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Police: Counterfeit check-cashing ring bigger than first suspected

Channel 11 has learned a counterfeit check-cashing ring is growing larger.

Police say the man calling the shots isn't from Pittsburgh; he's from Baltimore.

Channel 11 first reported the arrests of two people accused of passing counterfeit checks totaling tens of thousands of dollars Jan. 9.

On Wednesday, we learned there are six more people in jail or being sought who were recruited by the man who police suspect is the ringleader, who lives out of state.

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Detectives from Allegheny County Police headquarters are planning to meet with other police departments to learn the scope of the operation.
 
Channel 11 has learned there are at least 11 suspects who police say were part of a counterfeit check-cashing ring operating in Pittsburgh.
 
Four of the suspects are: Larry Bivins, Marsha Morris, Joyce Griffin and Britney Ellibe.
 
According to police, they were recruited by a suspect from Maryland to cash thousands of dollars in counterfeit checks at as many banks as they could in exchange for $100 to $150 for each check.
The first suspect arrested in a similar case, Kelvin Rini, was arrested and charged with five other suspects for cashing fraudulent checks from a Marshall Township business. The checks looked authentic, but were fake.
 
Allegheny County police confirmed they have arrested three people and have warrants for three more who they say in one day, Nov. 2, cashed bogus checks at 11 different locations of PNC Banks in Pittsburgh.
 
The checks totaled more than $40,000.
 
 
The fake checks were printed to look like they were from the payroll department of a business in Findlay Township, but police say were not authorized by the company.
 
Police told Channel 11 that before it's all over, they believe this one counterfeit operation will have cashed in on at least $100,000.
 
An arrest warrant has been issued for the man police believe is the ringleader.
 

Cox Media Group

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