Identity Thief Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

State Attorney Melissa Nelson today announces that on April 4, 2017, the Honorable Steven B. Whittington sentenced Betty Heasley Porterfield a/k/a Betty Thomas, 60, of Hinesville, to 20 years in Florida State Prison for two counts of Criminal Use of Personal Identification Information, two counts of Grand Theft, one count of Aggravated Fleeing, and one count of Possession of Cocaine. Additionally, Whittington ordered Porterfield pay $241,000 in restitution.

According to court documents, Porterfield assumed the identity of a disabled victim who had multiple bank accounts with various financial institutions in Jacksonville. From February 2016 through April 2016, Porterfield withdrew nearly $225,000 from these bank accounts through a series of more than 25 transactions.

In an unrelated case, Porterfield, while driving her vehicle, fled from a marked Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office patrol unit with lights and siren activated. The cases were investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Joe Licandro and Andrew Kantor.

For additional information or to schedule an interview with Joe Licandro, please contact David Chapman, Communications Director, at the contact information above.