Mansfield Police: 1 arrested, over 50 suspects identified in bank fraud ring
The U.S. Secret Service from the Cleveland Field Office, Mansfield Police detectives and members of the Northern Ohio Financial Crimes Task Force (NOFCTF) of the Secret Service, Mansfield police officers and Lexington police officers served two residential search warrants related to a crime ring involved in bank fraud, wire fraud, access device fraud and forgery.
From June 2022 through the present, the Secret Service along with Mansfield Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit have identified over $893,000 in potential/attempted fraud losses from counterfeit checks, fraudulent ATMwithdrawals, point of sale and PIN purchases and cash withdrawals from Kroger's primarily in the Mansfield area.
One of the main targeted locations was Park National Bank, according to a news release from Mansfield Police Department Friday.
Park National Bank loss put at $491,000
The actual loss suffered by Park National Bank is over $491,000.00, police said. This fraud is continuing withthe latest fraudulent activity occurring on Jan. 25, 2023, with a total loss of $11,900.08.
This investigation has focused on a group of suspects who are making counterfeit checks and altering MoneyGrams in the name of both business and personal accounts. The counterfeit checks are routinely deposited into a willing participant’s bank account. After a counterfeit check is successfully deposited, the suspects then make ATM cash withdrawals and point of sale transactions at Kroger’s grocery stores in the northern Ohio area, including several Mansfield locations, the news release said.
This joint investigation between Mansfield Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service has identified over 50 suspects/willing participants involved in this criminal activity.
Mansfield man, 26, charged with counterfeiting
Timothy Robinson, 26, of Mansfield, is charged with counterfeiting, a felony of the third degree, according to police.
Further charges will follow as this investigation continues and officials continue to identify other participants in this ring, police said.
It is these continuing collaborations between local and federal law enforcement agencies that impact our communities, according to Mansfield police Chief Keith Porch.If anyone has further information regarding this ongoing investigation please contact Mansfield police Detective Korey Kaufman at 419-755-9748.
lwhitmir@gannett.com
419-521-7223
Twitter: @LWhitmir
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: One of the main targeted locations was Park National Bank, police said
