LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - A Texas woman has been sentenced to five years in prison for scamming a Buford couple out of $49,000 in an elaborate 2024 banking scheme.

What we know:

Audrey Michelle Townsend, 26, pleaded guilty to theft by taking over $25,000 and four counts of elder abuse and exploitation, Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson announced Friday. Townsend was sentenced to 20 years, with five to serve in prison and the remainder on probation.

Investigators said the scam began in February 2024, when Gloria Moss received a text message appearing to be from Chase Bank about possible fraud on her account. When she called the number provided, she was asked to verify the account. Although she did not share her Social Security number, the information she provided allow

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