Pike County Sheriff’s Department investigating check cashing scam

The Pike County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the cashing of numerous fraudulent checks earlier this month. Sheriff’s Investigator Jason McDonald says deputies discovered that several Hispanic males cashed 56 of the fraudulent payroll checks from a local sawmill. Authorities say the group of males first attempted to cash five of the checks at a bank in a neighboring county, resulting in the bank teller flagging the checks as fraudulent.
The same two Hispanic males who tried cashing the checks at the bank, were later seen on surveillance video at the grocery store cashing the checks & texting on their phones. Moments later, deputies say an additional group of Hispanic males, in the range of 25 to 30 individuals, also came into the store & cashed the checks, all of which turned out to be fraudulent.
We’ve shared several still images through our station’s Facebook page of the individuals involved. If you can help identify these people, or can provide more information, you’re asked to contact Investigator McDonald at 285-3301. All callers will remain anonymous.
The sawmill where the checks were supposedly written from, has also posted a one thousand dollar reward for the arrest and conviction of the suspects.