Illinois man arrested in $3,500 check fraud case involving Paducah business
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
PADUCAH, Ky. (KBSI) — An Illinois man has been arrested in connection with a check fraud investigation involving more than $3,500 in merchandise purchased from a Paducah business.
According to the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, Hunter M. Greene, 29, of Buncombe, Illinois, was arrested Tuesday, Oct. 20, on a felony warrant for theft by deception.
The investigation began Sept. 14 after Paducah Shooter’s Supply, located at 3919 Cairo Road, reported receiving a check that was returned for insufficient funds.
Investigators said Greene allegedly wrote the check Sept. 2 to purchase $3,572.09 worth of merchandise.
During the investigation, detectives learned that most of the merchandise purchased with the check had reportedly been sold through Facebook Marketplace.
Authorities also developed information connecting Greene to a separate investigation in Marshall County, Kentucky, involving a check written to another outdoor supply business.
On Oct. 20, McCracken County detectives, working with Illinois State Police, located and arrested Greene at his home in Buncombe.
With assistance from the Marion Police Department, investigators also recovered one of the crossbows purchased during the transaction from a pawn shop in Marion, Illinois.
Greene was taken to the Massac County Jail, where he is awaiting extradition to Kentucky.
He faces a felony charge of theft by deception involving an amount between $1,000 and $10,000.
McCracken County Sheriff Ryan Norman said his department takes fraudulent activity targeting local businesses seriously.
“Businesses in McCracken County work hard to serve our community, and they should not have to bear the financial burden of someone attempting to obtain merchandise through deception,” Norman said. “We take these cases seriously, and we will continue to investigate them and pursue those responsible.”
The sheriff’s office encourages residents and businesses to report suspected fraudulent transactions to law enforcement.
The McCracken County Sheriff’s Office also thanked Illinois State Police and the Marion Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.
Greene is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
