By Associated Press
Tuscaloosa, AL – Three people are in a Tuscaloosa jail, each charged with cashing counterfeit checks and forging Tuscaloosa Mayor Walter Maddox's signature.
Officers with the Financial Crimes Units arrested 36-year-old Roderick Antonio Davis, 34-year-old Brian Hood and 22-year-old Laron Smith, all of Tuscalooosa. Police said the three are accused of cashing 19 counterfeit checks that had been cleared through the city's water and sewer department.
Seven other individuals are also believed to be involved in the scheme and police said law enforcement agencies outside of Tuscaloosa County are investigating five more cases.
Davis, Hood and Smith were each charged with forgery second-degree - its a Class C felony and carries a possible prison term of one to ten years.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)