A Meraux man is back behind bars in St. Tammany after an investigation following a routine traffic stop reveals more than 400 stolen/fraudulent checks valued at approximately $538,000.
Gregory Ward Jr. was stopped by a St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s deputy for speeding on January 25. During that traffic stop, Ward, who initially provided a fake name, was found to be in possession of several checks, credit cards, and debit cards that were suspected to be stolen, altered, and fraudulently manufactured. At the time of the traffic stop, detectives were able to identify one of the victims of the stolen/altered checks and Ward was arrested at that time on multiple financial charges. He was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail, but bonded out on February 2.
However, STPSO detectives learned Ward was stealing checks and altering those checks to create counterfeit checks before depositing the altered checks as well as the counterfeit checks into various bank accounts. During the January traffic stop, Ward was also in possession of check altering and check making items such as white out and blank check stock. STPSO detectives were able to obtain additional warrants for Ward’s arrests.
On Monday, March 29, Ward turned himself in and was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail.
