Warrants Lacombe Woman on Bank Fraud Charges

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office Financial Crimes Unit wrapped up a year-long investigation this week by obtaining warrants for the arrest of a Lacombe woman on numerous bank fraud charges. Shania Dawn Obannon (age 47) is wanted on warrants for 21 counts of Bank Fraud, 1 count of Theft Between $1,000 and $5,000 and 14 counts of Theft Under $1,000. She is currently incarcerated in Orleans Parish Prison.

Between May 2019 and December 2019, Obannon reportedly perpetrated two separate bank fraud and theft schemes amounting to more than $18,000 in fraud. Her victims included 21 different banks, government entities and local businesses.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office began their investigation in December of 2019 after a local business reported a check it received from Obannon for services was returned from a closed bank account.

Through an analysis of bank records, investigators learned Obannon had opened several accounts at various banks and was writing checks on those accounts without depositing funds into those accounts.  In some cases she was writing checks on accounts she had previously closed. She was also perpetrating a scheme known as “check kiting,” which involves using bad checks to open accounts at other banks.

Upon her release from Orleans Parish Prison, Obannon will be extradited to St. Tammany Parish Prison.