County Budget and Finance Employee Charged with Credit Card Theft ...

UPDATED (3:22 p.m.)?An employee of the Baltimore County Office of Budget and Finance, who has a history of financial problems, faces charges related to credit card theft.

Santrel Goodwin -- an account clerk who earned $37,747, county records show -- was arrested by Baltimore County police?at her office in the Old Courthouse in Towson, according to Elise Armacost, a police spokeswoman.?

Goodwin, who was hired in December 2008, worked in the county's purchasing department, according to Ellen Kobler, a county spokeswoman

Kobler said Goodwin had no access to private information that could lead to potential identity theft concerns for residents or others who do business with the county.

"We're confident that this will not affect county taxpayers," Kobler said. "It was in her personal life and not related to her job duties."

Even so, Goodwin was suspended Thursday afteroon from her job without pay pending the outcome of the criminal case, Kobler said.

Goodwin's arrest stems from the unauthorized use of credit cards, amounting to $950, belonging to a Towson man who had reported his wallet was stolen.

During the investigation into the unauthorized use of the credit cards, Goodwin, 30, allegedly told investigators?"she has major money issues" and that "she is late on many bills and needs whatever money she can come across."

Indeed, Goodwin has a troubled financial history dating back to 1999, including two instances in which she was sued by the county office for which she now works. She was also sued by the state of Maryland.

In addition, she?also faced several criminal charges for fraud and writing bad checks dating back to 2000. In all three cases the charges were ultimately dropped.

It is unclear whether the county was aware of Goodwin's civil and criminal history when she was hired including a suit filed against her by the same county office that employed her.

The civil suit came just three months before she was hired by the county.

In connection with the recent credit card accusations, Goodwin was charged Monday with one count of theft, one count of scheme to steal less than $1,000, credit card theft and credit card charges in excess of $500.

Police began investigating the theft after Sylvester Dorsey, of 100 Block of Susquehanna Avenue, reported that his wallet and credit cards had been stolen some time on or after June 11.

Dorsey told police he last used them at an ATM inside the Sam's Club located in the 5700 block of Baltimore National Pike.

He later found that one of the credit cards had been used numerous times without his permission, according to charging documents.

In all there were more than $950 in charges including a round-trip airline ticket, a cell phone payment and purchases at a gas station, grocery store and pharmacy in the Towson area.?Police said the airline tickets were in Goodwin's name.

Investigators were able to identify Goodwin by comparing a drivers license photo to video taken at the Exxon Gas station located on York Road and Bosley Avenue in Towson. An employee at the Penthouse Condominium building in Towson, where Goodwin lives, also identified Goodwin, according to court records.

Police obtained a search warrant for Goodwin's apartment on July 11.

Inside, police said they found paperwork in her name and a receipt from the Shopper's Food grocery Store, located in the 800 block of Goucher Boulevard in Towson. The receipt showed Dorsey's credit card had been used as payment, according to charging documents.

In an interview with Goodwin that same day, she told police she had pulled up to the gas station on June 12 but had no money to pay for gas. A friend who was in the car, whom she only identified as "John," gave her the card to use, according to the report.

Investigators note in the charging documents that a man can be seen sitting in the passenger side of the car Goodwin was driving. They also note, however, that Goodwin pulled the credit card from her pants pocket before paying for the gas and again later when she bought two packs of cigarettes and some Funyuns, according to charging documents.

Goodwin later admitted to police that she also used the card to pay her cell phone bill and purchase the plane tickets. She was not able to immediately provide information about "John" but said she could get the information if she were able to leave the station after providing a statement, according to court records.

Detectives agreed to let her leave but told her that they would file for an arrest warrant if she did not return as promised.?Goodwin promised to return and allegedly told investigators of her money problems and that "she is late on many bills and needs whatever money she can come across."

Goodwin did not return and attempts to call her were unsuccessful because her phone had been disconnected, according to charging documents.

She was arrested July 25 at the county government office where she works, Armacost said.

Armacost said "investigators have no reason to believe that the charges have anything to do with her employment with Baltimore County."

Court records show that Goodwin, who lives in an apartment in the unit block of Allegheny Avenue in Towson, reveal Goodwin's financial problems dating back to 1999.

The records show six contractual disputes in which more than $10,000 in judgements was entered against Goodwin dating back to 1999 when she was 19.

Last year, the county Office of Budget and Finance filed suit against her in District Court for $181. Court records show that case remains open.

It was the second time the Office of Budget and Finance sued Goodwin. In 2006, the officer sued her for $172. That case was settled, court records show.

Goodwin was also sued by the state for $904.

Other suits include claims for bad checks from a credit union and an unpaid bill to a local department store, according to court records.

If convicted of the July 25 charges, Goodwin can face 18 months in jail and or $500 in fines for each of the theft charges as well as stealing the credit card. She could also face an additional 15 years in jail and $1,000 fine for charging more than $500 in merchandise on the stolen credit card.

She was released?on $3,500 bail and?is scheduled for an initial appearance in District Court in Towson on Sept. 26.

Source: http://timonium.patch.com/articles/county-budget-and-finance-employee-charged-with-credit-card-theft

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