A Maine man claims he was recruited to cash counterfeit checks in Palm Beach Gardens, police say

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (CBS12) — A Maine man reportedly went all the way up the East Coast to cash counterfeit checks at a bank in Palm Beach Gardens.

According to the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department (PBGPD), Shawn Willette claimed he was recruited in Augusta, Maine, to make the 1,500-mile trip to Florida by people he did not know to cash the counterfeit checks in exchange for a discount on the quantity.

Willette, 43, explained to investigators that the unnamed individuals would give him identification cards with his photo on them and send him to banks. After Willette returned with the money, the other individuals would take back the IDs and give him about 10% of the amount, PBGPD said.

The PBGPD report said officers caught up with Willette after he reportedly raised concerns among tellers during a pair of visits to the Fifth Third Bank, located on U.S. Highway 1, south of PGA Boulevard.

Police say he tried to cash a $3,500 check under an assumed name on Saturday. However, there was a fraud alert on the account and when Willette could not answer the verification questions, he took the ID card back and left.

Two days later, he was back at the same branch allegedly carrying a counterfeit check for $3,720 made out to another potential victim. The clerk involved in the first incident recognized Willette and notified her colleague and police, the affidavit said.

When officers arrived, Willette told them about the check cashing scheme, PBGPD said. Both men whose identities Willette allegedly tried to assume told investigators they would press charges.

He was booked on charges of forgery, fraud and unauthorized possession of a driver’s license.

The affidavit did not include information about the other people Willette claimed were involved.

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