Identity theft 'victim' may have been part of elaborate scheme, police say

SOUTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Channel 2 Action News has learned that a woman who claimed to be a victim of identity theft, is now facing charges because police say she may have been in on the whole thing.

Investigators say Bridgett Fulton, 49, was seen on bank security video two weeks ago cleaning out a customer's bank account.

That customer, Quintasha Swanson, sat down with Channel 2's Nefertiti Jaquez and told her that she couldn't believe someone would do that to her.

Now, investigators say Swanson may have been involved in the theft with Fulton.

Jaquez was outside the jail Thursday night where she questioned Swanson after making bond.

“Quintasha why did you lie to me, police and the public?” Jaquez asked Swanson.

TRENDING STORIES:

Swanson remained adamant she had nothing to with the theft.

“I can’t explain anything. I don’t know,” she told Jaquez.

“How about the evidence?” Jaquez asked Swanson.

“The thing is Nefertiti, I’ve been wracking my brain about this ever since this has happened to me,” Swanson said. “The detective told me that she told him that I gave her my debit card, and my PIN, and my ID. I have too much to lose to do something like that.”

But police are telling an entirely different story.

“An analysis of the information shows Ms. Fulton provided us, gave us enough probable cause to make an arrest on Ms. Swanson,” Maj. Lance Paterson with the College Park Police Department said.

Investigators were able to track down Fulton Wednesday afternoon after a Channel 2 Action News viewer watched Jaquez’s original story in this case and then called in a tip to police.

Once Fulton was identified and arrested, police said she not only confessed but also provided them with concrete evidence of Swanson's involvement.

“My question is, how the hell did she come up with my information?" Swanson said.

“How do you think she got your information?” Jaquez asked Swanson.

“Nefertiti, I have no idea, but if she’s been doing this for 20 years, she knows what she’s doing,” Swanson said.

Cox Media Group