PAIR CONVICTED ON FORGERY COUNTS IN CHECK SCAM

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 12, 1992                   TAG: 9204030533
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
PAIR CONVICTED ON FORGERY COUNTS IN CHECK SCAM
A traveling couple who authorities say netted at least $500,000 in a bogus-check scam were convicted of forgery charges Tuesday in Roanoke County.
Richard Gearheart and Vicki DePew entered pleas of no contest to 12 charges each of forgery in Roanoke County Circuit Court.
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Mark Claytor said that by "conservative estimates," Gearheart and DePew collected $500,000 in a scam they took city-to-city through Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Testimony has shown that they would set up fake business accounts, forge "starter checks" provided to them by the bank, then have a woman who worked with them cash the payroll checks using false identification.
By the time the checks bounced, Gearheart and DePew had left town.
Gearheart, 30, was convicted last month of similar charges in Roanoke, where DePew, 44, is awaiting trial. They also face charges in Salem.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB