BELINGTON, W.Va. — A New York man is behind bars after investigators say he used a fake drivers license to withdraw money from an individual’s account at a Barbour County bank.
Alonzo Thompson, 63, of Port Chester, New York faces charges of forgery and uttering, obtaining money, identity theft, and grand larceny. The charges stem from an incident Thursday at the Freedom Bank branch in Belington.
Investigators say Thompson had a drivers license with his picture, but with the name and information of a bank customer. He also used the victim’s Social Security number to gain access to the account where he was able to access $3,500. He wrote a fraudulent check for another $3,500 where he signed the victim’s name.
Bank officials became suspicious and reported the transaction. State Police arrived on scene and learned Thompson was at another branch of Freedom Bank, this one in Elkins, where he was detained and eventually taken into custody. Trooper say he had additional fraudulent information to access other accounts.
He’s also wanted on similar charges in Louisiana. He’s in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail without bond.
Story by Mike Nolting, WAJR