Two Illinois Women Arrested by Kosciusko Detectives for Nigerian Scam
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Staff Report-
Detectives Sunday afternoon arrested Desiree Starlette Blackburn, 20, and Barbara Ickes, 39, both of Harvard, Ill., for their alleged involvement in a large-scale check scam.
The detectives had recently been contacted by a local resident who believed he was being scammed on a fraudulent transaction. Officers investigated the provided check and discovered that it was part of a well-known international scam. Detectives were able to follow the trail of the fraudulent check back to Ickes at her residence in Illinois.
At that location, officers found what they called an elaborate check-printing process involving fictitious banking institutions, along with list of several other potential victims throughout the country.
Ickes also provided detectives information that implicated Blackburn and her involvement in the scam that allegedly began in October when they began forwarding money to a Nigerian location.
Detectives seized equipment and computers at the scene, which are currently being analyzed by the Indiana State Police Cyber Crimes Unit. KCSD detectives also have shared information uncovered from this arrest with United States Secret Service agents to determine if federal authorities can continue the investigation further.
Blackburn and Ickes were preliminarily charged with felony corrupt business influence and control, along with felony attempted theft.
Ickes was additionally charged with felony forgery. Both women are being held in the Kosciusko County Jail on individual $20,000 bonds.
KCSD was assisted in the investigation by the Harvard Police Department and the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office.
[[In-content Ad]]
Detectives Sunday afternoon arrested Desiree Starlette Blackburn, 20, and Barbara Ickes, 39, both of Harvard, Ill., for their alleged involvement in a large-scale check scam.
The detectives had recently been contacted by a local resident who believed he was being scammed on a fraudulent transaction. Officers investigated the provided check and discovered that it was part of a well-known international scam. Detectives were able to follow the trail of the fraudulent check back to Ickes at her residence in Illinois.
At that location, officers found what they called an elaborate check-printing process involving fictitious banking institutions, along with list of several other potential victims throughout the country.
Ickes also provided detectives information that implicated Blackburn and her involvement in the scam that allegedly began in October when they began forwarding money to a Nigerian location.
Detectives seized equipment and computers at the scene, which are currently being analyzed by the Indiana State Police Cyber Crimes Unit. KCSD detectives also have shared information uncovered from this arrest with United States Secret Service agents to determine if federal authorities can continue the investigation further.
Blackburn and Ickes were preliminarily charged with felony corrupt business influence and control, along with felony attempted theft.
Ickes was additionally charged with felony forgery. Both women are being held in the Kosciusko County Jail on individual $20,000 bonds.
KCSD was assisted in the investigation by the Harvard Police Department and the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office.
[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092