SANTA ROSA COUNTY

SHERIFFS OFFICE

Sheriff Wendell Hall

Woman Arrested for Defrauding Tax Customers

On 03/19/08 Investigator Billy Wheeler of the Santa Rosa Sheriff's Office arrested former H&R Block employee Erica Mae Malston on two cases involving criminal use of personal information, theft and credit card fraud. She is also facing charges on two other cases relative to the same crimes. Those cases are actively being investigated. The cases revolved around Malston's use of prior tax service customer's personal information to obtain credit card accounts in the form of loans in lieu of tax refunds.

The scheme was committed as follows: the suspect, Erica Malston, an H & R Block employee, would randomly pick a file from the filing cabinet to obtain the victim's personal information. Malston would then use the information to obtain a prepaid Master Card known as the “Emerald Card”. Once the transaction was approved, Malston would then activate the card via telephone, which placed the “loaned” money from H & R Block Bank onto the card. Malston would then fraudulently use the card for personal purchases. The victim(s) would not know about the fraud until the credit card bill arrived in the mail or when the victim went to file their tax return.

Malston was a former employee of the H&R Block located at 4024 Hwy. 90 and the H&R Block at 6255 Hwy 90. Both businesses are located in pace, Florida. Malston was also employed at Express Tax Service located at 8612 Hwy. 29 in Pensacola , Florida as well. It is believed that the instances occurred between early November of 2007 and January 31 st of 2008.

The management of these businesses (H&R Block and Express Tax Service) are not believed to have had any involvement in Malston's criminal activities and they cooperated fully in the investigation(s). Malston's employment was terminated when they were made aware of the allegations.

It is believed that there are other victims that have not yet been identified. If anyone believes that they were a victim of this type crime involving Erica Malston please contact Det. Wheeler at (850) 981-2230.

Malston is currently incarcerated in the Santa Rosa County Jail on the following charges:

Grand Theft (2) counts, Illegal use of a credit card (13) counts, Criminal use of personal identity information of another ((3) counts, and forgery (2) counts. Malston is being held with no bond pending a court appearance on 03/20/08 .

SUSPECT:

Erica Mae Malston , W/F, 33 years old, 6400 Block of Ashborough Court, Milton, FL

Press Release By:

Sgt. Scott Haines

Media Relations Unit

(850) 981-2136 or shaines@srso.net