Police: Pair caught with bagful of tax return checks

Friday, April 13, 2012
© Copyright 2013 Gwinnett Daily Post

Jimmy Rush

Porchia Rumph

LAWRENCEVILLE -- Police arrested two people this week on charges they had a bagful of stolen tax return checks hidden in their rental car, officials said Friday.

More than 30 checks confiscated by police belonged to Georgia residents, most of them from metro Atlanta, said Gwinnett police spokesman Cpl. Jake Smith.

Smith said both the Secret Service and U.S. Postal Service are investigating how the checks were obtained.

The checks were uncovered in the trunk of a rented Dodge Charger during a traffic stop Monday night on southbound Interstate 85 near Buford.

Gwinnett police with the highway interdiction team pulled the car over for tailgating another vehicle. An officer smelled marijuana and noticed the glovebox was stuffed with cash when the occupants -- Jimmy Rush, of Decatur, and Porchia Rumph, of Conyers -- were rummaging for vehicle paperwork and their identification, Smith said.

Police found a total of $8,100 in cash throughout the vehicle, and "many, many" tax return checks bagged in a well for the car's spare tire, Smith said.

Both suspects are charged with 33 counts of second-degree forgery and possessing less than an ounce of marijuana. They remain at the Gwinnett County Jail without bond.

More like this story

Pair arrested after marijuana found in car ( December 15, 2010 )
Police reports ( March 23, 2005 )
Three men accused of eluding cops sit in jail ( May 10, 2006 )
Women face federal charges for stealing mail ( February 9, 2006 )
Police find counterfeit bags in car ( August 17, 2011 )

Gundoctor1 1 year, 1 month ago

2nd degree forgery??? Let's talk with the rightful victims here and see if they think 2nd degree is okay with them. They will eventually get their money and who is going to cover that cost? Rightttttttt, you and me. Maybe we could apply for the stimulus money to help. Oh Yeah, that is still you and me. Send these two to prison, where they can really learn how to forge and to drive more carefully.

mustardandbiscuit 1 year, 1 month ago

You probably need to check the definitions of 1st gegree and 2nd degree Forgery before you make a statement like this. On it's surface, it might look like 2nd degree is less severe, however, the punishment is the same as 1st degree. The difference has to to with how the actual document was prepared for uttering.

Sign in to comment

Or login with:

OpenID

Gwinnett Daily Post