Suspected Leader Of Texas-Louisiana Counterfeit Ring Arrested

A two-year investigation into a counterfeit check cashing operation in Texas and Louisiana has landed its suspected leader in the Caddo Parish jail.

Sheriff Steve Prator and Police Chief Willie Shaw say 51-year-old Charles Smith, of DeBerry, Texas, was arrested Tuesday after a brief stand-off at an apartment complex.

Smith was booked on four warrants alleging 13 counts of forgery. Bond was set at $316,000. He also faces charges of resisting an officer, obstruction of justice, possession of Schedule II narcotics and drug paraphernalia.

Authorities had been tracking Smith for nearly two years as he recruited locals to cash up to 300 counterfeit checks at Caddo Parish grocery stores and banks. Detectives say the amount of the fraud is well over $50,000.