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May 8, 2009

Four arrested in forged check scam

By Patrick McCreless

Cullman County Sheriff’s deputies arrested four individuals Tuesday who allegedly forged $8,000 worth of checks at two area banks and planned to continue the process at banks throughout Cullman County.

Damien Sharod Noble, 30, Raquitta Kemp, 39, Paretha Deshon Marshall, 38 and Yulanda Claudette Pritchett, 36, all of Birmingham, were charged with unlawful possession of a forged instrument in the second degree and forgery in the second degree.

Chief Deputy Tony Quick said deputies allegedly had surveillance footage of the suspects cashing three forged checks worth $900 each at the Premier Bank in Good Hope and cashing five forged checks worth $900 each at the Premier Bank in Addison.

Quick said the sheriff’s office learned about the suspects’ alleged activities from employees at the Premier Bank in Vinemont.

“If the employees had not reacted the way they did, there is no telling how much money they (suspects) would have had at the end of the day,” Quick said.

The Premier employees reported there were three black females and one black male at their bank attempting to cash forged checks. The employees also reported they had received information earlier in the day from Premier’s main office to be wary of four similar individuals trying to cash forged checks.

By the time patrol deputies arrived, the suspects had left the area in a beige Chevrolet Caprice. However, deputies managed to locate the vehicle near the Cullman County Agricultural Center.

“When deputies approached the vehicle, copies of checks they were presenting to banks were laying in the seats in plain view,” Quick said.

During a further search of the vehicle, Quick said deputies found all of the money and a list with the names and locations of 10 banks and businesses in North Alabama.

“We feel the reason why they were in this area was the checks were copies of original checks from a business in Cullman County that had recently done business in Birmingham,” Quick said.

All four suspects are incarcerated at the Cullman County Detention Center, each with a $5,000 bond.

Forgery in the second degree and unlawful possession of a forged instrument in the second degree are Class C felonies, each punishable by up to 10 years in prison.



‰ Patrick McCreless can be reached by e-mail at patrickm@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.

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