WCSO Detectives Make Arrest in Fraud Case

Detectives of the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) at the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office (SO) have arrested Shane Laufman, 38, and Kristen Chatham, 26, for Petit Theft and Criminal Use of Personal Identification Information of a Deceased Person; and Gunnar Taylor, 25, for Dealing in Stolen Property. 

On January 8, 2021, the sole female occupant of a vehicle died as a result of a single-car traffic crash on Bloxham Cutoff Road in Wakulla County, Florida.  On February 3, 2021, the decedent’s father reported that according to his daughter’s phone bill and bank statement, calls had been made from her cell phone and charges made with her credit/debit card after her death.  The investigation was assigned to Detectives of the CID.

Detectives determined that on January 8, 2021, at 1:53 a.m., the traffic crash was reported by Kristen Chatham.  Detectives reviewed the decedent’s bank statement and noted transactions made after her death.  One was a convenience store purchase for $35.05, one was a Cash App cash withdrawal in the amount of $500, and one was in the amount of $42.78 from a billing company that handles discreet billing for adult dating and pornographic websites.  Detectives identified the adult dating website.  Detectives learned via multiple subpoenas that Shane Laufman had an email account which was used to access the adult dating website which was charged to the credit/debit card of the decedent on January 8, 2021, and that on January 9, 2021, a $500 payment was made from the decedent’s bank account via Cash App to Kristen Chatham.  Detectives identified four telephone numbers called from the decedent’s cell phone between January 8 - 24, 2021, subscribed to associates of Gunnar Taylor, including Kristen Chatham.

During May 2021, Detectives interviewed Kristen Chatham, who stated Gunnar Taylor and others were with her when they came upon the traffic crash.  Kristen Chatham stated she did not see anyone steal the cell phone, but admitted she had possession of it as it had been sold to her by Gunnar Taylor for $250 - $275 about two weeks after the crash.  Ms. Chatham turned the phone over to Detectives. 

On May 19, 2021, Detectives interviewed Shane Laufman who stated that Kristen Chatham, Gunnar Taylor, and another subject visited his residence and discussed the fatal crash scene they had come upon.  Mr. Laufman admitted accessing the adult dating site using his email address.  Mr. Laufman stated Kristen Chatham had given him a bank card bearing a female’s name to pay for access to the website.  He later changed his story and said she used his email to open the account. 

On August 12, 2021, Detectives obtained arrest warrants for Shane Laufman, Kristen Chatham, and Gunnar Taylor.  At the time, Shane Laufman was incarcerated in the Leon County Detention Facility and Gunnar Taylor was incarcerated in the Morgan City Jail in Louisiana.  Holds were placed on them for return to Wakulla County.  On August 26, 2021, Kristen Chatham was arrested by authority of the arrest warrant and booked into the Wakulla County Jail.