Fake Paychecks Land Allentown Woman in Jail

An Allentown woman who made or obtained fake paychecks and then tried to cash them in Bethlehem is facing multiple charges, according to court records.

Sophia Arlene Cerdan Taylor, 21, of 528 W. Liberty St., is accused of bringing the first fake paycheck to the at 1907 Stefko Boulevard on June 11. It was for $363.39 and from at 2260 Industrial Drive, Bethlehem.

Though the check had been cashed, the owner of the mini market was suspicious of the check, set it aside and reported his suspicions to , according to one of two warrants against Taylor.

Police were able to confirm that Taylor was not employed at Unclaimed Freight and that the check was a fraud, according to the court record.

Taylor made a second attempt at cashing a fake paycheck at , also on Stefko Boulevard on June 13, a second warrant says. However, Jessica Perez, an employee of United Check Cashing, refused to cash the check for $921.66 from Whitehall Manor, a nursing home.

Perez told police that she believed the check was a fake based the check’s print features and Taylor’s answers to questions. She told Taylor that she would keep her identification and call police and Taylor fled the store, the affidavit says.

Perez called Whitehall Manor and confirmed that Taylor was not an employee and, according to the warrant, so did Bethlehem police.

In the two cases combined, Taylor is facing five counts of theft, two counts of forgery, two counts of bad checks and one count of receiving stolen property.

She was unable to post a combined $10,000 in bail and was committed to Northampton County Prison following her arraignment before