IFN Staff
Three suspects were apprehended by Iredell County Sheriff’s Office deputies and charged with cashing thousands of dollars worth of fraudulent checks.
Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrests of Juan Dario Carcamo, 29, of Manvel, Texas; Merin Arnoldo Sorto-Mata, 23, of Houston, Texas; and Ezequiel Cruz Garcia, 23, of Statesville in a news release Thursday.
Two additional suspects, identified as Javier Cortez and Junior Mendez, are wanted on a felony fraud charges.
The ICSO began investigating on Wednesday after receiving a call about men cashing fraudulent checks, Campbell said.
Employees of Saunders & Son’s Grocery, located at 104 Houpe Road, north of Statesville, called the business whose name appeared on the checks and asked if they were legitimate, according to the news release. The business reported that the checks were not real and had been used since the first of May to obtain over $130,000, the sheriff said.
A representative of the business then contacted the Sheriff’s Office to file a report about the checks being stolen and forged, according to the news release.
Later Wednesday afternoon, three suspects returned to the store at 104 Houpe Road and attempted to pass more checks, Campbell said.
After employees called the Sheriff’s Office, Deputies Berrier and English responded quickly to the business and located Carcomo, Sorto-Mata, and Garcia.
When the suspects saw the deputies, they ran, and a foot pursuit ensued, according to the news release.
A perimeter was established, and multiple ICSO canines were brought to the scene to track the suspects. Two of the three suspects were immediately located. The third suspect was soon located and arrested after resisting arrest and be tased by the deputies.
Deputy Kohnstamm deployed canine Creek, and Sgt. Hodges used canine Levi to track the suspects. It was Creek’s first suspect apprehension.
All three suspects were arrested and taken to the Iredell County Detention Center.
Carcamo was charged with two counts of Misdemeanor Resist, Obstruct, and Delay of a Law Enforcement Officer, Felony Conspiracy, two counts of Felony Uttering a Forged Instrument, and Felony Possession and Transporting a Counterfeit Instrument. Magistrate Russel issued a $10,000 secured bond.
Sorto-Mata was charged with Felony Conspiracy, and two counts of Misdemeanor Resist, Obstruct, and Delay of a Law Enforcement Officer. Magistrate Russel issued a $6,500 bond. An immigration detainer was also placed on Sorto-Mata.
Garcia was charged with two counts of Misdemeanor Resist, Obstruct, and Delay of an Officer, Misdemeanor Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, and Felony Conspiracy. Magistrate Russel issued a $15,000 secured bond. An immigration detainer was also placed on Garcia.
The investigation is ongoing, Campbell said.