A 37-year-old Illinois woman has been arrested following an investigation into an alleged attempt to fraudulently obtain $40,000 from a Pinehurst resident, according to the Pinehurst Police Department.
Adriana Meshell Wallace, of Decatur, Illinois, is accused of transferring $40,000 from the victim’s bank account into an account belonging to her on May 28, 2025. Police say Wallace then converted the money into cashier’s checks.
Following the investigation, Pinehurst detectives obtained an arrest warrant charging Wallace with one count of attempting to obtain property by false pretenses.
Wallace was located and arrested in Decatur, Illinois, before being extradited to North Carolina. She was booked into the Moore County Detention Facility on Nov. 7 and received a $5,500 secured bond.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 25 in Moore County District Court.
The Pinehurst Police Department said financial crime investigations often involve reviewing banking records, tracing transactions and coordinating with financial institutions and law enforcement agencies across multiple jurisdictions.
The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
A Moore County native who has spent more than 20 years telling stories across North Carolina and beyond. He’s worked with CNN, WRAL, and CBS 17, and now serves as a Video Journalist for ABC11. Patrick has a passion for breaking news and has earned multiple awards for his coverage. He’s also a certified NWS SKYWARN Storm Spotter and was among the first news videographers in the state to become an FAA-certified drone pilot.
