$15K CHECK MAILED BY WALTON COUNTY COMPANY STOLEN IN TRANSIT; ONE ARRESTED IN YAZOO MISSISSIPPI
September 27, 2024
WALTON COUNTY, FLA— A fraud investigation regarding the theft of a $15,000 check leads to the arrest of a Mississippi woman for grand theft and passing a counterfeit check.
In April 2023, a construction company based in Santa Rosa Beach in Walton County, Florida sent a vendor a check for $15,567 through the US Postal Service. The check was stolen in transit.
The theft was reported to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office in May of 2024.
Through an extensive investigation by Walton County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Bureau, investigators traced the check to 24-year-old Xandria Jenkins of Yazoo, Mississippi.
Jenkins claims she was given the check from someone she met online. Cashed it, gave the other person half, and spent the rest.
Our agency continues to work with the US Postal Service to investigate the original theft of the check.
Check theft cases, although not uncommon, can be mitigated.
Walton County Sheriff’s Office is offering these simple tips to reduce the chances of being a victim of check theft.
- Report crimes as soon as you learn of them.
- Use postal tracking for sending large checks.
- Request signature confirmation upon delivery.
- Use secure postal boxes.
- Confirm the name on the check and that it is cashed by the person/vendor you sent it to.
- Consider bank wire transfers.
Walton County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank Yazoo Mississippi Police Department for their assistance in locating and interviewing Jenkins.