Updated: Snellville Woman Charged, Arrested in Toys for Tots Scam

Updated, 2:30 p.m., January 23, 2012

, of Snellville, is again facing criminal charges relating to financial fraud. This time the charges are in connection with crimes linked to a potential Toys for Tots scam.

Dowell is the former president of the in Loganville.

Gwinnett County Police Public Information Officer Cpl. Ed Ritter said Dowell was charged January, 24, 2012, with criminal attempt and financial identity fraud. She turned herself in Wednesday afternoon.

The recent charges relate to a fraudulent attempt to obtain toys from the Buford distribution center of Toys for Tots in December. She is accused of passing herself off as still being a representative of the Walton County booster club in an attempt to obtain $5,000 worth of toys from Toys for Tots.

Crystal Carter, secretary and the only remaining member of the booster club,  alerted the United States Marine Corps to the potential fraud.

She was quoted in as saying, "“We had talked about maybe applying for toys for some of the kids at the club before her arrest, but we were only looking at about 10 or 15.

"After finding out about the other theft, I got to thinking about it and alerted the Tots for Tots program."

Gwinnett County Police then organized an undercover meeting at the Toys for Tots location, where Dowell's identity and attempts at fraud were verified.

Dowell was last arrested on Nov. 4, 2011, following a joint investigation by the and the for allegedly stealing funds from West Walton Club. In that case, police charged Dowell with several charges of credit card fraud related to funds missing from the West Walton football and cheerleading booster club.

Dowell was out on $5,700 security bond on each of three credit card fraud charges. , a long-time coordinator of West Walton Park, was not charged in the incident. However, he was moved to another park location. He died in the days following after ingesting antifreeze.

Dowell is currently being held at the Gwinnett County Detention Center. Each of her two charges carries a $27,000 bond.