Clark County Woman Charged In Terrorist-Aiding Case
Posted: Nov 25, 2009 11:05 AM
Updated: Nov 25, 2009 5:28 PM
Winchester, KY -- A Clark County woman was arrested Wednesday by the Secret Service and Winchester Police after they say she used stolen credit card numbers provided by a man overseas to buy thousands of dollars worth of items authorities believe were then shipped overseas for use by terrorist organizations.
Betty Stidham of Winchester is charged with unauthorized use of credit cards and receiving stolen property. Police say Stidham was given the credit card numbers by a man overseas that Stidham befriended over the internet and believed was going to marry her. They say Stidham them purchased items ranging from clothing to electronics such as cell phones and then shipped them overseas to locations including Nigeria and Ghana.
Police say Stidham had been purchasing and shipping the items since March. They also say they do not think Stidham knew the items were being used by terrorist organizations.
Federal authorities say there are many cases similar to Stidhams that they are investigating and making arrests in throughout the country.
OTHER LEX18 NEWS STORIES
-
Earl Impacts North Carolina While We Cool Down
-
Former Kentucky Resident Accused In Gruesome Florida Murder
-
Drought Declared For Parts Of Western Kentucky
-
Kentucky May Put Hunting Rights On Ballot
-
Retail Sales Better Than Expected In August
-
Head Of Charity Won't Apologize For Buying Luxury Suites
-
Prosecutor: Cincinnati Cop Who Ran Over Homeleses Woman Did Nothing Wrong
-
3 Dead in Plane Crash Off San Francisco Bay
-
Time Warner Cable Gets ESPN3.com in New Deal
-
Federal Judge Blocks Neb. Ban on Flag Mutilation
Jimmy81 at Nov 25th 2009 1:23 PM
Seriously??? This is the same thing you see on any given night time news program. Dateline, 60 Minutes and the list goes on and on. The only difference is that this lady used stolen cards. That makes her a moron and a thief, but not a terrorist.
WANDA at Nov 25th 2009 2:38 PM
THIS PERSON PROBABLY DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE TERRORIST CONNECTION, BUT YET SHE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR HER ACTIONS. HER SOCIAL BACKGROUND OR HER MENTAL CAPABILITY IS NO EXCUSE,
MOST PEOPLE WOULD KNOW THAT YOU DO NOT GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING AND IF IT WAS LEGAL THE PERSON GETIING THE ITEMS SHIPPED TO HIM OR HER WOULD JUST BUY THEM FOR THEMSELF.
parker0019 at Nov 26th 2009 8:51 PM
She may have met this man on a dating site, and he sent her credit cards saying that "I will give you a card in your name to purchase some stuff from me in teh US since I cannot get it here." The only moron would be someone who thought that there was no way for this lady to have suspected it was stolen. The people doing these scams are pros, and can talk anyone into it.
It does not nessisarily mean that she is guilty of theft. She prob had no idea that they were stolen credit cards. Then again, she may have. We do not know the situation at hand. And remember, the media and police try to make everything seem "over the top".
Just wait it out and see what happens. I bet she wont even do any time.
kristy32 at Nov 25th 2009 4:12 PM
Given the fact that the I have recently been scammed by a person from a dating website, called a romance scam, and how it happened to me, how I was wooed, sent roses and promised a better life, I see how these artists work now and how it can happen. If this is happening to anyone...beware and do your research on how report it. There is a website that can help... http://www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com/ I had to file a complaint with IC3 and have kept all documentation. Its easy to get pulled in. It is not because you are stupid or not your upbringing, it is because the people who do this are pro's. I am an educated woman and there is not a stupid bone in my body.
Innocent? at Nov 26th 2009 6:45 PM
If this woman is so innocent then why did she hide all of her communications from the other apartment residents? This was a community room computer that was being used. Many residents complained about Betty being the only person to control the computer. Everytime anyone got close to the computer Betty would hide the screen from being seen by others.
Boxes were piled high in the halls next to her apartment and nothing was ever noticed as "strange?"