KINGWOOD, W.Va. — One person was in custody and police were searching for two other suspects accused in a fraudulent check cashing scheme.
Charles Thomas Lewis, 48, of Pittsburgh was arrested in Reedsville.
Lewis told Preston County deputies two unidentified men promised him payment for cashing four fraudulent checks in Monongalia and Preston Counties since Aug. 10.
The checks totaled more than $10,000 and were written from a Morgantown business account.
Clear Mountain Bank workers notified police of a man attempting to cash a check for $2,944.62 on Monday, Aug. 24. Lewis took off when tellers told him the check would take time to clear.
It’s bank policy to check with business owners before cashing some checks. The process reaffirmed the check was not legitimate. Lewis was arrested along Route 7 in Preston County.
Further charges were pending against Lewis who admitted to cashing checks at three Morgantown banks and another bank in Bruceton Mills.
Lewis was being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $35,000 bond.
Investigators said they were looking for two black men who may be driving a late model, charcoal gray Chevrolet Tahoe.
Anyone who may have seen the suspects was asked to contact Sgt. J.H. Bryan at 304-329-1611.