'Check Washing Bandit' caught

Ragan Leigh Kersey, 33, of the 6200 block of Worthington Drive, is accused of taking checks from local companies, changing the “payee” name on the check and cashing them at local banks and businesses.

Kersey was identified after walking into the First South Bank in Hope Mills on Feb. 18 and attempting to fraudulently cash a $6,436 check.

A veteran clerk at the bank became suspicious. She knew the client didn’t write personal checks from his business account, investigators said.

Kersey is also accused of using an identification card that was reported stolen from a local Walmart.

Approximately 14 people have been victimized and at least $10,000 was stolen by Kersey, detectives said. Some of the victims include elderly residents, preacher’s wives, banks, credit unions, stores and ATMs.

Kersey is charged with two counts of identity theft, one count of uttering, one count of attempting to obtain property by false pretenses, eight counts of obtaining property by false pretense, one count of forgery, one count of financial card theft and one count of financial card fraud. She remained at the Cumberland County jail Thursday under a $103,000 bond. 

She faces additional charges from Fayetteville and Hope Mills police and has been an absconder from the state Department of Corrections for three years, deputies said.