Louisa Michelene Coles, 48, of Washington, D.C.
Louisa Michelene Coles, 48, of Washington, D.C., has been charged with felony theft of $1,500 to less than $25,000, possession or use of a false government identification document, using another person’s identity to avoid identification or prosecution, and felony identity fraud involving property valued from $25,000 to less than $100,000.
The charges stem from an attempt to purchase a $52,000 Mercedes-Benz SUV at a Waldorf dealership using the identity and financial information of a recently deceased woman.
A Charles County Sheriff’s Office officer responded to CarVault on Crain Highway in Waldorf at about 12:51 p.m. on July 7, 2026, after receiving a report that someone was attempting to buy a vehicle using a deceased person’s information.
When officers arrived, they saw Coles walking along the shoulder of southbound Route 301 toward the dealership, according to the allegations. Police said she began walking away from the dealership’s front entrance as officers entered the parking lot.
The dealership manager came outside, pointed toward Coles and told officers that “she is the suspect attempting to purchase the vehicle with the deceased’s information,” the officer wrote. Police detained Coles while they investigated.
The manager told investigators that Coles had visited the dealership at about 6:30 p.m. on July 6, 2026, and attempted to purchase a gray 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 53. He said she “did not want to put any money down on the purchase and wanted to finance the whole price of the vehicle,” which was listed at $52,000.
The manager also told officers that the dealership required at least $6,500 before the vehicle could leave the lot. According to the allegations, Coles presented a Maryland driver’s license and a blue credit card bearing the deceased woman’s name. The card was allegedly charged $3,622.50, and the manager told Coles to return the following day to collect the SUV.
An attorney representing the deceased woman’s estate was at the dealership when officers arrived. The attorney provided police with a death certificate and a copy of the woman’s legitimate Maryland driver’s license. The estate representative had been notified by Truist Bank about the dealership transaction, contacted the bank to report it as fraudulent and then went to CarVault before reporting the incident to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office.
Police said the identification presented at the dealership displayed Coles’ photograph but contained the deceased woman’s personal information. Officers arrested Coles after comparing the license with the deceased woman’s legitimate identification.
During a search following the arrest, officers reported finding Coles’ District of Columbia driver’s license, the allegedly fraudulent Maryland license and the blue credit card carrying the deceased woman’s name inside her purse. The items were taken as evidence.
After an officer advised Coles of her rights, she “stated she understood her rights and refused to answer any questions” about the incident, according to the allegations.
Coles appeared before a judicial officer later on July 7, 2026. A commissioner ordered her released after she posted a $2,000 unsecured personal bond. The commissioner noted a prior failure to appear and ordered Coles to attend all scheduled proceedings and avoid criminal activity while the case is pending.
A court date is scheduled for 9 a.m. on August 18, 2026, in Charles County District Court. The Charles County Public Defender’s Office entered an appearance on Coles’ behalf.
The investigation remains ongoing as officers work to determine how the deceased woman’s information was obtained and whether Coles may be connected to other incidents.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer A. Dunn of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office at 301-609-3282, extension 0809.
