Mark Buckler, 53, of Olive Hill, Ky., has been charged after allegedly cashing forged checks at three Commerce Banks in St. Louis County and trying to cash another check at two other banks. He allegedly forged checks at locations in Eureka, Fenton and Kirkwood before being arrested at a St. Ann location, the St. Louis County Police reported.
The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on June 20 charged Buckler with four counts of forgery, class D felonies that are each punishable by up to seven years in prison, court records show.
Bucker was being held on a $50,000 cash-only bond as of Monday, June 24, court records said.
St. Louis County Police were called on June 14 to Commerce Bank, 4100 Rusty Road, in Affton by an employee after Buckler allegedly presented a forged check to a teller. Buckler left the bank before officers arrived, the case’s probable-cause statement said.
Later that day, Buckler allegedly attempted to cash a forged check at the Commerce Bank at 9850 St. Charles Rock Road in St. Ann. Employees again contacted the police, who were able to respond to the bank before Buckler left and arrested him, the report said.
Investigators discovered Buckler allegedly used forged checks to collect money on May 31 at the locations in Eureka, Fenton and Kirkwood. The report did not say how much money Buckler allegedly took with the forged checks.
Buckler allegedly told investigators he receives the altered checks and identification to use while cashing the checks from someone through FedEx. He said he keeps 20 percent of the money and sends the rest to the contact person, according to the report.
Buckler was wanted on warrants by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and the Petaluma (Calif.) Police, the probable-cause statement said.
St. Louis County Police Department Bureau of Crimes Against Property detectives are leading the investigation.