Pair forged checks stolen from mail, had homeless people cash them, Louisiana cops say
Two people accused of using homeless people to cash checks stolen from mailboxes in Louisiana are behind bars, sheriff’s deputies said.
The 38-year-old man and 36-year-old woman, both from Decatur, Georgia, were arrested Tuesday, Jan. 7, on forgery and bank fraud charges stemming from the string of thefts, according to the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators learned several checks had been taken after residents placed them in the mail to pay their bills, deputies said in a Jan. 9 news release. The duo then forged the payee and altered the amount on the checks before cashing them, according to deputies.
Authorities didn’t say how much money was stolen.
“Further investigation revealed the suspects were exploiting homeless individuals in the area by using them to cash the checks at different banks in the Lake Charles and Sulphur area,” the sheriff’s office said.
A joint investigation by the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office and other local agencies revealed the man was handing off the stolen checks to be cashed. Surveillance video also captured someone in a white Toyota Camry stealing checks from mailboxes, according to authorities.
The vehicle turned out to be a rental from Georgia, rented under the woman’s name, the sheriff’s office said.
On Jan. 7, authorities stopped the rented Camry and arrested the man and woman, according to the release.
There are more than 20 related cases across three law enforcement agencies, authorities said. Deputies noted that the investigation is ongoing and said more arrests are possible.
The man and woman remained in custody at the Calcasieu Correctional Center as of Jan. 10, online records show.
Lake Charles is about a 130-mile drive west from Baton Rouge.
This story was originally published January 10, 2025 at 11:24 AM with the headline "Pair forged checks stolen from mail, had homeless people cash them, Louisiana cops say."