A Philadelphia man who is suspected of using counterfeit Visa Travelers Cheques in several businesses in central Pennsylvania waived his preliminary hearing yesterday in Hemlock Township.
Eric Lindsey, 44, is being charged by State College Police with seven felony counts of forgery, theft and receiving stolen property, after using counterfeit cheques in some State College businesses on Jan. 5, State College Police Sgt. Mark Argiro said.
Hemlock Township Police arrested Lindsey last week in Columbia County, where he is currently being held in Columbia County Prison.
Argiro said Lindsey confessed to using fraudulent Visa Travelers Cheques in the State College area, and he added that three counts of forgery, theft and receiving stolen property would also be filed by the Patton Township police department.
Argiro said Lindsey would be transported back to State College to be charged, but he added that he was unsure of a specific date.
Lindsey used $100 Travelers Cheques to make small purchases and received the change in cash in locations around State College, including Barnes and Noble, 365 Benner Pike, and Sheetz, 2000 E. College Ave, Argiro said.
At the time of the robberies, the amount of money stolen from around the area was about $450, Argiro said.
Patton Township Detective Rich Saupp said fraudulent checks were also used at Wal-Mart, 1665 N. Atherton St. and Sheetz, 1781 N. Atherton St.
According to Columbia County court documents, on Jan. 12, Lindsey attempted to use a fraudulent Visa Travelers Cheque at a Bon-Ton in the Columbia Mall and a sales associate called a security employee.
According to court documents, the security employee contacted Hemlock Township Police, and a police officer approached the suspect in the parking lot as he was exiting the mall.
Lindsey then presented a false New Jersey photo ID, which identified him as Michael R. Pechman, according to court documents.
Hemlock Township Police charged Lindsey with one count of forgery, theft and false reports to police, according to court documents.
Hemlock Township Police Cpl. Scott Traugh said Lindsey issued a fraudulent $100 Travelers Cheque at the JC Penney's at Columbia Mall earlier that day.
According to the criminal complaint, Lindsey made a purchase of $16 with the Travelers Cheque.
