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Two More People Arrested In Counterfeiting Ring

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 31, 2008

TAMPA - The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office arrested two men on Wednesday who investigators say were part of a ring that produced and cashed counterfeit checks from 2005 to last month.

The arrests bring to 20 the number of people charged with being part of the counterfeiting ring that operated since April of 2005.

Detectives on Wednesday saw Xavier Williams cash a counterfeit check at a Wal-Mart. He and the man driving the car he was in were pulled over on a traffic stop near interstates 4 and 75.

Williams, 26, of 1205 E. Mohawk Ave., Tampa, was charged with two counts each of forgery, grand theft and one count of giving a false name to an officer.

Also arrested was the car's driver, Keith M. Gardner, 35, of 1207 E. Ida St., Tampa, on a charge of driving with a revoked license.

Both have been released on bond.

The Sheriff's Office said the ring would obtain checks, either legitimately by being paid with a check or by stealing them. Using software, they produced counterfeit checks with the routing and account numbers of existing accounts.

The checks were cashed at businesses and financial institutions. The Sheriff's Office said the ring may have netted $50,000 and the total may reach $100,000.

Officials have Milo Roderick Martin, 37, of 6907 Halifax River Dr, #202, Tampa, in custody on racketeering charges.

Sheriff's Sgt. John Campo called Martin the "head of the snake" during a news conference Thursday.

The Sheriff's Office said Martin is being held without bond.

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