ClarksvilleNow.com Reporting
news@clarksvillenow.com
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Detectives from the Clarksville Police Department along with United States Postal Investigators conducted surveillance on several individuals on Feb. 5 as part of an ongoing investigation regarding a counterfeit check cashing scheme referred to as Operation Homeless.
According to a news release from Officer Natalie Hall, it was found that the suspects (Richard Thornton, Keenen Crane, Rachel Jones, and Ranquon Freeman, all residents of Georgia) located and recruited a homeless individual to cash checks for them.
The suspects are known to steal mail from a local business to aid in producing counterfeit checks on the business’ checking account in the homeless person’s name. The homeless person was then sent to local banks where he cashed the counterfeit checks given to him by the suspects.
As a result of the investigation, all suspects involved were arrested and charged with Forgery, Criminal Simulation, Criminal Conspiracy, and Solicitation.
All money received from the counterfeit checks was recovered.
This is an ongoing investigation and the lead investigators in the case are Detective Cunningham with the Clarksville Police Department and Postal Inspector Misty Racimo. Any local banks that believe they are victims of this scheme can contact Detective Chris Cunningham at 931-648-0656 Ext. 5195 or, to remain anonymous, call the CrimeStoppers TIPS Hotline at 931-645-TIPS (8477) or the US Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-US-MAIL5. (1-877-876-2455).