Somerset Police arrested three people after stopping an alleged cheque fraud attempt at Citizens Bank on October 28, when a suspect tried to deposit a $35,000 check into a newly opened account. The arrests followed a quick response at 815 Grand Army Highway that ended with police surrounding a gray 2002 Volvo and keeping it from leaving the area.
Andre Cairo, 41, of Fall River, Stasha Medeiros, 27, of Swansea, and Rajheem Chardonnette, 32, of Fall River, were later arraigned in Fall River District Court and each pleaded not guilty. Police also criminally summoned a fourth person in the case. All four were charged with Attempting to Commit a Crime, Uttering a False Check and Conspiracy.
The bank teller had flagged suspicious indicators and contacted the business identified as the issuer of the check. That business confirmed the check was fraudulent, turning what might have looked like a routine deposit into the focus of a financial-crime investigation. The account had reportedly been opened just one day earlier, a detail that fits the way police say these schemes often work: one person tries to move the money, while others help arrange the path in and out.
Detectives said they saw the female suspect walk through the Super Stop & Shop parking lot before entering the Volvo in the lot off Route 6. From there, officers boxed in the car and halted the group’s exit before the case could move any further. The unresolved point is the fourth person who was criminally summoned and not named in the arrest list; police have not said in the available facts whether that person was later taken into custody.
For the three defendants already before the court, the next step is clear. They were released after arraignment, and pretrial hearings are scheduled for December.
