Suspect in Check Fraud Scheme Turns Self In

A New Jersey woman accused of forging checks from a Northampton County government bank account turned herself into police Tuesday.

Shakimah Sims, 30, of 408 Lyons Ave., Newark, is accused of taking part of a large involving number of people last year.

Police say Sims and her co-defendants forged checks so that they appeared to be written from the county's bail account. They then cashed the checks at local businesses, .

In Sims case, court records say she cashed a check for $480 at a check-cashing service in Bethlehem last January.

Sims was arraigned before District Judge Daniel Corpora, and released on $5,000 bail. Four other people have already been charged in the case, and police are seeking two others.

Earlier this year, county said another group of people was involved in a similar scheme in South Carolina and Georgia.