CLARION CO., Pa. (EYT) — Two men are facing criminal charges after they allegedly worked together in a check forging scheme at three area banks.
Court documents indicate that criminal charges have been filed against 54-year-old Robert Michael Wargo, of Avalon, Allegheny County, Pa. (pictured above), and 40-year-old David F. McKimie, of Doylestown, Ohio (photo unavailable).
According to a criminal complaint, Clarion County Detective Roger Wright was called to a known bank on Friday, October 27, to investigate forged checks.
Officer Wright spoke with the branch manager, who told him that two men came into the bank and cashed fraudulent checks for an account belonging to Harris Environmental, Inc. The secretary/treasurer for Harris Environmental was also present, and she said that she did not sign the checks, and they didn’t belong to the company, the complaint states.
The checks did bear the secretary/treasurer’s forged signature and Harris Environmental checking account information. The secretary/treasurer said she didn’t sign or authorize the fraudulent checks at the bank’s New Bethlehem or Rimersburg branches, according to the complaint.
The first check, in the amount of $1,550.32, made out to Robert M. Wargo, was brought into the known bank at 1:53 p.m. on Friday, October 27. He used his Pa. ID card to verify his identity with the tellers who waited on him. They made a copy of his ID and were able to identify Wargo with the photo on his ID, the complaint indicates.
The second check, in the amount of $1,760.45, was brought into the bank by David F. McKimie at 1:59 p.m. on Friday, October 27. He used his Ohio driver’s license to verify his identity. The teller that waited on him made a photocopy and later identified him through the photo on his ID, the complaint continues.
The branch manager said the Wargo and McKimie had gone to the New Bethlehem and Rimersburg branches and cashed checks on the same account, according to the complaint.
Officer Wright then obtained the checks, copies of the cashed checks, and copies of both IDs. He also obtained the checks cashed at the New Bethlehem and Rimersburg branches, the complaint states.
A check made out to Wargo was cashed at the New Bethlehem branch in the amount of $1,550.32 at 1:15 p.m. A check made out to McKimie was cashed at the New Bethlehem branch in the amount of $1,760.45 at 1:19 p.m., the complaint indicates.
A check made out to Wargo was cashed at the Rimersburg branch in the amount of $1,550.32 at 12:50 p.m. A check made out to McKimie was cashed at the Rimersburg branch in the amount of $1,760.45 at 12:48 p.m., the complaint continues.
Both banks required Wargo and McKimie to verify their respective identities with their photo IDs, according to the complaint.
The Commonwealth is seeking $9,932.31 in restitution.
According to court documents, 54-year-old Robert Michael Wargo was arraigned on December 1 in District Judge Jeffrey Miller’s office on the following charges:
– Forgery — Unauthorized Act in Writing, Felony 2 (three counts)
– Conspiracy — Forgery — Unauthorized Act in Writing, Felony 2 (three counts)
– Theft by Deception-False Impression, Felony 3 (three counts)
– Theft by Unlawful Taking — Moveable Property, Felony 3 (three counts)
– Conspiracy — Theft by Unlawful Taking — Moveable Property, Felony 3 (three counts)
Wargo remains in the Clarion County Jail on $45,000.00 cash bail.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 12.
David F. McKimie is also charged with the following:
– Forgery — Unauthorized Act in Writing, Felony 2 (three counts)
– Conspiracy — Forgery — Unauthorized Act in Writing, Felony 2 (three counts)
– Theft by Deception-False Impression, Felony 3 (three counts)
– Theft by Unlawful Taking — Moveable Property, Felony 3 (three counts)
– Conspiracy — Theft by Unlawful Taking — Moveable Property, Felony 3 (three counts)
McKimie, still being sought by police, has yet to be arraigned.
According to court documents, Wargo has a criminal record dating back to 1990 when he pleaded guilty in Allegheny County to felony counts of kidnapping for ransom, aggravated assault, and terroristic threats for which he was sentenced to 20 years probation.
In another case from 1990, Wargo was sentenced to five years probation after pleading guilty to indecent assault, rape, and terroristic threats.
Wargo also received 18 months probation for a guilty plea in 2013 to theft by unlawful taking.
He has a current theft charge in Allegheny County that is pending.
