Crime & Safety

Snellville Police Help Bust Forgery Ring

Investigation began in Snellville when two members of the alleged ring attempted to cash a forged check.

Snellville police officers helped lead an investigation that netted five suspects in an alleged forgery ring operating in the area. 

Police first learned about the operation when they responded to a fraud in progress at the Chase Bank on Scenic Highway. April Pugh, of Monroe, and Jason White, of Tennessee, were leaving the bank after police believe the two tried to pass a forged check using a stolen Indiana driver’s license, according a report of Capt. Harold Thomas of the Snellville Police Department.

Police were able to apprehend the two, who were then charged with forgery in that incident. Information obtained in the investigation, allowed police to obtain a search warrant for a home in Loganville. There Snelville and Loganville police  searched the residence of Leonard Cox and Lamonica Irving, who were later charged with forgery also, police said.

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While at the home, a fifth person -- identified as Krystle Lynn Day of Monroe -- was stopped nearby with the 15-year-old child of one of the other suspects, according to Thomas. Day was subsequently arrested and also charged as a party to the forgery crime. The child was later released to a family member.

Day advised officers that she had left her to two young children alone in Monroe. Snellville police, with assistance from Monroe police officers, eventually located an apartment where both the children, and Cox and Irving were discovered, Thomas said in his report. The duo had not been at their Loganville home earlier during the police search. Day's children were released to Walton County social services and family members.

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In total, five people were arrested and charged with felonies in connection with the crime. Cox and Irving remain in the Gwinnett County Detention Center, without bond, and they are charged with first-degree forgery. White also is currently in the detention center with a $7,900 bond, and Pugh bonded out the same day on $5,700 bond. Both White and Pough also face first-degree forgery charges. Day is charged with being a party to a crime, and she remains in the detention center on $5,700 bond.

Thomas said there are other similar cases been investigated with regard to the defendants and further charges are expected to be filed.

“We know there are more cases, we just don’t know how many at this time,” Thomas said.


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