3 charged in Alabama theft with links to nationwide fraud, sheriff says

3 charged in Alabama theft with links to nationwide fraud, sheriff says

What began as a burglary investigation in a small Alabama town expanded to Dothan, Georgia and possibly the length of the country and has so far led to three people facing charges, authorities said Wednesday.

Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza told reporters deputies began investigated a burglary in Columbia on July 1.

“It just kept snowballing,” the sheriff said of the case.

The investigation led deputies to a Dothan apartment complex, where a search was conducted at a residence and a vehicle, he said.

Authorities found marijuana, U.S. Treasury checks, a fraudulent Georgia driver’s license and U.S. currency, Valenza said.

The sheriff did not quantify how much cash was found, but said the the theft and fraud investigation was the largest of his career.

Deputies developed a suspect — Dothan resident Alexandria Danielle Mock — which led them to her husband, Colby Mock, of Blakely, Georgia.

Early County, Georgia sheriff’s deputies found U.S. currency taken from the July 1 burglary in Columbia in Colby Mock’s house, according to Valenza.

On July 14, authorities identified a third suspect — Atlanta resident Shikeem Taj-dejaun Williams.

Williams was seen in Dothan driving a Dodge Durango with Texas tags.

A short foot pursuit ensued and Williams was apprehended without incident, the sheriff said.

Williams allegedly gave deputies a false name and a fake ID.

After taking Williams into custody, sheriff’s deputies executed multiple search warrants in Houston County that turned up an unidentified amount of cash, 5 1/2 pounds of marijuana, a Glock 10mm handgun, nine fraudulent U.S. Treasury checks, two fraudulent money orders and drug paraphernalia, said Valenza.

Williams was charged with second-degree burglary, first-degree theft of property, attempting to elude, second-degree possession of marijuana, second-degree possession of a forged instrument, identity theft, three counts of third-degree possession of a forged instrument, certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm and trafficking in marijuana.

He is being held in the Houston County jail without bond.

Alexandria Mock was charged with theft of property, identity theft, second-degree possession of a forged instrument and three counts of third-degree possession of a forged instrument. She was released from the county jail on $90,000 bond.

Colby Mock is being held without bond in the jail on first-degree theft of property.

The sheriff said Williams has an extensive criminal history in Georgia and the evidence obtained during the investigation showed the Atlanta man appears to be involved in “bank schemes, bank fraud and check fraud from California to New York.”

The investigation was ongoing, the sheriff noted, adding that the FBI may be later assisting with the probe because of the involvement of U.S. Treasury checks.