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| Ex-inmates bilk Ariz. jail, bank out of $30,000 in check-washing scam |
| By AP |
| Published: 03/11/2004 |
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Some former inmates have found a way to bilk the Pima County Jail and the Bank of America of at least $30,000 after they were released, authorities said. During the past three years, about $30,000 worth of jail checks have been cashed for amounts higher than originally written. The former inmates have been washing the ink from the checks, then rewriting them for higher amounts, said Lt. Rick Gibbons, inmate records section commander. "We have had about $30,000 worth of fraudulent checks," Gibbons said. "However, the victim in this is the Bank of America. They've been having to absorb the losses." The bank has had to raise the jail's banking fees to about $1,200 a month, or close to $15,000 a year, Gibbons said. Upon release, inmates get checks from the jail for whatever money they have remaining in their jail accounts, which includes money inmates have when they enter the jail plus any money they put into their accounts while incarcerated. Now, the jail will begin giving money orders to inmates when they are released, according to Gibbons. He said 20 people have been arrested or have warrants out for check fraud in connection with the washing scheme, which is a felony. Authorities plan to try to get the money back through restitution. |
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