Above: Tyrell McKenzie
(Photo courtesy of Fresno PD)
A Fresno man was recently arrested for alleged identity theft and depositing fraudulent checks.
According to a press release by the Fresno Police Department, police opened an investigation in early January after the department’s Financial Crimes Unit learned of an individual allegedly depositing fraudulent checks at local credit union ATMs. The suspect, who was careful to conceal their identity, would then move the funds out of the corresponding account before the checks could be marked as fraudulent.
Investigators discovered that the suspect had allegedly recruited more than 100 credit union members for access to their accounts, and had deposited over 150 forged checks. This resulted in a loss of more than $250,000 to the credit unions, police said.
Through financial records, search warrants, and other means, investigators eventually identified the suspect as Tyrell Marquis McKenzie, 40, of Fresno. Investigators secured an arrest warrant for McKenzie for alleged check fraud, theft by false pretense, and identity theft.
On February 22, detectives and additional law enforcement personnel served a search warrant at one of McKenzie’s apartments, where they reportedly gathered additional evidence. Detectives soon arrested McKenzie as they were conducting surveillance at the location of one of his apartments, a complex at Willow and Shepard avenues.
Detectives served an additional search warrant at this location, where they reportedly seized multiple identification cards, social security cards, completed checks, boxes of blank check stock, computers, printing equipment, and other electronics.
Police have since formally filed the above-mentioned charges with the District Attorney’s Office.
McKenzie posted bail and was released from custody, police said.
