Elk City, Oklahoma – Authorities have arrested an Elk City man on a felony charge of Computer Fraud/Unlawful Use of Computer/System in connection to a counterfeit check and bank fraud scheme targeting a local business. The investigation revealed that 33-year-old Jesus Valdez-Orozco allegedly used unauthorized electronic transactions and counterfeit checks to withdraw funds from Troy Jones Equipment’s bank account.
The case began on September 6, 2024, when an employee at Troy Jones Equipment reported suspicious transactions involving the company’s bank account. The employee identified counterfeit checks and unauthorized withdrawals linked to the account’s correct routing and account numbers.
Investigators discovered that Valdez-Orozco had been seen in possession of a fraudulent check bearing the company's name. Metadata from a photo shared by Valdez-Orozco via an iCloud account further linked him to the fraudulent activity. Analysis tied the account directly to him, with registered addresses in Elk City and Clinton.
On September 11, 2024, First National Bank and Trust flagged two counterfeit checks totaling over $2,000 that had been deposited and processed through an Automated Clearing House (ACH) system. The bank rejected the checks as counterfeit, but the transactions had already caused significant disruption to the business.
Further review revealed unauthorized payments made from Troy Jones Equipment’s bank account to Valdez-Orozco’s First Premier Bank credit card account, totaling nearly $900. These payments were completed electronically using the business's bank information.
Investigators also discovered that Valdez-Orozco used the company’s funds to make a $774 payment to an AT&T account shared with a family member. During an interview, the family member confirmed a connection to the account but claimed no knowledge of the fraudulent activity.
When questioned, Valdez-Orozco admitted to cashing the counterfeit checks but attempted to shift blame to others. However, investigators uncovered substantial evidence linking him directly to the fraudulent transactions.
