A woman from Washington, D.C., was charged after deputies discovered she attempted to buy a Mercedes SUV in Waldorf using the identity and financial information of a deceased person.
Louisa Michelene Coles, 48, of Washington, D.C., was charged with theft from $1,500 to less than $25,000, possession or use of a fraudulent government identification document, fraud to avoid prosecution, and identity fraud involving information valued between $25,000 and $100,000.
The allegations relate to an incident that occurred on July 7, 2026, at CarVault of Waldorf in the 2900 block of Crain Highway.
Charging documents claim deputies went to the dealership after receiving a report that someone was attempting to purchase a vehicle using a deceased person’s identification. When deputies arrived, Coles was observed walking toward a 7-Eleven in the same retail mall, then strolling away from the store’s front.
The CarVault manager recognized Coles as the person who attempted to acquire the vehicle, according to the criminal documents.
According to investigators, Coles attempted to purchase a gray 2024 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 using a Maryland driver’s license in the name of a deceased person. The automobile was listed for about $52,000.
The dealership manager informed deputies that Coles did not want to put down any money but rather to finance the entire cost of the vehicle. The manager stated that the dealership demanded at least $4,500 before the vehicle could be driven off the lot.
According to the charging documents, a blue credit card in the deceased’s name was used to make a $622.50 charge during the transaction. Coles was instructed to come the next day to pick up the vehicle.
Truist Bank alerted the deceased person’s estate attorney about account activity, who reported the charge as fraudulent and went to the dealership, where the incident was reported to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies verified the deceased’s Maryland driver’s license information against the license that Coles allegedly supplied to the dealership. According to the charging documents, the license used at the dealership included Coles’ photo but also had the deceased person’s identifying information.
During a search following Coles’ arrest, deputies discovered a District of Columbia driver’s license identifying Coles, a false Maryland driver’s license with Coles’ photo and the deceased person’s information, and a blue credit card in the deceased person’s name.
Coles was informed of her rights but declined to answer questions, according to criminal filings.
The most serious offense, identity fraud involving information worth $25,000 to $100,000, carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail and a $15,000 fine. The theft charge carries a maximum of five years in jail and a $10,000 fine.
Coles was released on a $2,000 unsecured personal bond. A hearing is scheduled for August 18, 2026, in Charles County District Court. A lady from Washington, D.C. was accused after deputies discovered she attempted to buy a Mercedes SUV in Waldorf using the identity and financial information of a deceased individual.
Louisa Michelene Coles, 48, of Washington, D.C., was charged with theft from $1,500 to less than $25,000, possession or use of a fraudulent government identification document, fraud to avoid prosecution, and identity fraud involving information valued between $25,000 and $100,000.
The allegations relate to an incident that occurred on July 7, 2026, at CarVault of Waldorf in the 2900 block of Crain Highway.
Charging documents claim deputies went to the dealership after receiving a report that someone was attempting to purchase a vehicle using a deceased person’s identification. When deputies arrived, Coles was observed walking toward a 7-Eleven in the same retail mall, then strolling away from the store’s front.
The CarVault manager recognized Coles as the person who attempted to acquire the vehicle, according to the criminal documents.
According to investigators, Coles attempted to purchase a gray 2024 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 using a Maryland driver’s license in the name of a deceased person. The automobile was listed for about $52,000.
The dealership manager informed deputies that Coles did not want to put down any money but rather to finance the entire cost of the vehicle. The manager stated that the dealership demanded at least $4,500 before the vehicle could be driven off the lot.
According to the charging documents, a blue credit card in the deceased’s name was used to make a $622.50 charge during the transaction. Coles was instructed to come the next day to pick up the vehicle.
Truist Bank alerted the deceased person’s estate attorney about account activity, who reported the charge as fraudulent and went to the dealership, where the incident was reported to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies verified the deceased’s Maryland driver’s license information against the license that Coles allegedly supplied to the dealership. According to the charging documents, the license used at the dealership included Coles’ photo but also had the deceased person’s identifying information.
During a search following Coles’ arrest, deputies discovered a District of Columbia driver’s license identifying Coles, a false Maryland driver’s license with Coles’ photo and the deceased person’s information, and a blue credit card in the deceased person’s name.
Coles was informed of her rights but declined to answer questions, according to criminal filings.
The most serious offense, identity fraud involving information worth $25,000 to $100,000, carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail and a $15,000 fine. The theft charge carries a maximum of five years in jail and a $10,000 fine.
Coles was released on a $2,000 unsecured personal bond. A hearing is scheduled for August 18, 2026, in Charles County District Court.
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