The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office arrested three Marathon men on Tuesday, following an investigation into fraudulently cashed checks at the Marathon branch of Centennial Bank.
Twenty-eight-year-old Marcos Vila, 38-year-old Yasbany Noa Parrado and 24-year-old Yaniel Cardenal Frias were all charged with passing counterfeit checks. Vila was also charged with one count of grand theft.
According to MCSO, the investigation began on Aug. 2 when a branch manager at the bank reported the discovery of several fake checks that had been deposited by the three men into their personal bank accounts.
Deputies ultimately interviewed the three men, and Frias reported that he received four checks from a man in Miami. According to the report, Frias knew the checks were stolen, and he was instructed to cash them and keep half of the money. He stated he gave two of them to Vila, who in turn gave one to Parrado.
However, the three men attempted to cash a total of five checks, according to the report. The checks were written for the amounts of $1,200, $1,253, $1,227, $1,410.60 and $2,682.
Adam Linhardt, spokesperson for MCSO, said that detectives believe all of the checks originated from the same person. MCSO is working with other law enforcement agencies in central Florida, as well as the federal government. More arrests could be made as the investigation continues.
In the meantime, the men were arrested and transported to the Monroe County Detention Center. All three men made bail and were released the same day.
Information in the Crime Report is obtained from reports provided by area law enforcement agencies.
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