Sheriff’s Office Makes Arrests In Check Case

— Benton County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested several people suspected of being involved in a case where thousands of dollars were stolen from a Gravette business when several books of payroll checks were stolen.

The arrests were announced in a Friday news release from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.

Wes Bryant, a detective with the Sheriff’s Office, was assigned a case in summer 2012 concerning numerous payroll checks as well as computer equipment, being stolen from Big M Ranch, according to the release. Area Walmarts and local check cashing businesses unknowingly began to receive and cash the fraudulent payroll checks from several individuals, according to the release.

According to the release, detectives and agents with the U.S. Secret Service began a four-month investigation to track down people posing as Big M Ranch employees who were cashing payroll checks.

The investigation found $30,000 in payroll money had been taken, according to the release.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested eight people who are accused of cashing the fraudulent checks. They face felony theft and forgery charges, according to the release. Two of the arrests involve Steven J. Smith, a recently fired employee of Big M Ranch, and Jeffery W. McLeod Jr. According to the release, the two are accused of commercial burglary and distribution of stolen checks. Interviews with suspects and witnesses found the checks had been printed by the suspects and traded for drugs and/or proceeds from the cashing of the checks, according to the release.

Other arrests in this case have been made in Washington County and Barry County, Mo.

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