Texas Woman Sentenced Banking Scam Targeting Buford Senior Couple

A Texas woman has pled guilty to defrauding a Buford couple out of their savings in a 2024 banking scam.

Audrey Michelle Townsend, 26, admitted to theft by taking over $25,000 and four counts of elder abuse and exploitation for misleading Gloria and Gary Moss into providing banking information, which she used to transfer their money into an account she controlled. Townsend was sentenced to 20 years, with five years to serve in prison and the remainder on probation.

In February 2024, Gloria Moss received a text claiming to be from Chase Bank warning of fraud on the couple’s account. After calling the number provided, Mrs. Moss was prompted to verify the account by supplying certain banking details. While she did not provide her Social Security number, the information was enough for the scammer to access the account and make three transactions, transferring $49,000 to a Cypress, Texas, bank account belonging to Townsend.

When Mrs. Moss reported the theft, the bank initially refused to return the funds, citing that the transfers were authorized. She then contacted the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office and also reached out to Fox 5 Atlanta’s I-Team, whose coverage brought attention to the case. With media focus and a criminal investigation underway, Chase Bank returned the full amount to the couple in July 2024.

During the sentencing, the Mosses expressed forgiveness toward Townsend.

Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney John Williams prosecuted the case with assistance from DA’s Forensic Investigator Tony Scarborough and Victim Witness Advocate Sara Gardner. The Gwinnett County Police Department assisted in the investigation.