News : Georgia man charged in Check Cashing Scheme

As part of a check forging ring, Mikal McCarty of Georgia, was charged with 12 counts including 10 counts of forgery, one charge of Conspiracy to Commit Non-Forcible Felony, and Theft 1st Degree all Class D Felonies.

McCarty along with at least five co-conspirators cashed or attempted to cash forged checks at banks. The group went to the following towns: Iowa City, Nichols, Lone Tree, Coralville, La Porte City, and Vinton. McCarty and the co-conspirators used stolen bank information to print the forged checks.

The co-conspirators are being investigated and have not yet been arrested. The group recruited from shelters and food pantries paying the patsy $150 a day, buying them new clothes and burner phones and instructed them how to act and what to say while trying to cash the forged checks. Each check ranged from $1,800 to $2,900 on July 11 and 12, 2003.

The group cashed a total of four known checks but were stopped four times. Four more checks were found in Cedar Rapids at a home rented by one of the defendants. The case is still under investigation and the group may have attempted the scam in other states.

McCarty is being held in the Johnson County jail.