PRESS RELEASE

Caregiver Charged with Credit Card Fraud 

November 15, 2024

Sheriff Investigators have arrested and charged a caregiver with credit card fraud and theft after an investigation revealed someone exploited their position of trust to commit financial crimes against a family they were employed to assist.

Brittani Autwell (27) from Attalla, was charged with fraudulent use of a credit/debit cards, Identity Theft and Theft of property 4th. Autwell employed by the victim to care for their grandson, who has autism. Over the course of their employment, the caregiver routinely accessed the family's home and personal belongings. Investigators allege that during this time, the suspect obtained credit card information belonging to a member of the household and used it to make unauthorized online purchases.

"The betrayal of trust in this case is particularly concerning," said Sheriff Horton "Families entrust caregivers to help with their most vulnerable loved ones, and to have that trust violated is both heartbreaking and unacceptable."

Authorities were alerted to the crime after the victim noticed irregularities in their financial statements and reported the unauthorized transactions. A thorough investigation, including the collection of digital evidence and financial records, led to the identification of the suspect as the perpetrator.

Autwell is currently released on $9,000 property bond.

The Etowah County Sheriff's Office encourages all families employing in-home caregivers to take precautions to safeguard their personal information. "Performing background checks, securing personal belongings, and monitoring financial accounts can help prevent similar incidents," Sheriff Horton added.

This case serves as a reminder to the community to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement.