LCSO: Lehigh Acres man and bank teller arrested for cashing fraudulent checks

LEE COUNTY, Florida. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) has arrested two people in connection with the use of counterfeit checks at Lee County banks.

Eric Speed ​​is charged with multiple counts of forgery and counterfeiting.

Ariel Battles is accused of handing over a counterfeit banknote and embezzling over $100,000.

Suncoast Bank credit union reported LCSO fraud.

According to the report, the credit union conducted an investigation and found that one of their bank employees, Ariel Battles, made several questionable transactions.

Investigators say 19 checks totaling just over $170,000 were cashed between October 2022 and December 2022.

Battles is no longer an employee of Suncoast Bank credit union.

The deputies spoke to her, and she told them that Eric Speed ​​had approached her to help him.

Investigators began looking into Speed ​​and found a check from one of the companies whose accounts were being used for the checks.

Speed ​​is held without bail for violating probation.

Battles posted a pledge.