Suspect Told Investigators He Spent The Extra Cash From Double Dipping On Bills, Vacation

POLK COUNTY, FL — A Polk County firefighter was accused of double depositing a single $2,772 work paycheck from the county government in November, a news release said.

Desmond James Walker II, 34, of Haines City faces charges of scheming to defraud a financial institution, grand theft, fraud and cashing a worthless check with intent to defraud, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.

Walker was last reported being held on $8,000 bond in the Polk County Jail Tuesday.

The suspect received a physical payroll check Nov. 19 after he changed his direct deposit banking institution information online in October, the sheriff said.

The check was deposited by Walker in his banking account using an online mobile deposit the same day he received it, according to deputies. Walker, on the following day, is accused of taking the physical check that had already been deposited to Amscot Financial Services in Haines City, and cashed it there.

Walker received cash from Amscot minus the check cashing fee, investigators said.

Amscot later tried to deposit Walker's paycheck twice, and couldn't since it had already been deposited into his bank account the day before. The financial institution gave a photo-copy of the check that includes a thumb print of the person who cashed the check to detectives. Authorities said the thumbprint on the check was Walker's.

Walker told investigators he spent both the deposited money in his bank account, and the cash he received from Amscot for bills and vacation expenses.