Florida woman accused of cashing over $16,000 worth of stolen checks at local banks

MASON CITY — A Florida woman is due to make an appearance in a Cerro Gordo County courtroom later this week after being accused of cashing stolen checks.

30-year-old Christina Whitaker of Lantana Florida was accused of going to four different branches of First Citizens Bank in December of last year and cashing eight stolen checks with a total value of $16,300. Authorities say Whitaker used the stolen identity of a bank customer and impersonated the account holder.

Whitaker has been charged with ongoing criminal conduct, a Class B felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison, as well as identity theft involving over $10,000, a Class C felony punishable by up to ten years. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday.

Whitaker was recently arrested in Ohio and was booked into the Cerro Gordo County Jail on Thursday, where she continues to be held on a total of $50,000 bond.