The Cottonwood Police Department and the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office arrested Francisco Hernandez, 28, and Raul Rodriguez, 38, of California, this week in connection with an alleged check-washing scheme that targeted at least 15 victims across Northern Arizona, with losses exceeding $15,000, CPD and YCSO announced Thursday, Dec. 4.
The men were arrested Dec. 1 after a Cottonwood bank employee recognized an altered check, stalled the suspects and alerted police. Officers arrested one suspect at the bank and stopped the second suspect in a vehicle leaving the parking lot.
The investigation began after residents reported that outbound mail, specifically checks written to pay bills, had been stolen. Working with U.S. Postal Inspectors investigators believe the suspects allegedly used a sticky rod to “fish” mail out of blue postal collection boxes.
Investigators allege that the suspects “washed” the checks using chemicals to erase the original ink. This allegedly allowed them to rewrite the payee names and dollar amounts before allegedly cashing them at local banks.
Both men were arrested and charged with fraud schemes, along with numerous counts of theft and forgery. YCSO and CPD investigators have identified at least 15 victims, with potentially more being discovered from other areas. YCSO detectives believe the crimes extended across Northern Arizona, and have reportedly linked similar incidents in Cottonwood, Sedona, Rimrock, Camp Verde, Cornville, Prescott Valley and Flagstaff.
Anyone who recently mailed checks that have not yet cleared or reached their intended recipient to review their bank statements immediately for unauthorized activity and contact law enforcement.
