3 indicted in connection to bank fraud

Urbana case centers around use of homeless man to cash bogus check.

A Champaign County grand jury indicted three men this week who were accused of enlisting the assistance of a homeless man to help them defraud an Urbana bank.

Kentay Wilkerson, 20, of Columbus, Gary Burnett, 33, of Columbus, and Kyle R. Hogue, 30, of Mount Perry, Ohio, were indicted in connection with an incident on Sept. 23 in which police said Burnett tried to cash a fraudulent check at People’s Savings Bank, 618 Scioto St. in Urbana. Authorities are investigating to determine whether the suspects were operating a crime ring that committed similar offenses elsewhere.

According to court records, Hogue was accused of approaching Burnett at a homeless shelter and asking him to cash a forged check for $1,265 payable to Burnett. Hogue was accused of providing transportation to Urbana in a white sport utility vehicle with temporary tags. Hogue instructed Burnett to cash the check at People’s Savings Bank and instructed him how to proceed after cashing the check, according to court records. Wilkerson and Hogue were spotted in the vehicle in Mutual and stopped on Ohio 29.

Hogue is facing charges that include two counts of complicity in the commission of forgery, as well as one count each of possession of heroin and possessing criminal tools. Burnett is facing two counts of forgery, while Wilkerson is facing two counts of complicity in the commission of forgery.

Hogue is expected to face a hearing at 2:15 p.m. Monday in Champaign County Common Pleas Court. Burnett is expected to face a hearing at 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, and Wilkerson will face an arraignment hearing at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 16.

Others indicted this week include:

• Paul E. Faulkner, 51, of 3382 N. Ohio 560, Urbana, on one count of possession of cocaine.

• Cassandra M. Deane, 30, of 583 E. Ward St., Urbana, on one count each of possession of heroin, possessing criminal tools and endangering children.

• Jeana M. Kearns, 46, of 809 Concord St., Urbana, on one count each of possession of cocaine, possessing criminal tools and permitting drug abuse.

• Kaila R. Arantz, 23, of 1060 S. High St., Urbana, on four counts of corrupting another with drugs and one count each of contributing to the unruliness or delinquency of a child, endangering children, possession of marijuana and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Carly J. Oskowski, 34, of 347 Rogers Drive, Urbana, on one count each of aggravated possession of drugs, possession of drugs and theft of drugs.

• Mark A. Burton, 42, of 848 E. Court St., Urbana, on one count of trafficking in drugs.

• Kevin M. Slone, 38, of 684 E. Church St., Urbana, on one count of possession of drugs.

• Katie K. Quick, 34, of 311 W. Church St., Urbana, on one count each of possession of heroin and possessing criminal tools.

• Jason B. Kline, 36, of 311 W. Church St., Urbana, on one count each of trafficking in heroin, possession of heroin and possessing criminal tools.

• Bobbie L. Hagen, 25, Clark County Jail, on one count each of theft and petty theft.

• Jessica N. Castello, 30, of 1924 Victory Drive, Springfield, on three counts of receiving stolen property and one count each of theft and petty theft.

• Jason C. Kiser, 35, Tri-County Jail, on one count each of burglary, petty theft, receiving stolen property, possession of cocaine, possession of heroin, possessing criminal tools, obstructing official business and resisting arrest.

• Muzettia J. Moore, 34, of 719 Mosgrove St., Urbana, on one count each of burglary, petty theft and receiving stolen property.

• Kevin L. May, 30, of 523 S. Church St., St. Paris, on two counts each of possession of cocaine and possessing criminal tools. and one count of possession of heroin.

• Tecko B. Peterson, 35, of 808 Linden Ave., Springfield, on two counts each of possession of cocaine and possessing criminal tools and one count of possession of heroin.

• Brandy C. Coleman, 34, of 10980 Ohio 4, Mechanicsburg, on one count each of Medicaid fraud, falsification in a theft offense, illegal use of SNAP or WIC Program Benefits and two counts of forgery.

• Wren J. McBrien, 22, of 3005 Champaign County Road 4, Quincy, on two counts of assault and one count each of harassment with a bodily substance, endangering children and operating a vehicle under the influence.

• Waldo T. Miller, 30, of 400 Louden St., Urbana, on two counts of domestic violence.

Trisha L. Smith, 35, of 719 Mosgrove St., Urbana, on one count each of possession of cocaine and possessing criminal tools.

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