Big Island woman accused of racking up $4,000 in charges on an elderly man’s credit cards

A Pāpaʻikou woman, 46-year-old Kelli-Rae Souza, has been arrested and charged with offenses related to the unauthorized use of an elderly Honoka‘a man’s credit cards.

Police reports allege that between June 13, 2023, and Sept. 14, 2023, Souza conducted numerous unauthorized transactions totaling more than $4,000.

Souza is scheduled to make her initial appearance in Hāmākua District Court on Jan. 23. Following her arrest, Souza was released from custody after posting $18,500 bail.

Souza was charged with 10 offenses, including:

• First-degree theft, a class B felony
• Second-degree theft
• First-degree identity theft, a class A felony
• Second-degree identity theft
• Two counts of unauthorized possession of confidential information
• Four counts of fraudulent use of a credit card

First-degree identity theft is a class A felony punishable by a 20-year prison term. First-degree theft is a class B felony offense punishable by either a 10-year prison term or four years probation and up to 18 months in jail.