4 Arrested In Counterfeit Check-Cashing Ring: Manatee County Sheriff

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — Four women were arrested and charged for their roles in a counterfeit check-cashing ring, according to a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office news release.

Detectives learned Wednesday that fake checks were being cashed at Ace Cash Express, 5169 14th Street W. in Bradenton.

A detective who visited the location surprised two women as they were in the process of cashing fraudulent checks, the sheriff’s office said.

Shavondra Davis, 26, and Keyondris King, 27, were taken into custody and another woman drove away from the business.

Detectives later learned the woman who left the scene was Francine Duff, 39, a known counterfeiter and the ringleader of the fake check-cashing scheme, MCSO said.

Investigators obtained a search warrant for Duff’s Palmetto home. There, they found personal identity information, check template stock, currency and computer equipment used to make fake checks.

The investigation led them to the fourth suspect, 54-year-old Yolanda Brown, the contact person inside the Ace Cash Express, the sheriff’s office said. She was arrested Thursday when she arrived at work.

During an interview with detectives, Brown confessed to her involvement in the counterfeit ring.

The four women were all charged with four counts of uttering a false check, one count of using another person’s ID and a first-degree felony for criminal conspiracy to commit a felony.

Duff has fraud and personal identity information charges dating back to 2008. She's also been suspected in dozens of other incidents, but has eluded prosecution due to a lack of assistance from the accomplices she was doing business with, the sheriff’s office said.

Detectives believe there could be more victims involving this counterfeit ring. Those with information about Duff and her accomplices or those who suspect they have been a victim of stolen checks or identity theft, should contact the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office at 941-747-3011.