Five Counterfeit Money Orders Are Investigated

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor
      Investigation is continuing and charges are pending following the discovery of five counterfeit money orders in Buchanan County.
      Sheriff’s Department Investigator Larry Crouse said he was notified of the bogus money orders April 3 after long-time Grundy National Bank employee  Irene Dawson spotted them as they were presented to the bank for payment.
     The money orders -- each written for $980 and each written to "Donna Gilbert," of Rt. 1, Vansant, from "Jean Bishop" in Harrisburg, Pa., -- were first presented to the bank for payment on March 31, Crouse said. He said Dawson was suspicious and declined them until she could check on them further.
      When they were presented to be cashed again on Monday, April 3, she had already verified they were fakes and kept them. The authorities were alerted.
      Crouse said in investigating the case, it appeared the money orders were tied to a frequent internet scheme originating in Nigeria in which monies are transferred around across international lines.
       "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," Crouse said.
       Crouse said it appeared Gilbert had received an e-mail from a Frank Lewis in Iowa, who first talked to her about the money orders and the fact they were not accepted in Nigeria.
       Crouse said Lewis alleged he would send the money orders to her and Crouse said she was then supposed to cash them and send the funds to "Bubba Elina" in Nigeria.
       Crouse said Gilbert alleged to him that Lewis had said the money was needed for Elina to get back to Florida to see his sick mother.
       He noted the money orders appeared to look real, but were missing two key elements, including a watermark of Benjamin Franklin and a security thread, both of which even the counterfeit versions suggested those accepting them check before cashing.
      Crouse said he had been in contact with postal inspectors on the case to determine whether postal inspectors would continue the investigation, or whether it would remain in Buchanan County’s jurisdiction.
       "Charges are pending," Crouse said.

For more of the story, see the print edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at newsstands now.  For more information on how to subscribe to the Mountaineer, call 276-935-2123 today.

 Area Man Dies 8 Days After Work Accident

by Scotty Wampler
Staff Reporter
        A Vansant man died Thursday, eight days after sustaining injuries in a work-related accident.
         Jimmy Justin Cox, 18, was struck by a piece of drilling equipment on a rig during drilling operations at Noah Horn Well Drilling on Wednesday, March 29, according to information provided by the company to the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy.
        Cox was listed as having been seriously injured in the incident, according to Mike Abbott, Public Affairs Officer for the department.
         The drilling company is a contractor for CNX, according to Abbott. He also said the accident occurred on a gas well site in the Clifton Fork area on Osborne Ridge.
         Bob Farmer, of the Department of Labor and Industry’s Abingdon Field Office, is leading the investigation of the accident. Farmer would not provide additional information regarding the incident, citing department policy.
      Jennifer Wester, a spokeswoman for the department’s Richmond headquarters office, said the investigation could take as long as six months.

For more of the story, see the print edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at newsstands now.  For more information on how to subscribe to the Mountaineer, call 276-935-2123 today.