Check Fraud Ring Busted by Bucks County Detectives

Bucks County Detectives have charged nearly 20 people in an alleged check fraud ring.

Several of the suspects in the ring were arraigned Tuesday before District Judge John Kelly, and the rest have warrants out for their arrest.

Suspects already arraigned on charges including access device fraud, forgery and related offenses:

• Joseph Hicks, 22, of Trenton – Free on $10,000 unsecured bail
• Najwa Hampton, 22, of Trenton – Free on $10,000 unsecured bail
• Marissa Higginbotham, 24, of Trenton – Free on $10,000 unsecured bail
• Shanelle Woolfork, 20, of Trenton – Free on $10,000 unsecured bail
• Quianna Woolfork, 20, of Trenton – Free on $10,000 unsecured bail
• Terrence Ridley, 20, of Trenton – Free on $25,000 unsecured bail
• Araminta Figueroa, 20, of Trenton – Free on $10,000 unsecured bail
• Ericka Anders, 35, of Levittown – Free on $10,000 unsecured bail
• Michael Keane, 25, of Ewing, New Jersey – Free on $25,000 unsecured bail
• Lashona Watkins, 36, of Trenton – Free on $10,000 unsecured bail

Suspects not yet arraigned:

• Samantha Solomon, 31, of Trenton
• Asya Taylor, 22, of Trenton
• Sharniece Williams, 21, of Trenton
• Nidie Barnes, 27 , of Trenton
• Laray Thomas, 28, of Trenton

Bucks County Detective Eric Landamia launched an investigation after TD Bank reported on April 2 that 31 suspected counterfeit checks were cashed at various branches, most in Lower Bucks County, according to court papers.

The investigation uncovered at least $28,902 was gained by the suspects in the ring, court papers report.

The counterfeit checks were cashed from an account belonging to nonprofit Street Football World USA, police said.  The nonprofit says they work to use soccer to “change the world.”

According to court papers, serial numbers of the checks matched online bill payments and not paper checks. County detectives said the signatures on the checks did not match the signature card on file with TD Bank but were nearly sequential.

All of the counterfeit checks were cashed between February 25 and March 15, according to court documents.

The checks were cashed in Bensalem, Falls, Middletown, Morrisville and Philadelphia, court papers say. They also note the suspects used their own photo identification when they cashed the counterfeit checks.

A representative of the nonprofit said he was not familiar with any of the people who cashed checks and they were not authorized to received money from the company.

Several of the suspects were located by authorities in Mercer County last month.

Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.