Hunter
10/08/23
An area transient who is already facing years in prison on a number of alleged thefts this year has been additionally charged.
Police say on August 25th, 28-year-old Tiara Roberts convinced another person to allow her to deposit four checks into the victim’s account, telling the woman that she needed her assistance because she didn’t have her own account. Those checks were allegedly written on a closed account, and three were written out to Roberts. Video surveillance reportedly shows Roberts depositing the checks at three different banks, and Roberts convinced the victim to withdraw cash for her. A total of $800 cash was fraudulently obtained by Roberts.
Roberts then reportedly obtained the woman’s debit card and used it multiple times without the victim’s permission, withdrawing cash two additional times.
Roberts executed the same scheme on September 10th. She approached a person in a parking lot on Dubuque Street at approximately 12:45am and convinced them to deposit a fraudulent check into their account, then reportedly got the victim to give her the cash in the amount of the check. That check bounced a few days later, and the victim was out nearly $1000.
Warrants for Roberts’ arrest were issued, and she was arrested the afternoon of October 3rd. She was charged with Forgery, two counts of 3rd degree Theft, and Unauthorized Use of a Credit Card. If convicted on the charges, Roberts could be sentenced to up to 11 years in prison.
Previous charges still pending could potentially add another 23 years to her sentence.