FBI breaks up alleged check forging ring at Grand America Hotel

SALT LAKE CITY — Three people allegedly involved in a check forging ring being run from a room at the Grand America Hotel were indicted Thursday in federal court.

The trio cashed at least 40 counterfeit checks totaling $41,000 at several Zions Bank locations over the past several months, according to a complaint in U.S. District Court. The checks were drawn on the accounts of eight businesses, including Central Utah Counseling Center and Willow Creek Country Club.

A confidential informant told FBI agents the three used computers, scanners and printers in the hotel room to make fake checks and identification, according to court documents.

Theresa Ann Coggins, Dusty Lynn Craven and Sky Lee Bodily are charged with 28 counts of bank fraud and aiding and abetting. Bodily also faces two counts of aggravated identity theft.

Cravens told authorities Coggins masterminded the operation, created the fake checks and sent runners out to cash them, according to the complaint. She allegedly received half of each cashed check.

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