Police: Man Who Passed Counterfeit Checks in Avon Arrested in Forgery Ring Case

Vernon detectives this week made a second arrest in what they are describing as a multi-town, multi-state check forgery ring that primarily targeted financial institutions and stores.

Travis Kidney, 30, whose listed address is the Enfield Motel 6 at 11 Hazard Ave., was slapped with a pair of second-degree forgery charges and a conspiracy to commit second-degree forgery charge on Monday, police records indicate.

Kidney allegedly was involved in passing bad checks in Avon, Vernon, Enfield, Tolland, Stafford, Wethersfield, Glastonbury, Hartford, South Windsor, Putnam, Rocky Hill, Windsor, East Hartford, Groton, Gloucester, RI and West Springfield, MA, police said.  

In all, the ring passed 37 bad checks, the arrest warrant indicates.

He was already incarcerated on a larceny charge, police said.

Vernon police had already charged Joshua McRae, 35, of 52 Harrison St., Putnam, with conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit second-degree forgery, racketeering, second-degree forgery and third-degree larceny, police records indicate.

McRae is being described as the alleged mastermind behind the bad check network.

On Thursday, Vernon detectives reviewed the warrant against Kidney, who they described as not only an alleged check casher but an alleged recruiter for the network as well.  

Kidney's larceny charge was levied on July 3, police said.