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Mollo accused in check scheme

Arthur Mollo III

A Fort Dodge man is facing multiple charges after he allegedly used forged checks to make purchases and open bank accounts.

Arthur Mollo III, 51, is charged with ongoing criminal conduct, a class B felony; two counts of second-degree theft, class D felonies; two counts of forgery, class D felonies; and two counts of third-degree theft, aggravated misdemeanors.

It’s alleged that, between December 2016 and January 2017, Mollo used stolen or fraudulent checks to make purchases or bank deposits in Fort Dodge.

One of the allegations is that Mollo used a bank account number and routing number of a woman to cash a check worth $2,347.

Mollo is also accused of cashing three different checks that belonged to the Fort Dodge Tennis Association at three different banks in Fort Dodge.

Those checks totaled $2,104.

He also allegedly used a forged check for $541 and, in another instance, used a forged check to open a checking account.

Mollo appeared in Webster County Magistrate Court Friday morning for his initial appearance.

After Magistrate Steve Kersten read Mollo all the charges against him, he asked Dustin Gomez, assistant Webster County attorney, what his recommendation for bond would be.

Gomez asked for bond on all charges, saying that Mollo is also under investigation in other counties for similar charges.

Gomez told Kersten that about 40 checks are believed to be involved in the investigation, and that more local charges are pending against Mollo.

“The accounts are all over the place, your honor,” Gomez said to the judge.

When Mollo heard the attorney say 40 checks were involved, he denied that was the case.

“That is way, way overblown,” Mollo told Kersten.

Kersten told Mollo that he should only discuss the charges with his attorney.

The judge set bond on every count Mollo is facing, for a total amount of $49,000.

Mollo’s preliminary hearing has been set for April 21.

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