Crime & Safety

Crystal Lake Police Stop Multi-State Forgery Ring

Police arrested a multi-state theft ring from Florida after trying to cash a forged check. The ring is suspected of operating for seven years.

Crystal Lake and Arlington Heights police arrested four Florida residents Aug. 31 who are suspected of being part of a multi-state theft ring.

The Florida residents are accused of attempting to cash a forged check for about $2,000 at a Crystal Lake branch of , Crystal Lake Deputy Chief Gene Lowery said.

“We believe the crew was working across the country in several states including Michigan, Ohio, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee," Lowery said. "They may have been participating in criminal activity of this nature up to seven years."

Find out what's happening in Huntleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Lowery said it was fortunate that the crew was apprehended in Crystal Lake.

“ did an excellent job of apprehending them and following up," Lowery said. "I’m glad our people caught them."

Find out what's happening in Huntleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Crystal Lake Police were called at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31 at the JP Morgan Chase Bank. Upon arrival, officers were informed that a white female driver of a silver Cadillac with out-of-state license plates accompanied by a white male passenger presented a forged check at the bank’s drive-up facility, according to a statement from the Crystal Lake Police Department.

Bank officials recognized the account number as fictitious and called police. Bank officials tried to delay the people, but they fled the scene leaving behind the check and identification.

A Crystal Lake Officer stopped the silver Cadillac near the intersection of Route 31 and Route 14, however, the vehicle was occupied by two different people. Lowery said police believe the crew may have had two vehicles.

Police arrested one of the men in the Cadillac, Marcus H. Permenter, 28, of Pompano Beach, Fla. after he was found to be in possession of what police believe to be a stolen cell phone. 

The other passenger in the Cadillac was identified but was released without charges.  Lowery said the released subject remains a person of interest.

Police discovered Permenter and the released individual had been staying at a hotel in Arlington Heights. 

Arlington Heights police were notified of the investigation and located Shannon F. McGonigle , 29, of Sunrise, Fla.; Jason Mulderig, 30, of Sunrise, Fla. and Jameel M. Little, 34, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. later that evening.

McGonigle and Mulderig told police in interviews that they were part of a theft and fraud crew from Florida involved in using stolen checks, stolen identity cards and driver’s licenses, according to the news release.

They said they had driven the silver Cadillac to JP Morgan Chase Bank at the direction of Permenter, who gave them the fraudulent check and identification with instructions to cash the check.  Officers also attempted to speak with Jameel M. Little, but he refused to talk.

The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office charged each of the four suspects with one count of forgery, which is a class-three felony. The four suspects charged were Permenter, McGonigle, Mulderig and Little.

All four of the people arrested in connection with the incident remain in custody at the McHenry County Jail.

Bail is to be set by a judge. Lowery said the case will involve the United States Secret Service, which investigates major fraud cases.

Related Topics: Chase Bank, Crystal Lake Police, and Forgery


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.