A man wanted in three states is now wanted in Warren County after he passed forged checks for over $1,000. He victimized local businesses using a basic home printer.
Investigators are looking for Kenneth Lee Todd. He is the man caught on surveillance video passing the forged checks Dec. 14 at Country Club Market, Morrison Shell and Morrison Marathon Market. The checks were all made out for $348.23 and all had the same routing and check numbers.
Todd is considered dangerous because he was once charged with attempted murder and is considered a federal fugitive.
The checks were drawn on the Warren County School System account as Todd presented them to the three businesses maintaining they were payroll checks. The checks did not come back as forgeries until they got into the banking system, meaning Todd was long gone before anyone realized the crime.
“He apparently printed these checks off using a regular printer,” said sheriff’s investigator Steven Carpenter. “He used the name of a local employer, in this case the Warren County School System, to help avoid suspicion. He has done this in other cases in other counties, printing checks from legitimate businesses. The checks look legitimate, front and back.”
Carpenter said lawmen know it was Todd because he used his own Alabama driver license as identification. They also believe he must have known the area because he knew to print the checks from an established employer. The investigator added Todd also has a valid Tennessee driver license and it is unknown where he makes his residence.
Todd is now wanted in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee for check forging and is also being pursued by federal marshals for interstate crime.
“He may never come through again but then he may decide it was so easy the first time that he will try it again,” Carpenter said, urging merchants and banks to take a good look at Todd’s picture and report to authorities immediately if he is seen.