CLEVELAND — Four people have been charged in connection with an alleged check fraud scheme that saw them steal more than $445,000 from various businesses and government entities, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O'Malley announced Friday.
According to a release, police and U.S. Secret Service agents arrested 25-year-old Rahshod Robinson on Thursday, while 21-year-old Darmani Hawkins is already in federal custody on a separate charge. There purported co-conspirators — 31-year-old Jamar Dingle and 24-year-old Jai Rell Jackson — remain at large.
Between July and December of 2023, officials claim the four individuals plotted to "wash" stolen checks and use them to create realistic forgeries, depositing them into bank accounts and taken the ill-begotten money for themselves. Along with six private organizations, the group is accused of stealing more than $200,000 from the city of Parma along with upwards of $117,000 from the IRS. So far, authorities have only been able to recover about $63,000.
"These four individuals thought they could get away with stealing thousands of dollars from public agencies, meaning from hardworking taxpayers, and private businesses," O'Malley said in a statement. "This indictment demonstrates if you participate in this illegal, corrupt activity, we will identify you, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law."
The four suspects are due to appear in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court on Oct. 11, though Dingle and Jackson are not in custody as of Friday afternoon. All face a mountain of charges that include:
- Engaging in a pattern of conspiracy
- Conspiracy
- Telecommunications fraud
- Tampering with records
- Aggravated theft
- Receiving stolen property
- Forgery
- Money laundering
- Theft
- Grand theft
