Three Georgia people arrested in McCracken County forgery investigation

PADUCAH, Ky. (KFVS) – Three people from Georgia are in custody following a forgery investigation in McCracken County, Kentucky.

According to the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, detectives began investigating multiple forged checks passed at banks in the McCracken County area on Tuesday, October 29.

This crime, often referred to in the banking industry as “Operation Homeless,” involves individuals traveling from town to town stealing company checks from remote mailboxes throughout the community.

The individuals will then typically recruit local people to enter the banks and present the forged checks as their own. The individuals then receive the money from the recruit and cash as many checks as possible until authorities become aware of the activity.

The sheriff’s office says detectives were able to identify a possible suspect vehicle early in the investigation, thanks in part to the cooperation of local business entities.

As we continued to investigate the information, it was learned that the vehicle had been rented in Atlanta, Georgia, and traveled to Paducah, Kentucky, the day prior to the initial report of the matter.

On Friday, November 1, detectives conducted surveillance at a known location where the vehicle involved had previously recruited individuals for the criminal enterprise. Detectives observed the car pull into the parking lot of a local business and someone get into the car.

A short time later, a traffic stop was conducted after detectives observed the operator committing a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, detectives identified three individuals from the Atlanta, Georgia area.

A search of the vehicle was conducted. The search turned up suspected marijuana, drug paraphernalia, multiple Schedule II prescription drugs, computers, light tracking devices, a portable printer and multiple forms of blank checks.

The driver, 26-year-old Enrique Johnson, and the passengers, 24-year-old Jahbril Kelley and 26-year-old Dontavis Sellars, all from Ellenwood, Georgia, were arrested and charged with the following:

Enrique Johnson was charged with failure to use or improper use of turn signal, engaging in organized crime, possession of a counterfeiting device, criminal attempt to commit second-degree forgery and receiving stolen property under $500.
Jahbril Kelley was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, participating in organized crime, possession of a counterfeiting device, criminal attempt to commit second-degree forgery and receiving stolen property under $500
Dontavis Sellars was charged with participating in organized crime, possession of a counterfeiting device, criminal attempt – second-degree forgery, receiving stolen property under $500, and two counts of first-degree possession of a controlled substance