Schauman charged with stealing friend’s identity

A local woman faces theft and forgery charges for allegedly stealing her friend’s identity and then charging items from stores ranging from Wal-Mart to Victoria’s Secret.

The defendant, Toni J. Schauman, has been indicted on charges of forgery and theft for obtaining a credit card in the name of her friend, Heather Campbell, and then using the card to charge numerous items, many purchased at our local Wal-Mart.

‘I don’t know how I got the information,’ said Schauman to officers regarding how she obtained her friend’s personal information. ‘I went to Wal-Mart on May 27 and used the card to buy items for my children. I signed Heather’s name.’

Schauman reportedly charged $547 worth of items but claimed she began feeling guilty for charging some items for herself, telling police she returned some of those items. She then went to Victoria’s Secret in Murfreesboro where she bought items. Again, she maintained she did not remember obtaining a credit card, in this case what was a Victoria’s Secret card.

‘Heather is a friend of mine and I did not mean to hurt her,’ Schauman said to police, noting she was on medication at the time. ‘I am ashamed and sorry for my actions.’

While saying she is ashamed of her actions, police produced text message records from Schauman, who reportedly tried to convince her friend not to go to the authorities after finding out she had been charging items in her name, leading to collections agencies coming after the victim. Schauman said she was afraid she would lose her children if she was prosecuted, again noting she had been on drugs at the time of the incidents and was sorry for her actions.