By: Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office

A 38-year-old Houma woman is facing charges of burglary and forgery in connection with the theft of checks from a residence which she deposited in her personal bank account, as well as drug possession incidental to her arrest.

Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Criminal Deputy, Col. Terry Daigre, said that on April 23 an investigation began into a burglary that occurred on Walker Drive.

“The victim was staying at a relative’s home when she learned that $2,400 worth of her checks had been cashed over a one-month period,” Col. Daigre said. “She reported the matter to us. Our deputies determined that the woman’s home was broken into through a window. Her bank records indicated that a total of seven checks had been cashed, remote-deposited into one bank account.”

The suspect was identified as Tracie Lynn Dudek. Deputies attempted to locate her but were unsuccessful. On May 21 a detective who was continuing to look for Dudek located her on Marie Drive. An odor of marijuana was detected, and marijuana was found on her person.

During later questioning Dudek acknowledged depositing the checks into her account.

Tracie Lynn Dudek, w/f, 38, Homeless, was booked into the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Complex on seven counts of forgery, bank fraud, and a charge of simple burglary, all felonies, as well as possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Dudek remains in the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Complex on a $50,000.00 bond.

“This is a case where one of our detectives was exceedingly proactive and took positive action that led to the arrest of someone who committed a serious crime,” Col. Daigre said. “We greatly respect the victim in this case for coming forward and providing us with details that helped us determine that probable cause existed for an arrest.”