Four from Chicago arrested in local forgery scheme

Police have released details in the arrest of four people from Chicago involved in an alleged forgery scheme.

James Griffin, 27; Victor Fenner, 44; Rasean Fenner, 27; and Jla Cooper, 25, were arrested July 7 on charges of fraud and identity theft.

Combined, the four are  accused of trying to fraudulently purchase multiple ATVs and a trailer from Kerlin Motorsports in Warsaw in June.

Police alleged that after one ATV was purchased in early June, members of the group returned the vehicle on June 23 seeking to have damages repaired and expressed interest in purchasing more.

Company representatives alerted police that the group was attempting to make more purchases, and authorities began an undercover operation.

Undercover police watched as Cooper, Griffin, Victor and Rasean Fenner, who used the name Shawn Smith, applied for credit to purchase more items.

Authorities say all the applications used false information. The group told police they used false information because they had poor credit.

All four were taken to the Kosciusko County Jail and have since bonded out.

Sgt. Chad Hill, public information officer for the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, says the investigation is ongoing and there may be more arrests.