The body of Thomas Haskins was a day away from being cremated – and his closest kin didn’t even know he was dead.A man used bogus checks to buy almost $35,000 in goods and services from seven local businesses, according to court papers.
Carnelle Rutledge, 38, of the 4700 block of Schaper Drive, was charged Thursday with corrupt business influence. He had not been arrested Thursday evening.
The checks were purportedly from a business called GSG Inc. or Global Sports Group LLC. Rutledge passed the first check in July 2011 and the most recent one June 18, court papers stated.
He wrote 13 checks for amounts ranging from $116 to $8,388, for a total of $34,826 – buying jewelry and paying for automotive work, court papers said.
Ed’s Car Care Center and Twin Brothers each accepted a check from Rutledge. Bob Thomas Ford, Summit City Chevrolet, Kelley Cadillac and Kelley Chevrolet each received two. The Diamond Store took three, according to court papers.
All checks were returned because of a closed account or insufficient funds, court papers said.
This was not his first brush with the law. In 2005, he pleaded guilty to defrauding a credit union and was ordered to pay $897,767.40 in restitution.
Rutledge pleaded guilty to seven counts of aiding and abetting in bank fraud.
Court records alleged Rutledge used a false name, Social Security number and address to obtain loans from Peoples and Employees Federal Credit Union while a member at the financial institution from February 2003 to June 2004. Nearly all of the seven loans exceeded $100,000 each.
