Man Accused of Forging $25,000 Treasury Check Insists Innocence

JONESBORO, Ark. – A Jonesboro man was arrested on accusations that he altered a government issued check over $25,000, but he insisted he was innocent in court on Wednesday.

Jerome Lemont Dale, 44, of Jonesboro, was arrested this week after a complaint by Southern Bancorp, located at 2508 East Highland Drive in Jonesboro. The probable cause affidavit says that a Jonesboro officer took a report from the bank stating that on July 19, Dale entered the bank, presented his driver’s license, and cashed a check from the United States Treasury in the amount of $25,861.64. The affidavit notes Dale is a known customer of the bank.

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But on July 22, bank staff were alerted by the Treasury that the check Dale cashed had been altered and thus, was fraudulent. The affidavit says the check was real but was issued to a different individual and address entirely.

The criminal actions of Dale resulted in a $25,861.64 loss to the bank, the affidavit says.

On Wednesday, Judge Tommy Fowler found probable cause to charge Dale with theft of $25,000 or more, a class B felony, and second-degree forgery, a class C felony. Dale faces up to 20 years for the theft and up to 10 years for the forgery. The judge set Dale’s bond at $25,000 cash-only.

However, Dale insisted in his innocence while in the court and went as far to say he was the victim. He said the check was issued to his business and he had done nothing wrong. Judge Fowler, who always reminds subjects of their right to remain silent, told him that was a defense he would need to raise with his attorney.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.