NOT the thing to wear to a defrauding event
CLAY CO., Ill. - A distinctive item of apparel proved to NOT be the garment of choice for a guy from Kentucky who allegedly attempted to defraud a Flora bank last week, as that's what ultimately lead to his capture.
Sheriff Andy Myers reports that on November 27, the Clay County Sheriff's Office was notified by a local bank of an incident of fraud. The incident involved a subject wearing a high-visibility vest entering the bank and presenting a check to be cashed on a local account.
It was later discovered that the check had been fraudulently obtained.
The next day (Nov. 28), the Sheriff's Office was notified that a subject dressed in a similar manner was in the same bank attempting to cash a check that was also believed to be fraudulently obtained. The Sheriff's Office requested assistance from the Flora Police Department in responding to the incident.
The subject had left the bank prior to law enforcement arrival, but was quickly apprehended a short distance from the bank.
As a result of the ongoing investigation, Christopher L. Ballou, 32, of Louisville, Ky. was arrested for the offense of Financial Institution Fraud. Ballou's bond was later set in the amount of $25,000.00 (10 percent to apply). Ballou remains incarcerated in the Clay County Jail at the time of this release.