Paulding Detectives Arrest Identity Thief

(Paulding County, GA) On Tuesday, July 13, 2021, Deputies with the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office responded to a motor vehicle accident on Laird Road to assist the Georgia State Patrol. The driver, later identified as Kelley Marie Faulkner, was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of her injuries which occurred during the accident. During the accident investigation and subsequent inventory of her vehicle, 10 fraudulent driver’s licenses and 62 fraudulent checks were located inside her car.
On July 14, 2021, this information was forwarded to the Detectives of the Criminal Investigation Division for follow-up. As a result of their follow-up, Detectives secured and executed a search warrant for the residence of Kelley Marie Faulkner (W/F, 41 YOA). During the execution of that search warrant, evidence was collected that indicated Faulkner was manufacturing fraudulent driver’s licenses. Also recovered were additional fake driver’s licenses, a passport, and multiple fraudulent checks, along with a multitude of gift cards. Located inside the residence was a small amount of suspected methamphetamine, some suspected oxycodone pills, and a firearm. During the execution of the search warrant, several pieces of lawn equipment were observed and believed to be stolen or purchased fraudulently. Faulkner, along with Herbert Kitchens (W/M, 42 YOA), was arrested and charged with multiple offenses that related to the search warrant.
Upon further investigation, it was discovered that several of the items were purchased by the use of fraudulent checks. An additional search warrant was granted for another search of the residence. During the execution of this second search warrant, there were many items seized that were obtained fraudulently. This investigation is still ongoing and more charges are expected. Multiple local businesses and citizens have been identified as victims.
Detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division are working closely with the Paulding County District Attorney’s Office regarding this case. Detectives are still locating and identifying victims in this case as it has crossed several jurisdictional boundaries. Checks from approximately 12 different banks have been identified and they are notifying their customers.

Kelley Faulkner has been charged with the following offenses:

• -Identity Fraud (12 counts) (F)
• Forgery 3rd Degree (2 counts) (F)
• Forgery 4th Degree (2 counts) (M)
• VGCSA Possession of Methamphetamine (F)
• VGCSA Possession of Schedule II Pills Oxycodone (F)
• Drugs Not in the Original Container (M)
• Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon (F)
• Theft by Receiving Stolen Property (F)

Herbert Kitchens has been charged with the following offenses:

• VGCSA Possession of Methamphetamine (F)
• VGCSA Possession of Scheduled II Pills Oxycodone (F)
• Drugs Not in the Original Container (M)
• Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon (F)
• Theft by Receiving Stolen Property (2 Counts) (F)

If you have recently had an issue with a check coming through your bank that you did not write and does not look like your check, please contact the Criminal Investigations Division of the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office at (770) 443-3015. If you have any information regarding this case, you are asked to submit a tip through the Paulding Sheriff mobile app or the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Tip Line at (770) 443-3047.