Live Oak — An organized counterfeit check printing and passing operation that involved personal identification information from hundreds of individuals has been foiled after an extensive investigation by the Live Oak Police Department, police reports show.
Arrested in connection with the counterfeit operation were Demetrius K. Brown, 31, and Celestine Collins, 41, both of 218 Lafayette Ave., Live Oak.
According to the LOPD, the investigation began in December when a local bank discovered several counterfeit checks that were passed through the institution. While conducting the investigation, detectives were alerted to several more counterfeit checks that were being passed around.
“The investigation revealed that a large amount of checks were passed at several businesses in Live Oak,” LOPD Det. Justin Bates said. “After further investigation, it was discovered that the same persons involved in the bank investigation were responsible for the counterfeited checks.”
Based on evidence gathered, detectives obtained a search warrant for the 218 Lafayette Ave. home. The operation was conducted with assistance from members of the Suwannee County Drug Task Force, Third Circuit State Attorney’s Office and the Secret Service, Bates said.
“During this operation a large amount of evidence was obtained, including several computers, printers, check stock and the personal identification information of hundreds of individuals,” Bates added.
Brown and Collins were arrested on Feb. 9 and charged with an organized scheme to defraud, multiple counts of grand theft, multiple counts of uttering forged checks and multiple counts of forging bank bills. Records from the Suwannee County Jail show that Brown was also charged with resisting arrest without violence.
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