“It was a miracle,” said Jones. “We’ve never gotten a check that big in a telethon before.”
In recent days the joy over such a large donation has turned into disbelief. The check turned out to be a counterfeit, allegedly written by a known con artist with a long criminal history.
“I can’t understand why somebody would want to hurt a charity that does so much good for people,” said Jones, still incredulous over the boldness of the fraud.
The bogus check was allegedly authored by Godwyn Foster, 40, of Honolulu. Court records show Foster has a long criminal history dating back to 1989. His rap sheet shows thirty-six felony convictions that include guilty verdicts for forgery, identity theft, fraudulent use of credit cards and auto theft.
“Why is he on the streets,” asked Jones when interviewed by Khon2. “Why is he still out here doing this to unsuspecting people and charities?”
With $20,000 less in her budget, Jones is now scrambling to find additional funds to spearhead the charity’s annual Christmas fundraising effort.
“I thank the Lord that we didn’t spend it,” said Jones, “but we do have to recoup it – it’s definitely been budgeted.”
Jones was hoping to use part of the $20,000 check to buy envelopes, stamps and paper needed for eight thousand fundraising letters scheduled to be mailed out sometime next week.
“So now we’re short a lot of money,” she said.
UNDER ARREST
On Monday Honolulu police arrested Foster for first degree theft and second degree forgery. Investigators say he tried to purchase a business advertised on Craigslist with two additional counterfeit checks. Foster has not been charged in the case, but police are investigating whether he used more bogus checks to purchase two vehicles.
Sgt. Kim Buffett of Honolulu CrimeStoppers says anyone who may have dealt with Foster in recent weeks should step forward.
“Definitely we might be opening a larger can of worms than we anticipated,” said Buffett. “If anybody had any dealings with this person, definitely by all means call us and make the cases.”
ONGOING INVESTIGATION
Bank of Hawaii Corporate Security Investigator Brian Ishikawa said the bank is cooperating closely with police in an ongoing investigation of Foster.
“Besides the Lokahi check that you’re aware of there are others out there that were counterfeited,” said Ishikawa. “There are several different entities that these counterfeits were negotiated at.”
Although the counterfeit checks allegedly written by Foster feature the words Bank of Hawaii, Ishikawa said they do not resemble the institution’s stock of checks used regularly by customers.
“Right now there’s quite a bit of different software that folks can buy when they con a check,” said Ishikawa. “This appears to be specific software.”
However Foster’s alleged scheme appears more elaborate than simply using computer software to print fake checks.
Department of Public Safety Deputy Director for Administration Martha Torney confirmed the account number on the counterfeit checks belongs to the Oahu Community Correctional Center in Kalihi. The account is used by the prison to hold money that is scheduled to be transferred to inmates.
“It’s probably been a couple of months ago that the facility became aware (of the fraud) through the bank statement,” said Torney. “There were questionable checks being cashed and they got in touch with the bank.”
According to Torney Foster was sentenced to jail as recently as August 17. “He is a sentenced intermittent,” she said, “which means usually he’s coming in on weekends.”
It’s unclear if the ‘intermittent’ sentence imposed on Foster is related to a forgery conviction in September of 2008. In that case Foster was found guilty and ordered to serve one year in jail, with an additional five years of probation.
Foster is a known cross dresser who prefers to conduct transactions as a woman. The check given to Lokahi was signed by Denise Foster, one of the many aliases used by Foster throughout his years in Hawaii.
A Lokahi volunteer who received the fraudulent check at the Khon2 studio on Piikoi Street August 8 said Foster came dressed as a woman.
Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Lokahi Project can reach Mariellen Jones at 685-7722 or 685-7721. Khon2 has been the lead sponsor of Lokahi for the past 26 years.
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See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
