Two people charged with check fraud in Caroline County

CAROLINE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Two people were charged with check fraud on Tuesday in connection with several incidents that spanned multiple post offices throughout Caroline County.

According to a release from the Caroline County Sheriff's Office, a deputy was dispatched at 4:14 p.m. on April 8 to the Bowling Green Post Office for a reported fraud incident.

An employee at the post office contacted officials after they had noticed a man and a woman trying to buy a large number of stamps using a check. Additionally, the individuals both matched descriptions made during previous, similar incidents at other post offices.

When the deputy arrived, an accompanying investigator saw two people who matched the employee's descriptions, identified as 33-year-old Ernest Johnson from Greenbelt, Maryland, and a 26-year-old Mariela Osorio-Aguerdo from Worcester, Massachusetts.

The sheriff's office said that Osorio-Aguero had a checkbook containing checks that matched those used at not only the Bowling Green Post Office, but during an incident at the Ruther Glen Post Office earlier in the day that hadn't been reported yet.

As part of an ongoing investigation, the sheriff's office found that the fraudulent checks amounted to $584 and $365, and were cashed at the Carmel Church and Bowling Green Post Offices, respectively.

Osorio-Aguerdo was charged with several crimes in relation to check fraud, identity theft, possessing false identification and obstructing. Johnson was charged with aiding check fraud.

Both Osorio-Aguerdo and Johnson were taken to Pamunkey Regional Jail but were later released on a $1,500 unsecured bond, according to officials.

This investigation also involves the U.S. Postal Service, according to the sheriff's office, and may have connections to similar cases outside of Caroline County.