BEDFORD— Audrianna Manning, 34, of Bedford, is facing criminal charges after a fraud investigation revealed that she deposited a fraudulent check into a shared bank account and made multiple unauthorized transactions.
A probable cause affidavit details the events that led to her arrest on a felony fraud charge on December 5, 2024.
According to the affidavit filed by Bedford Police Detective Brent Thompkins, on May 30, 2024, Bedford Police Officer Brent Thompkins was dispatched to Hoosier Hills Credit Union after receiving a report of check fraud. The employee in charge of fraud investigations provided a statement outlining the fraudulent activity.
The incident began when a check for $1,950.50, payable to Audrianna Manning, was deposited into an account using an ATM at Hoosier Hills Credit Union. Shortly after the deposit, a $1,000 withdrawal was made, followed by several charges, including purchases at Walmart and Domino’s Pizza and a transaction through Cash App.
The investigation revealed that the debit card used for these transactions belonged to Manning’s daughter, unaware that her mother possessed the card. Additionally, the account was a joint account opened in April 2024 between Manning’s daughter and her father, who confirmed that Audrianna Manning did not have authorization to use the account. Manning had previously had an account with Hoosier Hills but was closed due to charges.
Further investigation revealed that Manning had attempted to deposit the check via mobile app earlier that day, but the deposit was rejected because the check was flagged as altered or fictitious. Manning later went to the ATM to deposit the check again successfully and withdrew $1,000 from the account.
Manning told investigators that she had received the check after signing up for an online offer that promised quick money in exchange for completing a series of steps. She claimed the package contained instructions and a cashier’s check in her name. However, she could not provide any documentation related to this alleged offer or remember where she had found the advertisement.
Manning explained that after depositing the check, she followed the instructions to purchase several gift cards. She spent the funds on gift cards totaling $1,500 and used the remaining balance to make personal purchases. Manning confirmed that she used her daughter’s debit card for these transactions because she had lost her own.
In a follow-up interview, Manning denied knowing the check was fraudulent and claimed it was an error. Still, security footage and evidence from Hoosier Hills Credit Union suggest otherwise. Video recordings confirmed Manning’s involvement in the transaction, including images of her depositing the check and using the ATM.
Based on the evidence, Manning’s actions are classified as fraud under Indiana law, and Detective Thompson requested a warrant for her arrest, which the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office issued.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent unless convicted through due legal proceedings. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
