The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

August 5, 2009

Rainelle woman sentenced on federal charges

A Rainelle woman was sentenced in U.S. District Court Monday for her April guilty plea to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft

Teresa Birchfield, 44, will spend three years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.

A joint investigation conducted by the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, West Virginia State Police and the Dunbar Police Department revealed that Birchfield used personal identification of another person to create a false document in order to steal $24,000 from the victim’s BB&T; bank account from March 2006 through January 2007.

Subsequently, in April 2007, Birchfield presented a fraudulent power of attorney to City National Bank in order to withdraw over $40,000 from a second victim’s accounts.

A hearing to determine restitution has been scheduled for Aug. 7.

Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes is handling the prosecution.

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