A Woodstock resident and former health insurance broker has been charged with identity fraud after attempting to register credit cards in the name of a Senoia resident who was a former insurance customer. A search of the Woodstock woman’s apartment revealed the presence of a number of mail items from her neighbors in her possession.
Senoia Police Department spokesman Jason Ercole said Jodi Lynn Bartels, 35, turned herself in to the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 18 and was charged with two counts of identity fraud based on warrants taken by Senoia investigators.
The charges stem from an investigation initiated by Senoia detectives in early November 2014 after a local resident informed them that someone had attempted to open two credit card accounts in the victim’s name, Ercole said.
“Detectives with the Senoia Police Department worked closely with investigators from the credit card companies and were able to trace the fraudulent attempts back to Ms. Bartels,” Ercole said. “When detectives told the victim that a suspect had been identified, they were very surprised by the victim’s response. The suspect had sold the victim health insurance many years ago, but the victim told detectives that she had dropped that provider to go with another about a year or so ago.”
Ercole said Senoia detectives sought and obtained a search warrant for Bartels’ apartment and, with the help of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the warrant was executed on Dec. 23.
“The search of Ms. Bartels’ apartment revealed hundreds, if not thousands, of files containing personal information of many health insurance customers,” Ercole said. “The search also revealed that Ms. Bartels was in possession of other apartment complex residents incoming and outgoing mail including utility bills and credit card offers.”
When questioned by police, Bartels admitted to committing the fraud against the Senoia resident, Ercole said.
“When the victim in the Senoia case purchased health insurance from Ms. Bartels and at the time of her arrest, Ms. Bartels was working as an independent health insurance broker,” Ercole explained. “Once it was discovered that Ms. Bartels had committed the fraud against the Senoia victim, the Senoia Police Department immediately notified the Georgia State Insurance Commissioner’s Office since her license to sell insurance is overseen by that agency.”
Ercole thanked the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and investigators from Capital One and American Express for their assistance.
