Three arrested in Young Harris
Tampa men part of counterfeit check-cashing spree
By JOAN CROTHERS Towns Sentinel Editor

Markus Antonio Anderson

Three men from Tampa, Fla., were allegedly on a counterfeit check-cashing binge last Thursday, March 15, when their crime spree brought them to the Young Harris branch of Bank of Hiawassee. Their suspicious behavior led bank employees to dial 911, and the men were later arrested.

Towns County Chief Deputy Eddie Osborn said that they attempted to cash checks from the Towns County Sheriff's Office, quickly left the bank, and took off in a 2006 Dodge Durango with Florida tags. As the men crossed Young Harris mountain they were followed by Deputy Dennis Young.

They threw something out of their car on the way down the mountain, but it was later retrieved by law enforcement. The object(s) turned out to be IDs belonging to other people.

The men were pulled over and arrested opposite the entrance to The Ridges Resort on Hwy. 76. Deputy Osborn said that they finally identified the men through a new Live Scan fingerprint program. Items in their possession included $6,000 in cash, checks in the amount of $4,200 on an "Inmate Account" from the Sheriff's Office signed by Sheriff Rudy Eller and Chief Deputy Osborn, as well as checks from other businesses.

James Aaron Lucy

Osborn said the checks looked authentic, as well as the signatures, but were likely created on a computer.

The men, James Aaron Lucy, Willie James Johnson, and Marcus Antonio Anderson, have each been charged with Forgery In The Second Degree, Conspiracy to Commit A Crime, Felony/Misdemeanor, Criminal Attempt, 5 Counts of Fictitious Checks, and are in Towns County Jail on $160,000 bond [for each].

Willie James Johnson