Police Confiscate $1.2 Million In Bogus Checks, Arrest Two Men

Tue Aug 3,11:00 AM ET
Yahoo News

Police and Secret Service agents arrested two men Monday, saying the were using homeless people to cash counterfeit paychecks checks at area businesses.

Authorities said Aaron Evans, 44, and Jarvis Smith, 27, spearheaded a ring that was making and recruiting people to cash more than 2,000 bogus checks that totalled $1.2 million.

"One of their primary locations for recruiting check passers was the Clara White Mission," Secret Service agent Jon Dalton said.

Investigators say these checks were cashed at grocery and convenience stores, along with several check cashing businesses around Duval, Clay and St. Johns counties.

In addition to counterfeit checks, the secret service confiscated a computer agents said was used to manufacture them.
Police say more arrests may be made in the case.
Evans' bond was set at $103,000; Smith's bond is $75,000.