According to Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver investigators have filed charges regarding identity theft of a Centre couple. 

Chester Holley, III, age 45, from Wabash, Indiana, who is unknown to the victims, changed a banking account number on-line in order to receive direct deposit payments – thus stealing funds from the account.  Investigators used banking records and Internet Protocol address information in order to locate the suspect responsible for the crime. 

Holley is currently incarcerated on unrelated charges in Indiana – and he is expected to be extradited to Alabama in the future to face these charges. 

Sheriff Shaver would like to remind citizens to take precautions to minimize the threat of identity theft, monitor their bank accounts on a regular basis, and report any problems to their financial institution as soon as possible. 

For good tips on how to protect your identity, go to www.usa.gov/identity-theft.