SC woman charged for role in scheme to buy SUV with stolen identity, cops say
A Richland County woman was arrested Tuesday for her role in a scheme to buy a car with a stolen identity, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
Ffrancine Dianne Henry, a 30-year-old Columbia resident, was charged with criminal conspiracy, Richland County court records show.
Henry was booked into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, where a man who is also accused of being involved in the scheme — Arias Armaine Johnson — is also locked up, SLED said Wednesday in a news release. Her bond was set at $5,000 and posted Wednesday, according to court records.
Johnson was arrested June 6, SLED said in the release. The 34-year-old Gaston resident was charged with two counts of financial identity fraud, removing VIN intending to conceal identity and operating a chop shop as well as a single count of identity fraud to gain employment, court records show.
Johnson’s bond was set at $75,000 on the combined charges and he remains locked up, according to jail records.
On June 6, Henry and Johnson were at 6892 Garners Ferry Road after devising a scheme to purchase vehicles using stolen identities and have the vehicles delivered to various locations in South Carolina and North Carolina, where she or Johnson would take possession of the vehicles, an arrest warrant shows.
SLED learned that Johnson was trying to buy a 2024 GMC Sierra Denali 2500 using a stolen identity, according to the arrest warrant. Johnson and Henry arrived in a 2024 Audi Q5, which was purchased using a stolen identity, the arrest warrant said.
Johnson was stopped while driving the vehicle away, and had the Audi key in his possession when he was taken into custody, according to the arrest warrant.
Henry will be prosecuted by the 5th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, SLED said. She’s scheduled to return to court on Aug. 29, judicial records show. Johnson’s also scheduled to appear in court on his charges on Aug. 29.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREThis is a breaking news story
In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.
This story was originally published June 25, 2025 at 1:49 PM.
