Ricky Lynn Jackson, Jr.

KOSCIUSKO — A South Bend man was recently arrested after fraudulently using checks from a Mishawaka business to make purchases at Walmart and Meijer in Warsaw.

Ricky Lynn Jackson, Jr., 29, 3126 Corby Blvd., South Bend, is being charged with corrupt business influence, a level 5 felony; three counts of forgery and two counts of theft, all level 6 felonies; and theft, a class A misdemeanor.

On Dec. 31, 2018, Headers Auto Sales in Mishawaka reported to the Mishawaka Police Department that unknown individuals made three fraudulent check transactions at Walmart and Meijer in Warsaw using the company’s banking information.

On Dec. 26, a man, later identified as Jackson, used two Headers Auto Sales checks at the Warsaw Walmart. He also made a third transaction at the location using a check on Jan. 3, 2019. All three transactions totaled $1,925.42.

According to court documents, Jackson also used a Headers Auto Sales check to purchase $790.11 worth of merchandise from Meijer in Warsaw on Dec. 26. Officers also discovered the fraudulent checks were being used at different Walmart locations in Lansing, Mich.; Niles, Mich.; Fort Wayne, South Bend, Goshen and Elkhart.

Officers later received information that Jackson was currently at the Columbia City Walmart. Officers were able to stop the vehicle that left the Walmart location and identified the passenger of the vehicle as Jackson.

Jackson was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on July 30, with a $6,000 surety and cash bond.