PORT ORANGE, Fla. – Three South Florida men were arrested in Port Orange, accused of forging checks and withdrawing thousands of dollars from victims’ bank accounts, according to a news release.
Area law enforcement said they began receiving reports about fraudulent activity happening inside their banks on April 19 where large amounts of money was being withdrawn.
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According to the release, Port Orange police received two of the fraud reports. Officers said during the investigation, a vehicle tag number was obtained for the suspect’s vehicle and a BOLO was issued.
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Port Orange police said they were able to locate the vehicle and perform a traffic stop at a post office on Dunlawton Avenue.
According to the release, three men in the vehicle were in possession of over 20 fake driver’s licenses which all had different victim information on them, several personal checks from each victim, credit cards made in each victim’s name and business checks.
Police said ledgers and notes were also found that planned out numerous area banks the men were targeting.
“The suspects would utter the forged checks into the victim’s bank account and then withdraw between $2,000 - $5,000 from the account. Approximately $24,000 was located in their possession and seized under forfeiture. It is believed they targeted the area between April 18th and April 19th,” the release read in part.
According to the release, Christophe Orefice, 50 of Pembroke Pines, Darrel Fayson, 56, of Miami Gardens and Richard Anthony, 51 of North Miami were taken into custody.
The three men were taken to the Volusia County jail and face fraud charges charges ranging from possession of fictitious driver’s license, uttering forged instruments, using public record information to commit a felony, and possession of personal identification information.
Police said various different narcotics were also located and charged, but did not elaborate.
Port Orange police ask that if you believe you may have been targeted in this operation to please contact them at 386-506-5800.
According to the release, the victims in this case all appear to be victims from the South Florida area, and only came to Central Florida to commit the fraudulent activity.
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