Two months ago, Juneau resident Katie Arthur ran a few errands around town — withdrawals at ATMs, a stop at the gas station and a trip to the grocery store and Breeze In — except she did it all with someone else’s debit card, prosecutors said.
A Juneau grand jury indicted Arthur, 36, on five counts of misdemeanor fraudulent use of an access device and two counts of felony theft for amounts greater than $1,000. The alleged theft took place on April 17 and 18, according to the indictment.
“(This case) involved the use of a debit card used by a person who wasn’t in Alaska at several businesses here in town,” Assistant District Attorney Angie Kemp said in a phone interview Thursday.
According to online court records, Arthur’s past criminal convictions in Alaska include misdemeanor theft (2011 and 2012), larceny (2010) and felony controlled substance possession (2015). The Empire reached out to Arthur for comment about the allegations but she did not immediately respond.
Wednesday’s grand jury also indicted Charles Darrell Hatfield, 65, for allegedly illegally filing for and collecting his Permanent Fund Dividend for the past seven years, from 2009 to 2015. Fraudulently applying for a PFD application can occur if an applicant is not a resident of Alaska during the year the PFD is received, if an applicant receives a PFD knowing they do not plan to remain an Alaska resident or if an applicant is a resident in another state. Absences of more than 180 days also disqualify a person from applying for a PFD.
Hatfield faces seven felony charges for intending to mislead a public servant with PFD applications and seven felony theft charges, the indictment indicates. Information about the investigation leading up to Hatfield’s indictment was not immediately available because the case originated during Wednesday’s grand jury.
[PFD indictment earlier this year]
Alaska Assistant Attorney General Lisa Kelley said in a phone interview Thursday that it is her understanding that Hatfield currently has a residence in Washington, but she said she would not elaborate further on the case and that more information would come to light during Hatfield’s court subsequent hearings.
From 2009 to 2015 — the period of time prosecutors allege Hatfield illegally received a PFD — Alaskans received a total of $9,494 in dividends.
According to the Alaska Department of Revenue, persons found guilty of PFD fraud may face jail time and fines up to $3,000. Guilty parties may have to pay back all dividends received and they could be forced to forfeit their right to receive future dividends.
In 2015, the state presented 11 criminal convictions for PFD fraud representing $98,727.12 in restitutions ordered.
Hatfield does not appear to have a criminal history in Alaska, according to online court records. A Washington number listed for Hatfield in Port Angeles, Washington was not in service and a second number for him could not be found by the end of the business day.
Alaska State Troopers have orders to issue Arthur and Hatfield summons to appear in court for their arraignments on Aug. 3.
• Contact reporter Paula Ann Solis at 523-2272 or paula.solis@juneauempire.com.
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A Juneau grand jury indicted two people on Wednesday for alleged fraudulent activity. One woman is believed to have used a debit card belonging to someone else and another man is believed to have collected his PDF for seven years illegally.
A Juneau grand jury indicted two people on Wednesday for alleged fraudulent activity. One woman is believed to have used a debit card belonging to someone else and another man is believed to have collected his PDF for seven years illegally.
A Juneau grand jury indicted two people on Wednesday for alleged fraudulent activity. One woman is believed to have used a debit card belonging to someone else and another man is believed to have collected his PDF for seven years illegally.
A Juneau grand jury indicted two people on Wednesday for alleged fraudulent activity. One woman is believed to have used a debit card belonging to someone else and another man is believed to have collected his PDF for seven years illegally.
A Juneau grand jury indicted two people on Wednesday for alleged fraudulent activity. One woman is believed to have used a debit card belonging to someone else and another man is believed to have collected his PDF for seven years illegally.
A Juneau grand jury indicted two people on Wednesday for alleged fraudulent activity. One woman is believed to have used a debit card belonging to someone else and another man is believed to have collected his PDF for seven years illegally.
A Juneau grand jury indicted two people on Wednesday for alleged fraudulent activity. One woman is believed to have used a debit card belonging to someone else and another man is believed to have collected his PDF for seven years illegally.
A Juneau grand jury indicted two people on Wednesday for alleged fraudulent activity. One woman is believed to have used a debit card belonging to someone else and another man is believed to have collected his PDF for seven years illegally.
