SUFFIELD, Conn. — Eric Christian, a 41-year-old man from Mansfield, was arrested Thursday on multiple charges in connection with a check fraud scheme that caused losses of over $350,000. Christian, who was already incarcerated at the MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institute in Suffield, was arrested by warrant and charged with several serious offenses. These include violating the Corrupt Organizations and Racketeering Act (CORA), first-degree conspiracy to commit larceny, fraudulent use of an ATM, issuing bad checks, conspiracy to commit identity theft, and third-degree forgery.
The investigation, initiated in March 2023, was triggered by complaints from multiple banks regarding a check fraud operation. The fraud ring allegedly carried out a check kiting scheme, in which bad checks were passed between various accounts at different banks to withdraw money before the checks could bounce. Investigators also found that the group targeted online gambling platforms using similar tactics.
Authorities have connected Christian to the fraud ring, identifying him as one of the key participants in the operation. The investigation revealed that the fraudulent activity had been ongoing since at least 2020. Christian now faces several charges related to his involvement in this complex financial crime.
