Alert bank employees help bust counterfeiters
Posted: 7:12 pm PST March 13, 2010
SPOKANE -- Spokane County Sheriff deputies say several alert bank employees helped them capture three people accused stealing thousands with an elaborate counterfeit scam.
Deputies arrested 25-year-old Corey Jones, 24-year-old Lukeisha A. Harris, and 23-year-old Elicionne L. Washington for first degree theft.
Investigators say Harris and Jones tried to get cash advances in thousands of dollars using stolen credit cards from Spokane area banks.
Deputies busted Harris and Jones and the North Pointe Chase Bank branch Friday afternoon when employees at two banks alerted officers about the stolen cards.
One bank employee told deputies that one of the women presented a credit car, asked for an $8,000 cash advance, and then provided a phone number to get the amount approved when the card was denied.
When deputies spoke to Jones and Harris one-on-one, both women said their name was Aurora Wright. As they opened a bible to produce a drivers license, several ID's fell out - all belonging to Aurora Wright, all with different photos on them.
Deputies tried to run Jones' Oregon driver's license, they learned no such identification existed in the DOL system.
A subsequent search of Harris turned up $26,000 and several bank receipts, all stuffed in her bra. Deputies also found several other counterfeit driver's licenses and inactive or stolen credit cards during the bust.
Deputies contacted and arrested Washington as he waited for the two women outside in their getaway car. All three are believed to be from the Seattle area.










