Fake traveler’s check crime spree ends in SWFL

Published: Updated:

LEE COUNTY, Fla.-  A national crime spree ends in Southwest Florida.

Investigators say Lequana Dixon is accused of cashing in hundreds of fake travelers checks, ripping off several businesses.

They say Dixon began her crime spree in December 2013, first cashing a fake check in New York City. Dixon then continued to do the same up and down the East Coast, until she was finally caught.

Dixon caught the attention of investigators with the United States Secret Service. They say Dixon ripped off 10 Target stores across several counties, including Lee and Collier.

Back in March 2014, Dixon allegedly used fake traveler’s checks from American Express, to buy thousands of dollars worth of merchandise, like gift cards and electronics.

Stacey Payne is with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office fraud unit. “We see it frequently, especially around this time of year when we start seeing our visitors, everyone coming back for the season,” said Payne.

Payne says there are easy ways for business owners to spot fake traveler’s checks.

“One of the best things to do is take a look at it and feel it. this feels like nothing more than a piece of paper. a nice thick cut piece of paper, but there’s nothing raised. They’ll be a water mark embedded in there and you really can’t see a water mark by just looking at it. you need to hold it up to the light,” said Payne.

Dixon’s arrest warrant says she also used multiple checks with the same serial number.

Payne says that’s a big warning sign.

“If they are getting you multiple traveler’s checks, make sure the numbers are not the same,” said Payne.

Dixon’s victims were all Target stores. She was caught after managers started to contact deputies, and her driver’s license was used in one of the purchases.

Now we did a little digging, and found that while agents in Southwest Florida were investigating Dixon, she was actually arrested, and served time for, the same crime in Utah.

In Florida, she is charged with 113 counts of using fraudulent checks. The Office of the Attorney General is prosecuting.

 

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