Police: Des Moines Man Faked Ames Business Check

A Des Moines man has been charged with second-degree theft, a Class D felony, related to fraudulent checks being written on an Ames business' account.

Marshall Dell Welch, 42, of Des Moines, was arrested on second-degree theft charges on Aug. 19.

The owner of Mechanical Comfort reported to police in January of 2012, that a check he had sent for a payment was never received and two fraudulent checks had been written on the business' account, according to criminal complaints.

Through an investigation, police discovered that Welch had cashed at least one false check in person at U.S. Bank and showed his driver's license to the teller, according to complaints. He was also captured on video, complaints said. The check was written for $2,333; he took $2,228 in cash and paid a $5 fee, complaints said.

Class D felonies are punishable by up to five years in prison. Welch was being held at the Story County Jail Wednesday on a $10,000 bond.

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