Early Police officers responded to a local bank on Thursday, April 9th regarding a counterfeit check, involving a scheme to use homeless individuals to cash the checks, according to Early Police Chief David Mercer.

According to the report, an individual was trying to cash a check on a local insurance company for $2400.  The check was designed to look like the insurance company’s current checks; however, it was determined to be a counterfeit check.

Mercer stated that the individual who attempted to cash the check was identified as 43-year-old Gerald Ray Dorries from Houston, Texas. Further investigation revealed that two other forged checks had already been cashed that morning by other individuals, according to Mercer. Detectives learned from Dorries that he was homeless, living in Houston and that the other individuals cashing the checks were also homeless.

“They were picked up on the streets in Houston by some people and told they would be paid $400 dollars to cash these checks for the individuals then they are brought to various banks around Texas and the checks are cashed for amounts varying around $2000 – $5000,” said Mercer.

Dorries was arrested and charged with forgery of a financial instrument.

EPD is currently investigating the cases to identify the individuals responsible for making the checks and having the homeless individuals cash them, according to Mercer who also explained that the Texas Rangers are also assisting in the case to locate the Houston connection.