In Desoto Parish, authorities say a mother and daughter are responsible for about $20,000. The mother says she's innocent and justice will prevail. She says she was targeted by deputies. But deputies say it's only because she and her daughter targeted someone else.
Mary Thomas enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, but if she's convicted of identity theft, she could be spending time behind bars.
Thomas says Desoto Parish investigators told her at first they just wanted to talk to her. The next thing she knew, she was being booked into jail.
Detective Adam Ewing says Mary Thomas' daughter, LaJuan stole a family member's identity, opened nearly a dozen credit accounts and spent nearly $20,000.
Ewing says LaJuan not only used computers to steal identities, she bought computers with their identities.
In this case, Ewing says she involved her own family by having some of the merchandise delivered to her mother's house. Something Mary Thomas says simply isn't true.
But the accused identity-stealing grandmother could be getting ten to fifteen if found guilty as charged.
Mary Thomas's pre-trail hearing is scheduled for the end of October. Her daughter's hearing is set for the same day.
Thomas' youngest daughter, Coretta Jackson, already pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and received one year probation. Authorities say she used one of the credit cards to withdraw cash from an ATM.
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