SHERIFF’S OFFICE WHITE COLLAR CRIME DETECTIVES INVESTIGATE A FORGERY CASE

NEWS RELEASE

EL PASO, TEXAS- February 7, 2012.  The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a forgery case involving checks that were duplicated from the Sheriff’s Office Detention Facility Inmate Trust Funds Account. Upon release from Jail, inmates who have a balance in their commissary account are issued checks for the remaining amount.

Beginning January 25, 2012 the Sheriff’s Office Bond and Inmate Trust Section (BITS) began receiving information from Inter National Bank (INB) that various checks from the Sheriff’s Inmate Trust Fund had been presented to INB for processing.  These checks were not recognized by the banks security system and therefore rejected. 

As of 02-07-2012, approximately 19 fraudulent checks have been cashed at various check cashing business and vendors around the El Paso County area.  Although our internal security systems prevented the checks from being paid out of the Sheriff’s Inmate Trust Fund, the third party vendors who cashed the checks will have to absorb losses totaling $7,904.44.

In order to help prevent check fraud, businesses and the public can call (915) 546-2249 to verify checks. It is recommended a 10 business day hold be placed on these checks to ensure the check clears. This number is available 24/7.