Warrants planned for hundreds of bad check writers in Oklahoma County

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Arrest warrants are being processed or considered on 383 writers of bogus checks, the district attorney's office says. <br/><br/>A monthlong amnesty program for bogus-check writers

Tuesday, May 3rd 2005, 10:57 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Arrest warrants are being processed or considered on 383 writers of bogus checks, the district attorney's office says.

A monthlong amnesty program for bogus-check writers ended April 15. Debra Forshee, spokeswoman for Oklahoma County District Attorney Wes Lane, said 76 people participated in the program and avoided arrest and prosecution.

Additional personnel have been assigned to the investigations division of the district attorney's office with the purpose of putting bogus-check writers who did not participate in the amnesty program behind bars.

``There will be a lot of people going to jail as a result of this, and they will have a criminal record at that point,'' said Larry Andrews, chief investigator for the criminal investigations unit of the district attorney's office.

Andrews said if people don't make good on bad checks immediately, they may face the additional expense of bail, lawyer fees, court costs and the amount of the bogus checks.

Forshee said prosecutors have authorized filing new criminal charges against 189 people who victimized Oklahoma County merchants by writing bogus checks. She said the amounts owed by the people charged range from a few hundred dollars to more than $10,000. Investigators also are reviewing bogus checks written by an additional 194 people.

Andrews said merchants lose a lot of money from people who write worthless checks and are forced to pass the expense to honest customers.

``It's awful for a small, family-owned business,'' Andrews said. ``It affects them in a huge way.''

Andrews said district attorney's office wants to make sure merchants are paid for their goods and services. He said it will be much easier for bogus-check writers to correct their financial woes before their arrest.

``If we arrest them, we won't be willing to run them by the bank,'' he said.