Two individuals were arrested on federal charges after one allegedly tried to cash a stolen check at the Bowling Green Post Office.
Andrea Cooks, 25, of Oakland, California, and Zaire P. O’Neal-Gillard, 27, of Snellville, Georgia, face charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States and possession of stolen treasury checks. The arrests occurred on July 24 following an investigation by postal inspectors.
A U.S. Postal Inspector, Brian Coyt, noticed a vehicle with a Georgia license plate backing into a parking spot at the Bowling Green Post Office and Sorting Distribution Center on Scottsville Road. When a passenger, later identified as Cooks, passed the inspector, an odor of marijuana was detected.
According to court records, Cooks attempted to cash a check for $2,775.70. The postal clerk obtained her ID, and Cooks requested to cash the check for $1,000, with the remaining balance to be issued via money order. The clerk noted Cooks appeared nervous and was reluctant to show her identification.
Further investigation revealed the check was payable to a Los Angeles resident. While Cooks presented a California driver’s license bearing the payee’s name, the photo resembled Cooks but the license was determined to be fraudulent.
Both Cooks and O’Neal-Gillard were taken into custody and now face federal prosecution related to the scam.
