BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com

Ella O’Donnell, 25, of Albuquerque is slated to appear in Los Alamos Magistrate Court Monday on charges of larceny, fraud and computer access with intent to defraud more than $20,000.

On November 3, Los Alamos Police Department Det. Michael Weiss met with the two alleged victims in the case who provided him with documentation from their bank accounts. One of the accounts was jointly held with O’Donnell. Court records filed by Weiss indicated that in mid October, the victims were alerted to suspicious activity on one of their accounts where numerous transfers were made into the jointly held account between September 1 and October 14, 2021, totaling some $22,000. When confronted, O’Donnell denied making the transfers.

Investigation showed the debits from the victims’ accounts could be seen as credits in O’Donnell’s account. Withdrawals were made for several thousands dollars of cash. There were also documented withdrawals at casinos and a charge for $636 to purchase a Walther PK380 pistol at a pawn shop.

O’Donnell was identified by video footage from ATM cameras at several locations.