Construction Owner Charged With Altering Checks of 85-Year-Old Woman
An Evansville man is facing felony charges of fraud and theft. The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a local construction company after investigators say he stole thousands of dollars from an elderly client.
According to deputies, 33-year-old Matthew William Martin, owner of Matthew Martin Construction, is accused of altering checks given to him by an 85-year-old Evansville woman. The victim reported that she and her husband had hired Martin for small jobs around their home.
Detectives say Martin instructed the victim to leave the payee line blank, claiming he did not have a bank account and he had others cash his checks for him. He also asked that the written dollar amount be left empty.
Investigators determined Martin allegedly inflated the dollar amounts on several of the checks, pushing them into the thousands, and then filled in the written amounts to match. The total loss to the victims was just under $10,000.
Those who had been cashing the checks for Martin told detectives they sent the money back to him. Evidence revealed Martin is not permitted to open or maintain a bank account due to prior overdrafts and banking restrictions.
When questioned by authorities, Martin admitted that he had altered at least one check. In the press release from the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office, they say he claims he was "struggling financially and mentally." A portion of the stolen money was used to fund a trip to Disney World for his child. During the investigation, deputies found two additional blank checks in Martin's wallet that belonged to the victim.
Martin faces three counts of fraud and three counts of theft, all Level 6 felonies. He is currently being held at the Vanderburgh County Jail without bond, pending a court hearing.
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