Woman Accused of Fleecing Check Cashing Business

A Monroe County woman is accused of cashing a fake check for $4,500 at a check cashing business on Stefko Boulevard, according to court records.

Shawnta E. Carmon, 32, of Tobyhanna, allegedly brought the fraudulent check to United Check Cashing, 1814 Stefko Boulevard, on May 7.

According to the arrest affidavit:

• Carmon told United Check Cashing owner Ron Helmuth that the JP Morgan Chase Bank check – written by “Law Office of Sheinberg and Associates” in Houston, Texas, was the result of a civil proceeding.
• Three days later, the check was returned to Helmuth because the checks came from an “altered/fictitious account.” Helmuth’s initial efforts to reach Carmon or the law firm were unsuccessful. He reported the incident to Bethlehem police on May 12.
• The police investigation revealed that there is no such law firm in Houston, Texas.

Carmon was charged with theft, receiving stolen property and writing bad checks. She was arraigned Wednesday before District Judge Patricia Romig-Passaro and released on $5,000 unsecured bail.