A former Valmeyer resident was sentenced in federal court to three years in prison for defrauding an elderly woman while employed as a home health care worker.

Melissa Charlton of St. Louis was convicted of access device fraud and aggravated identity theft on Feb. 20, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Stephen R. Wigginton said.

In addition to the three-year prison sentenced, Charlton was ordered to pay $5,271.69 restitution and an assessment fee and was given three years of supervised release.

Evidence presented in federal court established that Charlton exploited an 82-year-old woman from O’Fallon. Charlton obtained unauthorized access to the victim’s credit cards and her checking account to obtain money and goods valued at more than $5,000.

The victim attempted to stop the fraud after she discovered fraudulent credit card purchases, but Charlton also stole her replacement credit cards and misused the victim’s social security number and date of birth to activate the replacement cards, court information states.

Charlton also used the victim’s personal information to apply for an additional credit card account without the victim’s knowledge or consent.

The investigation was conducted by agents from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft.