Equipment located in counterfeit check ring, 4 charged

Published 8:01 pm Friday, March 15, 2019

PICAYUNE — Two pieces of equipment allegedly purchased with counterfeit cashier’s checks have been recovered, and the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department is seeking more.

The case involves a similar incident in Vicksburg.

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Chief Investigator Marc Ogden said the tractor purchased from Tractors Plus in Nicholson was found in Harrison County in Saucier. Investigators also recovered a side by side vehicle purchased by the same four suspects in Jones County.

The tractor was returned to the Nicholson based business, and the side by side will be returned to its owner as well, Ogden said.

Ogden said investigation into this case will continue, and there is the possibility of more arrests.

The equipment was part of a month-long investigation that has so far involved the arrest of four individuals; John Holquist, 43, of 916 Sweetgum Dr., Gulfport; Courtney Goff, 23, of 2020 Lawrence St., Biloxi; Darrius Lofton, of 226 Debuys Rd., Biloxi, 26, and Erick McCray, 28, of 918 East Railroad St., Gulfport.

All four were arrested for felony false pretense for their alleged involvement in a string of counterfeit purchases made across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Mobile, Alabama, and Vicksburg using counterfeit cashier’s checks.

Goff, who also used the name Brettina Bartholomew, fraudulently purchased two Polaris 570 Sportsman ATVs and Triple R 18-foot trailer from Patriot Motorsports in Vicksburg in late February. She was arrested March 5 at Beard Equipment in Mobile while attempting to fraudulently purchase equipment.

All four suspects had a bond of $20,000 cash, set by Pearl River County Justice Court Judge Donald Fail, Ogden said.