More Than 2 Dozen Charged in Check Conspiracy

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Twenty-eight people have been charged in a scheme to steal more than $2 million by creating fraudulent checks and cashing them at dozens of banks.

Prosecutors say a branch manager at a TCF Bank in Crystal and a teller at a Central Bank branch used their access to give check manufacturers account numbers and balance information. The manufacturers then used blank check stock and check-printing software to make fake checks, and other people cashed them.

One defendant includes a door-to-door meat salesman who took legitimate checks from customers, and had them used to make fake checks.

Court documents say some of the defendants also got account numbers through social media and Instagram.

U.S. Attorney Andy Luger says the charges effectively shut down a pervasive identity theft and bank fraud conspiracy.