4 jailed on suspicion of cashing bad checks at Covina Wal-Mart
COVINA -- Police jailed four people Thursday, including a husband and wife, on suspicion of trying to cash fraudulent checks at a Wal-Mart store.
Keleni Soliai, 49, his wife Sarah Soliai, 48, Sally Gray, 48, and Tyeasha Washington, 28, were booked on suspicion of burglary and forgery, Covina police Sgt. Trevor Gaumer said. All are Riverside residents.
The married couple got in different lines at the store, 1275 N. Azusa Avenue, shortly before 6 p.m. and tried to cash checks with the same account and routing numbers, the sergeant said.
After police arrived and detained the couple, he said, they told police they were put up to the incident by others.
The couple's statements led police to arrest Washington, who was found next-door at a Toys "R" Us store, Gaumer said. Wal-Mart employees recognized her as having cashed a fraudulent check at the store about 5 p.m.
Also based on the statements of the Soliai's, police also arrested Gray, who was in a nearby vehicle, in connection with the alleged fraud, Gaumer said.
All three checks cashed or attempted to be cashed by the suspects listed the account number of a valid account belonging to the State of California, the sergeant added.
Police were working to see if Thursday's incidents were related to others reported Wednesday in Glendora, in which six people were arrested on suspicion of trying to cash fraudulent checks at a Wal-Mart store in that city.
CONTRIBUTORS
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| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
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Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
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