Credit Union Manager’s Suspicion Thwarts Scam
Gainesville, FL – 23 year old Kendrick Smith was arrested Tuesday after Gainesville Police say he tried to scam money from a credit union with the help of a member.
Police report that Smith, was given the banking information to Alliance Credit Union Member, Artiana Brown and deposited two counterfeit checks made out to her from a Hoffman Construction. He then attempted to purchase Western Union money orders totaling $4,000 dollars with the plan for Brown to report the purchases as fraudulent.
A skeptical manager at Alliance Credit Union reported to police that Brown attempted to report her debit card as stolen after Smith didn’t give her any of the fraudulently deposited checks. The manager did not believe Brown and did not reimburse the $4,000 taken from her account.
Police were able to identify Kendrid Smith with the help of two Winn-Dixie employees who completed the Western Union purchases, and Gainesville Ace Express surveillance footage showing him trying to cash the money orders. They also traced the counterfeit mobile check deposits to Smith’s phone.
Smith is charged with grand theft, uttering a counterfeit check, criminal use of another person’s identification, fraud, and unlawful use of a two way communication device. He was booked at the Alachua County Jail with no bond set. The arrest report says that Smith also has pending charges from another check fraud investigation by GPD.
Amazingly, Artiana Brown has not been charged for her involvement, likely in exchange for her testimony.
Source: 20WCJB News
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