Pinellas sheriff announces arrests in check fraud rings

A two-year investigation into counterfeit check cashing has come to an end with a number of arrests, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office announced today.

The investigation, dubbed Operation Checkmate, involves more than 100 suspects taking part in various check fraud rings, some of which have been operating since the early 1990s.

The Sheriff's Office will hold a news conference at 4 p.m. to give more details.

A news release described it as "the largest racketeering case ever investigated" by the agency. The cost of the fraud runs into the millions of dollars.

Times staff writer

*