Fresno-area woman arrested over $100,000 in fraudulent charges, FBI says
A Fresno-area woman was in jail Thursday on suspicion of making thousands of dollars in illegal credit card purchases, authorities said.
According to the FBI, a federal grand jury brought a five-count indictment of credit card fraud against 42-year-old Alena Nicole George.
Authorities allege she made credit card purchases and cash advances worth at least $100,000.
Court documents say she obtained identity information of people with names similar to hers and obtained credit cards in those victims’ names.
The FBI said George was an assistant manager at the Walmart near Clovis and Herndon avenues in March. In an email Thursday afternoon, a Walmart spokesperson said, “None of the charges brought against Ms. George are connected to Walmart or her work for Walmart.”
George was taken into custody Wednesday. She was released from Fresno County Jail on Thursday night.
She faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for bank fraud, as well as a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the unauthorized use of credit cards, authorities said.
Note: The original version of this story incorrectly referenced Alena Nicole George’s last name as Gregory in second and third references.
This story was originally published June 24, 2020 at 8:56 PM.
