigating an identity theft case that may stretch across the South and involve an estimated $100,000 in fraudulent credit card use.

The probe began Friday after Flowery Branch officers responded about 5:30 p.m. to the T. J. Maxx clothing store at the Stonebridge Village Shopping Center off Spout Springs Road.

Police had received a 911 call about the use of a fraudulent debit card.

Officers ended up charging Lecresha S. Dudley, 27, of Oakland, Calif., with one count of transaction card fraud, one count of forgery of a transaction card, two counts of identity fraud, two counts of first-degree forgery and 13 counts of transaction card theft.

Dudley also has outstanding warrants on similar charges in Tarrant County, Texas, and Miami-Dade County, Fla., said Flowery Branch police Lt. David Spillers.

Flowery Branch police also had learned that another unidentified person who was with Dudley had fled the shopping center.

Police allege Dudley was using the driver’s license, debit card, credit cards and financial identity of another woman who lives in California.

The Flowery Branch officers contacted a credit card company and learned that Dudley and others had traveled through several states, including Texas, Louisiana and Florida, and throughout Georgia fraudulently using credit accounts, Spillers said.

The loss to date is more than $100,000, the credit card company spokesman said.
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n addition to the debit card found in her possession at the time of the of her arrest, a search of Dudley’s belongings revealed 12 additional credit or debit cards not in her name, Spiller said.

Anyone with information or questions pertaining to the case is asked to call Flowery Branch Sgt. Chris Hulsey 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 770-967-6336.

Neither Hulsey nor police Chief Gerald Lanich could be reached for comment Sunday.