By Staff Reporter
iSkyNews.com (ISN) – Published April 22nd, 2026
Kentucky Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Multi-City Florida Identity Theft Spree
JACKSONVILLE, FL — A Kentucky woman who executed an elaborate bank fraud and identity theft scheme across Florida has been sentenced to three years and six months in federal prison.
Abigail Payton, 30, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard following her guilty plea in late 2025. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe, marking the end of a cross-state investigation into high-tech financial exploitation.
According to federal court documents, Payton meticulously harvested the personal identifying information—including Social Security numbers—of at least four primary victims. Her strategy involved a sophisticated blend of physical and digital forgery:
🌟 Counterfeit Credentials: Payton manufactured fraudulent driver's licenses that paired her own photograph with the personal data of her victims.
🌟 Fraudulent Accounts: Using these IDs, she successfully opened checking accounts at various credit unions in Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale.
🌟 Financial Damage: Payton applied for loans in the names of two victims, spending over $38,000 in proceeds. She also wrote checks to herself from accounts opened in other victims' names, causing an additional $35,000 in losses to banking institutions.
The Capture: Evidence Found in Kentucky
The scheme began to unravel in May 2024 when law enforcement in Kentucky conducted a traffic stop on Payton. During a search of her belongings and devices, officers discovered:
🌟 Blank checks issued in the names of additional, previously unknown victims.
🌟 A cellphone containing a digital gallery of fraudulent driver's licenses—all featuring Payton’s face but bearing the names and addresses of strangers.
The case was the result of an extensive investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Kelli Swaney led the prosecution, emphasizing the severe impact identity theft has on the victims' financial lives and personal security.
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