An Ooltewah man has been defrauded of over $30,000, and his son and another man are facing charges.
Terri Joe Lane, 35, was arrested along with Dexter B. Jenkins, 56, of 3974 Cartwright St., Lupton City. Lane is charged with theft over $10,000 and forgery. Jenkins is charged with criminal conspiracy.
Donald Hermanson of Finney Point Drive told police in late December that he was told by his bank that he was overdrawn.
He was shown copies of numerous checks that had been cashed at the Tennessee Valley Credit Union and with a forged signature. They were written in amounts from $200 to $1,000 and made out to Jenkins, who endorsed the checks.
The checks amounted to $25,325.
There were also checks written to Lowe's and Walmart that added to $5,167.
Mr. Hermanson told police he believed his son, Lane, had been "helping himself" to his checkbook.
Police interviewed Jenkins, who said Lane told him the Hermansons went along with the check writing and it was all legal. He said he was paid a small amount for his part in the check writing.