Second Paducah Man Arrested on Forgery Charges

The second person being sought in a check fraud investigation has been arrested.

According to the McCracken County Sheriff's Department, Paducah Police arrested 28-year-old Jason A. Cook on Tuesday.

He was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument 2nd degree, and two counts of theft by deception under $10,000.

McCracken Sheriff's Detectives arrested 27-year-old Rashad L. Brown on Tuesday. Both men are accused of creating checks that appeared to be from a Knoxville business and cashing them at three different locations of Regions Bank on April 11. The business reported a loss of over $11,000 from the fraud. 

Detectives used evidence from the checks and video surveillance to identify the suspects.

Brown faces charges identical to Cook's, according to detectives. 


Original Story:

One man is in custody and another is sought after an investigation into fraudulent checks cashed at area banks.

On Tuesday, May 21st, detectives with the McCracken County Sheriff’s Department were contacted by fraud investigators from Regions Bank regarding multiple fraudulent checks that had been passed in the Paducah area on April 11th.  Regions Bank provided information regarding four checks that had been passed and two separate suspects at three different Regions Bank locations.  The checks were generated to appear as issued by a business located in Knoxville, TN. 
 
During the investigation, detectives confirmed that the checks had not been issued by the business, but resulted in a loss of over $11,000 to the victim.  Using bank video and evidence from the fraudulent checks, detectives were led to obtain warrants for 27-year-old Rashad L. Brown and 28-year-old Jason A. Cook, both of Paducah. 
 
On Tuesday, Brown was located at a residence on North 8th Street and arrested without incident.  During an interview, detectives say he admitted to cashing the fraudulent checks.

Brown currently faces charges including two counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument second degree, and  two counts of theft by deception under $10,000.
 
Detectives are currently seeking Jason A. Cook for his involvement in the case.  Cook is described as a white male, approximately 5’8” tall, weighing approximately 150 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.  Cook was last known to be staying in the Reidland area, but may currently be staying in Graves County. 

If anyone has information as to the whereabouts of Cook, they are asked to contact the McCracken County Sheriff’s Department at 270-444-4719, McCracken County Crime stoppers at 270-443-TELL or their local law enforcement agency.