Dearborn Man Charged in Fraudulent Check Scam

A Dearborn man allegedly engaged in check fraud activity was charged with six felony counts on April 9 following a month-long investigation by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.

Edwin Verdung, 26, was charged with three counts of larceny by false pretenses; two counts of writing a check with non-sufficient funds, and one count of writing a check having no account.

Verdung is accused of writing bad checks for the purchase of two vehicles and rent for a building in Wayne. He also was in possession of a truck reported stolen in Minnesota, police said.

During a video arraignment, Westland 18th District Judge Mark McConnell set a $100,000 cash bond. Verdung is currently being held in the Wayne County Jail.

In February, the owner of Templin Auto Sales in Ecorse filed a complaint with the sheriff’s office in Westland claiming Verdung had paid for a 2011 Ford Fusion with a check for $9,500 that was later returned for non-sufficient funds.

Sheriff’s deputies later discovered that Verdung had written a check for $3,300 to cover a security deposit and rent to lease a garage in Wayne. The property owner told police the account was inactive.

During the investigation, police said they also learned Verdung had issued a check for $8,000 with non-sufficient funds as a downpayment for a BMW and was in possession of a Ford truck that had been reported as stolen in Minnesota.

“This was good police work by several of our officers,” said Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon. “With the cooperation of the victims, we were able to take a career criminal off the streets.”

The larceny charges carry a sentence of five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine or three times the value of the money or property involved. The charge of writing a check with non-sufficient funds is punishable by up to two years in prison and/or a $2,000 fine.

Police believe there may be other similar cases involving Verdung. Persons with information should contact the sheriff’s office at 734-721-7519.