13 Arrested in Forgery Ring; Deputies Seeking 11 More

Deputies recently arrested 13 people who they say stole more than $11,000 by forging checks from Columbia-area businesses.

Investigators are still looking for 11 more people they believe were involved. 

Richland County deputies say Carla Rachel, 24, created checks using the banking and checking information of businesses. She is also accused of recruiting others to participate in the forgery ring. 

An employee at Star Music Company on Assembly Street in Columbia called Richland County deputies on Jan. 3 to report that several transactions were made on her business account without her authorization, according to the sheriff's department. Deputies discovered that several of her checks were cashed at Check into Cash on Broad River Road.

Deputies say Kristal Davis, 29, an employee at Check into Cash, helped create and cash the fraudulent checks. 

Four other people cashed the checks belonging to Star Music Company, deputies say. They are: Anthony Canada, 21,  Devon Montgomery, 20, Christopher Lowe, 24, and Diamond Scarbough, 18. Deputies are still searching for Lowe.

The members of the forgery ring victimized seven Columbia businesses, deputies say, including Check into Cash, Allegiance Industrial, Brian Center Mental Health, TPUSA, Aerotek, Keenan Energy and MDT Personnel. Adoption Network in Clearwater, Fla. was also victimized.

The following people were arrested: 

• Carla Rachel, 24, charged with criminally receiving goods/services fraudulently obtained, conspiracy, and forgery
  
• Diamond Scarbough, 18, charged with conspiracy
• Nicole Pearson-Gainey, 18, charged with breach/obtain signature under or property under false pretenses
• Linda Brooks-Gainey, 20, charged with breach/obtain signature under or property under false pretenses
• Rashin Gibbs, 19, charged with weapons/possession of a stolen handgun
• Kristal Davis, 29, charged with forgery
• Anthony Canada, 21, charged with forgery
• Devon Montgomery, 20, charged with forgery
• Martika Breeland, 23, charged with forgery
• Jazmine Shepard, 18, charged with forgery
• Kadeem Robinson, 19, charged with forgery
• Tykeria Capers, 22, charged with forgery
• Terrell Golson, 29, charged with forgery

Investigators are still searching for the following people for various forgery and conspiracy charges: 

• Christopher Lowe, 24 
• Oliver Childs, 34
• Trenton Portee, 18
• Hakeem Douglas, 20 
• Antavius Brown, 24
• Nicholas Bamberg, 20 
• Devin Richardson, 18
• Benjamin Mccoy, 32
• Necole Richardson, 34 
• Precious Foster, 32 
• Porsche Thomas, 23

If you know where any of the suspects are, call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.