H&R Block employee fired, charged with identity theft

A former H&R Block employee was arrested Wednesday after investigators said she stole at least one customer’s identity. Erica Malston, 33, of Ashborough Court in Milton, is charged with two counts of grand theft, 13 counts of illegal use of a credit card, three counts of criminal use of personal identity information of another and two counts of forgery.

Lawmen say Malston worked at three tax services: Two H&R Block locations in Pace and an Express Tax Service in Pensacola.

She faces charges in three cases, said Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Scott Haines.

Malston is accused of picking random customer files from a filing cabinet at work and using the customer’s identity to obtain a prepaid MasterCard known as the “Emerald Card.” Investigators say she used the card for personal purchases.