Another arrest made in Northeast Arkansas bank fraud case

List of seven suspects includes four from West Memphis

By Keith Inman

Paxton News Bureau

JONESBORO — Yet another suspect has been arrested in connection to a check forgery scheme that is reported to have cost a local bank more than $200,000.

Tonisha Lashay Gaither, 30, of Batesville, was ordered held in lieu of $50,000 bond after Craighead County District Judge David Boling found probable cause to charge her Friday with 37 counts of second-degree forgery, theft greater than $25,000 and engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise. She became the seventh charged suspect in the case that Arvest Bank uncovered in February.

The bank identified at least 65 fraudulent accounts that had been opened between Nov. 14 and Feb. 7.

Detective Bruce Wright of the Jonesboro Police Department called Gaither a “principal suspect.”

“Gaither, allegedly working with at least eight other individuals, opened checking accounts in person at Arvest Bank,” Wright said in a probable cause affidavit. “She then provided her account details and debit card to her accomplices. She deposited fraudulent checks into her account, along with other suspects accounts. Before the bank could identify the fraudulent deposits, Gaither and her associates transferred the stolen funds out of the accounts.

Gaither had deposited 37 fraudulent checks totaling $148,800.”

Previously arrested on similar charges in this case were: Eboni Sharday Meux, 37, Arthur N. Leflore, 31, Taylor Trotter, 31, and Stefon Trotter, 31 – all of West Memphis; Glen Thomas Burns, 27, of Conway; and Amanda Bell Wooten, 32, of Jonesboro.

All are scheduled to appear April 24 in Craighead County Circuit Court.

Engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise is a Class A felony, which carries a sentence of up to 30 years in prison. The theft charge is a Class B felony punishable by up to 20 years and each count of forgery is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The judge also found probable cause for charges and set bond for the following: Nathan C. Graves, 35, of West Plains, Mo., felony fleeing in a vehicle and endangering the welfare of a minor and misdemeanor driving while intoxicated on drugs, refusal to submit to a chemical test, fleeing on foot, criminal mischief, driving on a suspended license, reckless driving and speeding; $15,000 with added conditions that he wear a GPS ankle monitor and blood-alcohol monitor. The incident occurred on Feb. 24.

Willie Lee Wilson, 38, of Jonesboro, violating sex offender requirements; $75,000 with added requirement that he wear an ankle monitor.