Police say woman stole IDs of local residents

An Upstate woman stole the identities of numerous Oconee County residents, and others in South Carolina, according to police. Seneca police went to the Bank of America on May 26 to investigate a forged personal check given to a teller. They were able to make contact with Christie Smith, alias Christie Leann Manley. Police say Manley had, on her person, credit cards belonging to other people as well as two books containing personal and financial information of a number of people. So far, 26 potential victims have been identified and more than half of them have been notified. Most of the victims are in the Seneca area, but some live as far away as Charleston. With the information, according to Police, Manley tried to obtain credit cards in the victims’ names as well as attempting to open bank accounts and conducting online account transfers, sometimes impersonating the victim. Manley was arrested on June 17. She is being held at the Oconee Detention Center where she was charged Wednesday with an additional nine charges of financial identity fraud. Police say more charges are likely.