By Frank DeLoache
Salisbury Post
KANNAPOLIS ó The Kannapolis Police Department and other law enforcement agencies are investigating a counterfeit check ring that has passed bogus checks at businesses in Kannapolis, Concord and Salisbury.
The investigation expanded after Kannapolis police detectives publicized a picture of an unidentified woman cashing a bogus payroll check for about $900 Dec. 14 at the branch of First Bank at 421 S. Main St., Detective Sgt. Ken Jackson said Monday.
The woman, who lives in Charlotte, saw her picture in news accounts and turned herself in to police. Jackson identified her as Meagan Leigh Jones.
Jackson said Jones apparently got the check from the person who fabricated it but is not a key player in the larger check fraud scheme.
Jones was charged with felony obtaining property by false pretenses and released on a written promise to appear in court.
The fraudulent check was written on a Salisbury business, and investigators have since determined that bogus checks have been passed at seven or eight businesses in Concord, Kannapolis and Salisbury, Jackson said.
Other law enforcement agencies have joined the investigation, Jackson said.
Anyone with information about the case should call the Kannapolis Police Department 704-920-4000 or Cabarrus Area Crime Stoppers at 704-93-CRIME (932-7463).