Man used fake check to pay for a vehicle
RUSSELLVILLE – A Tuscaloosa man is facing a firstdegree theft by deception charge after he allegedly purchased a vehicle from a Shoals resident using a fake cashier’s check.
Investigator Mike Miller of the Russellville Police Department said the seller had placed a vehicle for sale on Facebook Marketplace in September 2023 and was contacted by Jakari Deyon Wills of Tuscaloosa about purchasing the vehicle.
Wills, who was using an alias, and the owner of the vehicle arrived at a selling price and where the exchange would take place.
Once the exchange was made, a few days later it was discovered by the seller that the cashier’s check he had received was fake, Miller said.
Police continued to investigate and learned of Wills’ true name and issued a warrant for his arrest.
Miller said investigators were contacted on Friday by members of the Tuscaloosa Police Department regarding Wills.
“We sent a guy to pick him up on Saturday and charged him with firstdegree theft by deception and unlawful possession of a forged instrument,” Miller said.
Wills, 25, was booked into the Franklin County Jail, where he remains as of Monday morning.
The vehicle Wills purchased was located in Mississippi in June.
“The vehicle had a fake VIN on it,” Miller said. “This seems to be a common thing now that people will buy vehicles like this using boards like Facebook Marketplace and then they put a fake VIN on the vehicle.
“I would suggest if you work out a buy regarding goods like a vehicle, or anything else, that you make the exchange at our police department – just for safety sake.”
Russellville Police also mentioned in a social media post Monday that there have been reports of other vehicles or items stolen by way of fake money, forged checked or fake money orders.
Miller said recently someone sold a vehicle for $6,000, but the money exchanged was motion picture money.
“The seller didn’t realize it was fake until after the exchange,” he said. “The money looks similar to U.S. currency except it says somewhere on the bills that it’s motion picture money. But the type is the same font used on U.S. currency.”
