ROCKINGHAM — A sixth suspect has been charged in an ongoing financial fraud investigation involving the banking information of a deceased man.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has charged 38-year-old Jessica Louise Ennis for her alleged role in using the checking and savings account information of the late John T. Grant Sr., who passed away in December 2023.
Ennis is accused of using that information “to support financial strugglings and gain financial benefits” by using money from Grant’s account to pay bills, as well as paying the bills for other individuals and getting money in return, according to an arrest warrant issued July 3.
She is accused of committing the related crimes on Feb. 13.
Ennis, of Hamlet, was arrested Aug. 16 and charged with two counts of obtaining property by false pretenses, and one felony count each of identity theft and trafficking stolen identities. She is also facing a misdemeanor charge of possession or manufacturing of fraudulent identification.
Another individual is named in the charge for trafficking stolen identities, but that person has not yet been served.
She is being held in the Richmond County Jail on a $75,000 secured bond. Ennis’ first appearance was scheduled for Aug. 18 and her next court date is Sept. 4.
Others charged so far in the case are Mary Elizabeth Collins, Laura Gail Cox, Joseph Harrison Potter, Tiffany Michelle Freeman and Kimberly Lynn Cox.
Records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction show Ennis was first convicted in 2005 of misdemeanor forgery in Richmond County and identity fraud or theft in Moore County. Records appear to show the latter charge was changed to financial card fraud when her probation was revoked in 2007.
Ennis was convicted on two counts of breaking and entering vehicles in 2022 and spent three months behind bars when her probation was revoked later that year.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
