Theo Johnson, 23, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to forgery, after he allegedly forged a check for $9000 on his last day working at the Laramie branch of US Bank.
Johnson faces one count of forgery, one count of conspiracy to commit theft, one count of theft and one count of possession of forged writings and forgery devices. He faces up to 35 years imprisonment if found guilty of all charges.
On March 20, police responded to the US Bank in Laramie, and met with someone who claimed there was an unauthorized transfer of $18,000 from her savings to her checking account, and there was a withdrawal from her checking account of $9000, according to a police affidavit.
Johnson said he was the teller who made the $18,000 transfer over the phone, and US Bank could not verify who was on the other side of the line.
It was then determined the withdrawal was made via a check made out to Kathryn Jones, and the handwriting on the check did not match the victim’s handwriting, according to the affidavit.
The branch manager of US Bank then told police she believed Jones had a relationship with Johnson, and the check was deposited in Jones account on Johnson’s last day of employment.
On March 23 police were dispatched to US Bank, because someone was attempting to cash a $9,517 check in the victim’s name. Claude Padilla Vasquez claimed he received the check from the victim to help him pay off student loans. After police compared Padilla Vasquez’s handwriting to the check, Padilla Vasquez admitted to writing out the date, dollar amount and the victim’s signature on the check. Padilla Vasquez then told police he received the check from Johnson.
Padilla Vasquez also faces forgery charges. Johnson’s jury trial is scheduled for August 18 and 19.
