30 People Linked To Check-Cashing Ring

— Eleven people have been arrested and at least 25 others are wanted in connection with an fake payroll check-cashing scheme, according to David Bercaw, Washington County deputy prosecutor.

At A Glance

Check-Cashing Suspects

The following people have been arrested in connection with a check-cashing ring:

• Terrance Jackson, Fayetteville

• Sean Liddell, residence unknown

• Tanya Gibson, Prairie Grove

• Laqueecha Nicholson,Prairie Grove

• Robert Robinson, residence unknown

• Bradley Logue, Fayetteville

• Lamar Fields, Fayetteville

• Amber Price,Fayetteville

• Bridgette Hawkins, Springdale

• Qaunita Webb, Fayetteville

• Latisha Randle, Fayetteville

The following people are listed in warrants as wanted in connection with a check-cashing ring:

• Alex Kayagaba Lwanga, Fayetteville

• Telma Carlette Williams, Fayetteville

• James Lee Sneed,Fayetteville

• Deloise Renea McChristian, Fayetteville

• Yvette Rene Hill, Fayetteville

• Michelle D. Lowe, Fayetteville

• Larry Dale Anderson, Fayetteville

• Dandra Shawntone Cassity, Fayetteville

• Crystal Renee Mitchell, Fayetteville

• James David Moe,Fayetteville

• Brandon D. Pool, Rogers

• Clint Everett Ross, Fayetteville

• Sammie Jean Schancer, Springdale

• Chelsey Mornee Penix, Fayetteville

• Sherena Lashae Smith, Fayetteville

• Aaron Michael Collins, Fayetteville

• Rachel Bilingsley, New Edinburg

• Scott Ross McDonald, Springdale

• Meghan Faith Hopwood, Fayetteville

Source: Staff Report

Bercaw identified Cornelius Maurice Thompson, 30, and Terrance Michael Jackson, 28, as ringleaders of the reported check-cashing operation.

Jackson has been charged and Thompson is wanted in connection with felony first-degree engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise and 46 counts of second-degree forgery, according to felony information filed in Washington County Circuit Court.

Arrest warrants were issued for 19 others Wednesday and at least six more are expected to come through Washington County Circuit Court.

Bercaw said he didn’t have information immediately available about who the remaining six warrants involved.

“I know the clerk is working on four right now, and two others must be somewhere in the process,” he said.

According to an arrest affidavit, Harps Food Stores’ corporate office received 15 forged payroll checks, purportedly from Superior Wheels. The checks were apparently made to look like they were issued by a Fayetteville plant of Superior Industries, which makes automotive wheels.

The checks were passed in Fayetteville between May 26 and June 18. The account and routing numbers tracked to J.P. Morgan Chase Bank in Tampa, Fla., and have no relation to Superior Industries, according to information filed with the court.

The Fayetteville Police Department received reports of forged payroll checks represented to be from Rockline Industries and AAA Surface Cleaning, some of which were cashed and others declined at Walmart stores in Fayetteville, according to the report. The account numbers reportedly weren’t linked to either of the businesses.

“There’s some question as to what kind of business AAA Surface Cleaning is or if it even exists,” Bercaw said.

Detectives used surveillance footage to identify people who cashed the checks, which totaled more than $32,000.

Bercaw said an employee from Superior Industries recognized one of the names on the forged checks as a one-time employee fired in 2007. No one else involved in the scheme had any other connection to the businesses they targeted, he said.

Police said Thompson and Jackson used a computer and a printer to create at least 46 forged checks. The two men, originally from Chicago, reportedly made the checks at the home of Sharena Lasha Smith, 25, of 1320 N. Oakland Ave. Apt. 21 in Fayetteville.

The report said Thompson and Jackson distributed the checks to at least 30 people for cashing, recruiting people to cash the forged checks and split the proceeds.

A voice message left with Larry Goodall, human resources director for Superior Industries, wasn’t returned Friday.

A woman in charge of payroll at Rockline Industries, who declined to be named, said she wasn’t aware of the forged checks.

Bercaw said the check-cashing scheme is the biggest he’s seen in Northwest Arkansas.

“Usually, you might have three or four people working on something like this,” he said. “To have this big of a group is unusual.”

Charles Bruce, director of the National Check Fraud Center, said check forgery is among the most popular financial crimes across the country.

“Passing counterfeit checks is done everyday,” he said. “We got called out to a case in Florida where the forced checks were coming through a grocery store chain. In the old days, (cashiers) would copy information from checks onto a piece of paper. Now, they’re using their cellphones to take pictures of them.”

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