Three men from Georgia organize crime in Paducah
MCCRACKEN COUNTY, Ky. (KBSI) – Detectives with the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office began investigating multiple forged checks that were being passed around banks in the McCracken County area.
According to the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, Detectives started an investigation on multiple forged checks being passed at banks in the McCracken County area. Banks in the area were referring to the crime, as “Operation Homeless” which involves individuals traveling from town to town and stealing business checks from exterior mailboxes throughout the community. The individuals will then typically recruit local persons to enter the banks and present the forged checks as their own. The individuals will then receive the cash money from the recruit, and cash as many checks as possible until authorities become aware of the activity.
Detectives were able to identify a possible suspect vehicle early on in the investigation, thanks in part to the cooperation of local businesses. After some research was done it was learned that the vehicle had been rented in Atlanta, Georgia, and traveled to Paducah, Kentucky, the day before the initial report.
On Friday, November 1, 2024, detectives with the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office were conducting surveillance on a known location that the vehicle involved had previously recruited individuals.
Detectives saw the vehicle pull into a local business parking lot and an individual entered the vehicle.
A traffic stop was made a short time later after detectives saw the operator commit a traffic violation.
During the traffic stop, detectives identified three individuals from the Atlanta, Georgia area.
A search of the vehicle was conducted.
The search yielded suspected marijuana, drug paraphernalia, multiple Schedule II prescription narcotics, computers, light tracing equipment, a portable printer, and multiple forms of blank business check stock.
The driver, Enrique Johnson, 26 years old, and passengers Jahbril Kelley, 24 years old, and Dontavis Sellars, all from Ellenwood, Georgia, were arrested and charged with multiple felony offenses related to forged checks.
