Caution: Another Marion County Genius at Work

Every now and then I let you know of the antics of some of our local geniuses. Just to give you a flavor of what to expect if you visit. Well, here's another.

Headline - Police: $15,000 check proves fraudulent

OCALA - With the stock market losing a lot of its value and some investors going broke, one man claimed his investments struck gold and went to a check-cashing business to cash in on his newfound wealth.

But police say it turned out the proposed windfall was a hoax, and the supposed wise investor, 41-year-old William Boyd Martin, perhaps didn't prove so brilliant after all when he was outsmarted by the cashier.

Ocala police arrested Martin on Thursday and charged him with uttering a forged instrument.

On Thursday, Martin went to ACF Cash Express, 908 S. Pine Ave., to cash a $15,000 check. Martin told the cashier he had received the check in the mail based on money earned through investments he made with his attorney, according to a police report.

But the cashier said Martin could not provide a telephone number for the attorney.

The clerk took the check to the back of the business and called the company listed was on it – Standard Dairy Consultants LLC in Ocala. Officials there told her the check was fraudulent and that two to three weeks ago someone got a copy of their business check, copied a bunch of them and mailed them to people.

Ocala police were called, and, on scene, Martin told them that he had received the check in the mail and believed it was a reward from an investment. He said he had attempted to contact the company, but didn't get a response. Martin was then arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail.

We are so proud.