Local Man Accused of $12K Furniture Theft

A man who shopped for furniture and electronics, but later called the store to make the $12,000 purchase used a stolen credit card to do so, Chief Tommy Culpepper said in a news release.

Authorities yesterday announced the arrest of Tony Lamar Sweat, 50, of Mountain Chase Drive in Cartersville, in connection with the alleged theft from in May.

In June, a furniture store rep notified police a man driving a red Chevrolet truck had selected a $2,500 bedroom suit, a $3,500 sofa and love seat, and three TVs, valued collectively at nearly $4,500, but later called to purchase the items over the phone in three separate credit card transactions.

The victim's daughter reported the alleged forgery, noting her father's credit card had been given out.

Investigators Tuesday searched the Mountain Chase home, recovered about $10,000 in furniture and returned it to Nelson’s.

Sweat was arrested and charged with four counts of first-degree forgery, four counts of financial transaction fraud and one count of felony theft by deception. He is currently housed at the .

The investigation is ongoing and charges against other people involved in the incident could materialize, police say.