Arrested man in handcuffs with hands behind back
Two individuals who allegedly attempted to withdraw large sums of cash using cashier’s checks will be facing a February court hearing after Michigan credit union employees foiled the scheme when it happened at the branch.
Holly, Mich., police officers were dispatched to the Holly Road branch of the $1.5 billion ELGA Credit Union on Jan. 17 when they arrested a male and female suspects after they allegedly attempted to cash two cashier’s checks that were issued by a another ELGA branch elsewhere on Jan. 16.
“Alert staff began asking questions on the account the checks were drawn on. The (suspect) woman said it was her grandfather’s account stating he issued the checks to her, but she could not recall his name,” Holly police said in a prepared statement.
Police discovered that the same male and female suspects were at the other ELGA branch on Jan. 16 and allegedly used false identification in the name of an actual account holder to withdraw large amounts of cash. The suspects also requested two checks be issued in the name of the female suspect.
The amount of the checks was not disclosed.
Holly officers said they recovered the false identification in the name of the victim account holder as well as other evidence that connected the detained individuals to their alleged fraud scheme.
“We are thankful and proud of our Holly financial institutions for their ongoing fraud training and alertness,” the Holly Police Department said in a prepared statement. “This is the third financial fraud investigation since November 1, 2024, where arrests have been possible through alert bank and credit union staff and swift reporting to our officers.”
Police arrested Michael Eugene Keel, 66, and Kiera Marquis Stevens, 33, both of Detroit.
The Oakland County Prosecutor's Office charged Keel and Stevens with two felony counts of using a false document with the intent to defraud.
Keel and Stevens were arraigned on Jan. 21 at the 52/2 District Court in Clarkston. Bond was set at $15,000.00 cash for Stevens and $10,000.00 cash for Keel. A probable cause conference hearing is scheduled for Feb. 10.
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