Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Thursday, May 22, 2014
(CLARKSVILLE) - Thousands in stolen cash and hundreds in fraudulent checks made their way to southern Indiana.
Clarksville police arrested two California women they believe were involved in a multistate crime operation and now the Secret Service is involved.
24-year-old Maria Orta and 23-year-old Monet Love were arrested Sunday across the street from the police station where they were trying to use counterfeit travelers checks, according to police.
Police said they recovered stolen clothing, fake IDs, hundreds of dollars in fraudulent traveler's checks and thousands of dollars in cash from the women.
Authorities believe the two are part of an even bigger, multi-state, crime operation.
"These things are usually more than just two people. We feel there's probably other people involved. At this time we don't know who they are or where they are at," said Clarksville Police Department Maj. Darrell Rayborn.
Police said the women rented a car in Missouri before making their way to southern Indiana.
"We just know that they are apparently traveling across country, from what we gathered anyway," Rayborn said.
Their journey came to an end at Dick's Sporting Goods in Clarksville.
Police say a store manager became suspicious when the women tried to make a purchase using traveler's checks.
"He said they had received info from other stores that these females were fitting the description of the ones that had been passing these checks," Rayborn said.
Police said they found nearly $5,000 in bags of money in the women's car.
Detectives believe the women got it from cashing the counterfeit checks.
Rayborn said police believe the women would use traveler's checks to purchase small items and get change back from retailers.
Police said each check had a different name on it and several corresponding IDs were also discovered.
Both suspects face 10 counts of forgery, fraud and identity deception, along with a possession of stolen property and theft charge. Orta is also charged with resisting law enforcement.
Orta and Love are being held at the Clark County Jail.
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