Christian Peterson
reporter.riverbendnews@gmail.com
On Monday, April 7, the Lake City Police Department put out a press release detailing the arrests of multiple Lake City and White Springs residents, all in connection with one another. A total of five people were arrested following an investigation “into a large-scale organized check fraud scheme that targeted a senior citizen recovering from a medical emergency.” Over the span of two months, the alleged offenders used stolen checks to deposit over $35,000 into fraudulent accounts. The individuals also withdrew thousands of that money in cash through multiple ATMs in and around Lake City.
On Friday, March 14, the unnamed victim, a 65-year-old man, reported the theft of his checkbook from his motel room. The victim had a medical emergency, which ended up with him in the hospital. During his hospital stay, two people, an unknown female and an unknown male, entered his motel room pretending to be housekeeping. Soon after that incident, the victim's checks began appearing in suspicious deposits, as well as across multiple bank accounts.
“Samuel Joseph Chaves, using an account at Radiant Credit Union, deposited 28 stolen checks totaling over $21,000,” the Lake City Police Department said. “Surveillance footage, ATM records and vehicle information conclusively linked Chavez to these transactions, often involving large cash withdrawals immediately after deposits. Chavez was also connected to accomplices using his or shared vehicles during many of these fraudulent actions.
“Danyell Smith Chavez, who owns the account used for fraudulent deposits, admitted to frequently leaving her debit card and vehicle accessible to Samuel Chavez. Financial records show Danyell Chavez transferred over $5,000 to Samuel Chavez through Facebook Meta Pay in the same timeframe that the stolen checks were deposited.
“Krystal Kay Koon used her own Radiant Credit Union account to deposit seven stolen checks via mobile banking apps. Each transaction was conducted from devices and IP addresses known to belong to Koon, and she later made large ATM withdrawals tied to the deposits.
“Tyler Brandon Jeter was also identified as a participant in the fraud. He used his mother's account to cash a stolen check, which he had obtained under false pretenses. Surveillance footage consistently places Jeter at the scene of several ATM transactions involving Samuel Chavez and Krystal Koon.”
Samuel, a White Springs resident, was arrested and charged with 28 counts of unlawful possession of identification of a person aged 60 or older, 17 counts of uttering forgery, one count of organized fraud and one count of grand theft of $10,000 to $50,000 from a person 65 or older.
Jeter, a Lake City resident, was arrested and charged with one count of unlawful possession of identification of a person aged 60 or older, eight counts of uttering forgery, one count of organized fraud and one count of grand theft of $10,000 to $50,000 from a person 65 or older.
Koon, a Lake City resident, was arrested on seven counts of unlawful possession of identification of a person aged 60 or older, seven counts of uttering forgery, five counts of use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony, one count of organized fraud and one count of grand theft of $10,000 to $50,000 from a person 65 or older.
Danyell, a White Springs resident, was arrested on one count of organized fraud and one count of grand theft of $10,000 to $50,000 from a person aged 65 or older.
Finally, Danina Goguen, a White Springs resident, was arrested and charged with one count of organized fraud and one count of grand theft of $10,000 to $50,000 from a person aged 65 or older.