Columbus man facing 16 felony counts of fraud, exploitation of elderly person

A Columbus man was charged with 16 felony counts related to fraud in a court hearing Wednesday.

Steven Verrett, 36, was already facing other charges related to fraud and appeared for a hearing in Muscogee County Recorder’s Court to establish probable cause on the most recent charges brought against him by the Columbus Police Department.

The charges are:

• Identity fraud (three counts)

• Third-degree forgery (two counts)

• Theft by deception (two counts)

• Criminal attempt of theft by deception

• Financial transaction card forgery

• Financial transaction card fraud

• Computer theft

• Computer invasion of privacy

• Computer forgery

• First-degree forgery

• Theft by conversion

• Exploitation of an elderly person

William Kendrick, Verrett’s lawyer, waived a preliminary hearing Wednesday. A preliminary hearing gives the state and law enforcement the opportunity to describe the case against the defendant to a judge. It also gives a defense lawyer a chance to question law enforcement.

Judge Alonza Whitaker found probable cause to hold Verrett and set his bond at $25,000 per charge, the same amount he set for the charges brought against Verrett last week. Verrett was charged with 15 fraud-related charges Friday, including forgery, theft and identity fraud. Two of the charges, theft by deception and criminal theft by deception, are felonies.

A press release from CPD identified eight bank accounts at Navy Federal Credit Union, where Verrett used to work, that are under investigation for tampering. The most recent charges came from the second of those eight accounts, and CPD said further charges may be brought against Verrett.

Whitaker sent the case to Superior Court. Verrett is now facing 31 fraud-related charges, 18 of which are felonies.

This story was originally published June 5, 2024 at 4:06 PM.