Jasper PD announces a group involved in check cashing scheme may be in area

bank photo of the individuals — These are photos taken by a security camera at the Tell City German American Bank. These two individuals were involved in the police report at the end of this story. The individuals involved in the scheme are Hispanic, but according to Jasper Police Department Detective Lisa Miller these individuals do not live in the local communities.

The Jasper Police Department and Jasper Chamber of Commerce released a notice to the businesses in Jasper today in regards to a group cashing stolen checks at area banks.

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The individuals work in groups of two or three and approach the banks that hold the account for the checks. The checks come from small businesses and the banks will have a verified signature account cards on file. Additionally, the suspects have supplied the banks with state identification.

Most of the businesses targeted by this group have not reported a forced entry into the business and if a burglary has been reported the checks have not been noticed due to them being taken from deep within the checkbook.

All the checks cashed have been for less than $1000, but the group has netted over $150,000 in the scheme.

Only Hispanic males have been involved in the check cashing thus far, but according to authorities this group is not from the area, they moved into the area around December of 2010.

Checks cashed have been from the following locations: Dubois County IN, Huntingburg IN Madison IN, Evansville IN, Floyd County IN, Martinsville IN, Daleville IN, Danville IN, and as far away as Effingham, Illinois.

Here is a report of an incident that occurred in Tell City over the weekend.

On Saturday, September 10, 2011 two Hispanic males went into German American Bank located at 1508 12th Street in Tell City. Each one requested to cash payroll checks from a Hoople Country Kitchen located out of Rockport.

One check was made out to Miguel Luna in the amount of $988.37. The other was made out to Amado Solano in the amount of $966.27.

The Hispanic claiming to be Armando Solano gave the teller an Alabama Driver License.

The teller told the male subjects she would have to verify the checks and make a phone call. She advised as she made the phone call both Hispanic males left the bank leaving the checks and driver’s license behind. The teller contacted Hoople Country Kitchen and learned the checks were counterfeit. Officer took this call and ran the driver’s license and could not get a return.