The following was released Friday by the Panama City Police Department:

Panama City Police Department
1209 E. 15th Street
Panama City, FL 32405
(850) 872-3100 (office)
(850) 872-3198 (fax)
 www.panamacitypolice.com

News Release
May 9, 2008

The Panama City Police Department announces the arrest of Michael Vickery, white male, 42 years-of-age, of Panama City, Florida. Paul Broome, white male, 37 years-of-age, of Panama City, Florida. Robin Reed, white female, 34 years-of-age, of Panama City, Florida. Angela Halstead, white female, 34 years-of-age, of Panama City, Florida. All parties were charged with several counts of Principle to Uttering a Counterfeit Check.

On 04/18/2008 Panama City Police detectives received information regarding a possible counterfeit check ring within the Bay County area. During a joint investigation with members of the Panama City Police Department, Lynn Haven Police Department and the Bay County Sheriffs Office, it was determined that several fraudulent payroll checks had been manufactured by individuals out of Orlando, Florida and being passed throughout the county.

Throughout the investigation it was also discovered that the suspects were recruiting local transients to cash the checks at several local stores. The exact amount of funds taken in these crimes has not been determined but is currently being estimated to be over $25,000 dollars. Several of the original suspects out of Orlando, Florida have been identified and further charges are pending.

If anyone has further information on this matter please contact the Panama City Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit at (850) 872-3100 or Crime stoppers at
(850)785-TIPS.

Prepared by:         Detective A.C Llorens
Approved by:        Sergeant Jon Morris
Disseminated by:   Lt Mark Aviles