Local & State Headlines

Woman pleads guilty in fraud case

J.D. Sumner

ALBANY — If there is a face to fraud in Albany, police officials say that it would be that of Tiawanna Moore.

Since 2004, Moore, who police say also goes by Tiawanna Thomas, has been arrested and indicted in both state and federal court for charges including bank fraud and insurance fraud.

Last week, the former insurance agent pleaded guilty to federal bank fraud charges accusing her of “check-kiting” more than $107,000 from Region’s Bank using her check-signing abilities as an agent of Thomas Insurance Agency.

That agency is now being run legitmately by TWJ Enterprises, police say.

However, on Tuesday morning detectives with both the Albany Police Department and the Dougherty County Police Department unleashed a flurry of arrest warrants for Moore, charging her with at least 15 counts including insurance fraud, identity theft and mortgage fraud.

Detective Sgt. Michael Persley with the APD and Capt. Jimmy Sexton with the DCP spoke to reporters Tuesday morning and outlined the charges against Moore.

According to Persley, Moore would take payments meant for insurance coverage and use it for personal gain, rather than applying it toward clients’ coverage.

“We believe that this had been happening since at least March, but we’re asking for people who have had policies cancelled and know they’ve paid to come forward,” he said.

Since that March timeframe, Persley said he believes Moore has taken more than $70,000 from her customers.

Sexton is charging Moore and Katie Brown with identity theft and mortgage fraud for allegedly stealing a relative’s identity to get a fake mortgage loan.

“They were able to cash one of the checks, but when they tried to cash one at an establishment in Atlanta, the clerk called it in as being suspicious,” Sexton said.

When the press conference began, police had been unable to find Moore. But by late afternoon, contact was made and Moore surrendered to the United States Marshal’s Service, a USMS agent said.

Moore’s sentencing is scheduled for sometime in the next 40 to 60 days before Judge Louis Sands, court officials said.

More Headlines>>