Sophisticated phony check ring surfaces in Franklin County
By Staff
Melissa Cason, Franklin County Times
A counterfeit check ring has left banking institutions in the county holding the bag with $12,000 in counterfeit checks.
The checks, passed off as payroll checks are among some of the highest quality phony checks local law enforcement has seen.
"These are top of the line counterfeit checks," Captain David Hester, investigator with the Russellville Police Department, said.
Listerhill Credit Union in Russellville reported that 17 checks, which seem to be Pilgrim's Pride payroll checks, were returned to the credit union as counterfeit Hester said.
"The total amount lost in Russellville is approximately $6,000," Hester said.
The checks appeared to be authentic checks to the naked eye. The logo and banking information were all accurate.
The banking intuition learned they were counterfeit after they were returned to them from Pilgrim's Pride's bank, Hester added.
The Red Bay Police Department had similar checks passed at two banking institutions in their town.
Lt. Eddy Chandler said that 18 checks, which appeared to be payroll checks from Baymont, Inc. located in nearby Golden, Miss., were cashed in the Red Bay area as well.
"The total amount of the check is $6,000 with each check averaging $30," Chandler said.
Police believe that the checks cashed in both cities are from the same six suspects.
The checks are the same color and are paid to the order of the same names.
Police are investigating the check scam, but have not released names of any suspects at this time but authorities have surveillance video from when the transactions took place at all banks in both Red Bay and Russellville.
"The suspects offered their alien registration cards as I.D. when cashing the check so we are in the process of checking out those numbers with Homeland Security," Hester said.
Hester believes those responsible for the counterfeit checks in Franklin County may be the same suspects responsible for taking $90,000 from Gold Kist a few years ago by cashing counterfeit checks.
Anyone with any information on the counterfeit checks should contact the authorities immediately. Hester can be reached at the Russellville Police Department by calling 332-2230.
