State
of Florida
Office of the State Attorney
16th Judicial Circuit
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Office of the State Attorney 16th Judicial Circuit
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Criminal Justice System Overview Employment Opportunities |
April 25, 2005 The State Attorney’s office today arrested and charged a Key West man with passing 10 worthless checks totaling more than $1,500. But for Wayne Wade, 37, the manager of a Duval Street tee-shirt shop, the worthless paper charges are just part of his troubles: State Attorney investigators say that Wade did that crime while doing probation time on Federal drug charges. Earlier this year, the State Attorney Mark Kohl’s office received complaints from a number of Key West merchants about worthless checks from Wade. The businesses included two restaurants, a guesthouse, a travel agency and a convenience store. The problem was always the same: The checks had been written on a closed account. In fact, the Navy Federal Credit Union had closed the account for Wade – and sent him correspondence to that effect. Records subpoenaed by State Attorney investigators show that the credit union had written Wade on November 4, 2004 to inform him that his account was being closed due to numerous “unresolved overdrafts.” The final entry on Wade’s credit union statement was an account closure on November 27. Today’s charges against Wade, both misdemeanor and felony, are for theft rather than for issuing worthless checks, because he allegedly paid for merchandise and services with checks from an account he knew was closed. In effect, he stole the merchandise and services, not simply bounced checks. Kohl’s investigators say that more complaints involving “starter checks” from two different local financial institutions have surfaced this week. Wade actually contacted the State Attorney’s office himself to discuss his problems with his checking account before complaints against him had come to light. He was advised to make the bad checks good. Not only did Wade refuse that advice, but he inadvertently initiated an investigation by the Worthless Check Diversion Program at the State Attorney’s office. That inquiry revealed that Wade was convicted of the distribution of “base cocaine” in December, 1999. He was sentenced to serve 57 months in prison followed by his current “federal supervised release.” “Many people think of passing worthless checks as a trivial crime,” said Paul Meyers, Chief Investigator for the State Attorney’s office. “In fact, it’s serious fraud practiced by serious criminals.” Meyers urged individuals who believe they have been defrauded on financial matters –by Wade or anyone else – to contact the State Attorney’s office immediately. |
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Last modified:
10/23/07
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