The woman who defrauded senior citizens out of thousands of dollars under the alias “Georgia Powers” was sentenced Friday to 43 years in prison.
A DeKalb County jury earlier this month found Santee Roberts, 36, guilty of violating Georiga’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, identity fraud, financial transaction fraud and elder exploitation.
According to prosecutors, Roberts identified herself as a Georgia Power representative to 86 DeKalb residents, with a significant number being over 65 years old.
DeKalb District Attorney Robert James said in an e-mail that Roberts “purchased a cell phone and registered it under the alias ‘Georgia Powers’ and began targeting seniors.”
“When a victim would check the caller ID, it would read similar to the local power company,” James said.
Roberts, who has never worked for Georgia Power, would then demand payment for utility services and threaten to interrupt the victim’s electricity if the victim didn’t comply, according to James.
Roberts was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Courtney Johnson to 43 years, with 20 years to be served behind bars.
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