A Tallahassee man is facing a litany of charges connected to a check fraud scam that stole more than $900,000.
According to arrest papers, Martin Monroe faces allegations of money laundering, use of personal identifiable information, aggravated white-collar crime, and conspiracy.
According to arrest records, Monroe was part of a check fraud scam and received photos of checks payable to the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) between November 2022 and March 2023.
Many of these photos were used to create fraudulent checks that were then deposited in other people’s bank accounts, according to records.
Olivia Rowls, a former DFS employee, is also facing charges. She faces charges of organized fraud, conspiracy to use personal identification, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
According to arrest papers, Rowls admitted to snapping images of checks issued to DFS and transferring them to a man. She stated that she was aware that he was involved in fraud and assumed she would be compensated for sending the checks.
Once the individual obtained the checks, he would forward them to Monroe and another man.
According to records, the pair would then write fraudulent checks and cash them in other people’s bank accounts.
Six people are named in this scheme; however, according to court records, only two—Monroe and Rowls—have been arrested.
According to documents, the total value of all checks located on Monroe’s phone and sent through Rowls is $905,614.
This isn’t Monroe’s first claim of check fraud.
According to records, he was involved in a 2024 fraud in which Solmaine McLean cashed a $500,000 check from the State of Florida.