Grants couple face bad check charges

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — A husband and wife from Grants have been arrested in connection with allegedly taking, writing and getting several checks cashed in banks in Grants.
Theresa Rodriguez and Adam Ramirez each face four counts of forgery and one count of conspiracy, all fourth degree felonies.

The case took an unusual turn however, and neither magistrate court officials or the 13th Judicial District Attorney’s office are able to definitely say why Rodriguez was released May 6 and Ramirez was bound over to the district court in order to take his case to the grand jury.

District Attorney Lemuel Martinez said that Rodriguez may not be as culpable as Ramirez, or that her case may be taken to the grand jury as well at a late time, but he was not able to say definitively what the situation is about Ramirez’s case.

A man and his wife from Gallup reported to Grants police that checks from their checkbook disappeared and were cashed at a bank in Grants, Cibola County Magistrate Court records state.

The pair had visited Grants in February and checked into Motel 6. They left the next day and the day after that they discovered the checkbook missing and realized they may have left it in the motel room, court records state.

They went to their bank in Gallup and learned that a man by the name of Charles Lancaster had cashed two checks and that two others had been rejected by the bank when someone tried to cash them, according to court records.

Grants Police Lt. Corey Allen, the arresting officer in the case, said the case is still under investigation.

Lancaster told police Rodriguez and Ramirez came to him and asked him to cash the checks because they did not have any identification or bank account, court records state.

Two checks were cashed at Grants State Bank by Lancaster, in the amounts of $275 and $325. Two others, for $300 and $600, were rejected by the bank, according to court records.

Milan Police Chief Jerry Stephens interviewed Lancaster who told Stephens that Ramirez and Rodriguez came to him and asked him to cash the checks, and to give the money to them, court records state.

Lancaster told Stephens the pair told him they needed the money to pay rent, utilities and for groceries. It is not known at press time, how Ramirez and Rodriguez know Lancaster, according to court records.

Lancaster told Stephens Rodriguez and Ramirez never told him how they got the checks, court records state.

Allen also interviewed Rodriguez and Ramirez who told him they asked Lancaster to cash the checks because they did not have a bank account, court records state.

“Rodriguez and Ramirez conspired to cash checks that didn’t belong to them,” Allen said, explaining the conspiracy charge.

Both face up to 7.5 years in state prison, a fine up to $25,000, or both, if they are prosecuted an convicted of all charges.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin call (505) 285-4560 or e-mail: jtiffin.independent@yahoo.com.