Twin Falls Police break up “sophisticated” check fraud operation
The Twin Falls Police Department put a stop to a sophisticated check counterfeiting operation that had plagued local retailers since early December, police said
The nearly one-month investigation resulted in charges against several people, as well as the seizure of check printing equipment, narcotics and a firearm.
The investigation began, police said, after they received calls from local retailers who reported they had been the victims of a check fraud scheme. What set the case apart from more common check fraud investigations was the quality of the fake checks, police said.
“They were printed on check printing stock with watermarks,” said David Heidemann, a detective with the Twin Falls Police Department. “This was one of the most sophisticated operations we had seen in a long time in our community.”
In late-December police obtained information that led them to a home in west Twin Falls. Detectives served a search warrant on the home on Thursday, Jan. 3.
At the scene, police said they seized printing machinery, paper stock for printing checks, narcotics and a firearm.
Charges are pending against multiple people who are suspected of being involved in the ring that was printing and cashing bogus checks.
“This was really a joint operation where we worked with the Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office,” Heidemann said. “The hard work paid off and we were able to prevent the suspects from continuing to defraud local retailers.”
Police said they will release more details of the investigation and the arrests when they become available.
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