A Jonesboro man is facing felony charges after police said he deposited 13 checks from his girlfriend’s closed account and used the money for online gambling.
Aaron Eugene Flynn, 47, was arrested after Centennial Bank contacted Jonesboro police about a suspected fraudulent check scheme, according to Jonesboro Right Now.
The bank branch manager told police that Flynn had deposited 13 checks totaling $10,700 into an account.
According to a probable-cause affidavit cited by KAIT, the checks were drawn on a closed account belonging to Flynn’s girlfriend.
The Bank Flagged The Checks
Detective Bruce Wright said that once the funds were posted to Flynn’s account, the money was used to pay for online gambling, KAIT reported.
Centennial Bank staff provided surveillance photos from after-hours ATM transactions. A detective identified Flynn by comparing the images with his state driver’s license photo, according to Jonesboro Right Now.
During a Mirandized interview, Flynn said he signed his girlfriend’s name to the checks without her knowledge, investigators said. Wright said Flynn told investigators he did it to pay for online gambling that he did not want his girlfriend to find out about.
He Faces 14 Felony Counts
Flynn was booked into the Craighead County Detention Center on June 24, according to Jonesboro Right Now. Two days later, Craighead County District Court Judge David Boling found probable cause to charge him with 13 counts of second-degree forgery and one count of theft greater than $5,000 but less than $25,000.
Both charge categories are Class C felonies. Flynn is being held on a $25,000 cash or surety bond and is scheduled to appear in circuit court on Aug. 21.
The Check Warning Is About Posted Funds
The case points to a broader check-fraud issue for consumers and banks. The Federal Trade Commission warns that banks must make deposited funds available quickly, but money appearing in an account does not mean the check is valid.
Fake or bad checks can take days or weeks to be discovered. If the money is spent before the check is rejected, the account holder may still face bank action, fees, account closure, or a police report, depending on the circumstances.
Account holders should watch for missing checks, unauthorized signatures, unexpected mobile or ATM deposits, withdrawals tied to checks they did not write, and activity involving old or closed accounts. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency advises people who suspect check fraud to contact their bank immediately and file a police report.
The Charges Remain Allegations
Flynn’s girlfriend told investigators she did not know about the checks, according to the affidavit cited by KAIT.
The public reports do not say whether the money was recovered or whether the bank suffered a final loss.
Flynn has been charged, not convicted. Police accuse him of depositing 13 checks from a closed account and signing his girlfriend’s name without her knowledge.