Smithfield Police Arrest Two In Separate Check Forgery Cases

SMITHFIELD, N.C. — Two men were arrested just hours apart after police say they attempted to cash stolen and altered checks at the same Smithfield credit union.

Both incidents occurred July 2 at the State Employees’ Credit Union on North Brightleaf Boulevard and resulted in arrests at the bank.

The first case unfolded around 2:30 p.m. when Smithfield police said Jonathan Chavis, 31, of Fayetteville entered the credit union and presented a check that had reportedly been stolen from the mail.

Investigators allege the check had been altered to increase its value to $890. Police said Chavis successfully cashed one fraudulent check before attempting to cash a second altered check.

Bank employees became suspicious and contacted Smithfield police, who arrested Chavis at the scene.

Chavis is charged with obtaining property by false pretense, uttering a forged instrument, attempting to obtain property by false pretense, and attempted uttering a forged instrument.

He was placed in the Johnston County Detention Center under a $20,000 secured bond.

Less than three hours later, at approximately 4:56 p.m., officers were called back to the same SECU branch after another customer allegedly attempted to cash an altered check.

Police said Alan Carl Waddell, 61, of Fayetteville presented a check that had been altered to $884.46. He was taken into custody at the bank without incident.

Waddell was charged with attempted obtaining property by false pretense, forgery of an instrument and uttering a forged instrument.

During his arrest, officers also served Waddell with outstanding warrants from the Spring Lake Police Department. Those warrants include charges of felony breaking and entering, possession of stolen property, felony larceny, misdemeanor larceny, forgery and identity theft.

The investigation remains ongoing.