(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. — A Kenosha County prosecutor filed charges Monday against a Minnesota man accused of cashing nearly $10,000 in fraudulent checks from a local restaurant’s account. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Demetrius Dexter-Toni Linton, 37, of South St. Paul, faces four felony counts of unauthorized use of an entity’s identifying information or documents. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of six years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
According to the criminal complaint, Linton is accused of creating and cashing four counterfeit checks totaling $9,759.92 from Gyro Grill, a restaurant on 52nd Street in Kenosha. The owner told police he handwrites all business checks and noticed the fraudulent ones were typed. He said he did not know Linton and had never authorized him to access the account.
Investigators determined the forged checks were cashed in person at US Bank branches across the Minneapolis–St. Paul area on September 21, 2024. Surveillance footage from the banks allegedly showed Linton endorsing the checks, often using his phone while waiting for tellers to hand him cash.
Police said Linton opened a bank account days before the fraud occurred and was wearing a bright orange shirt at multiple locations, making identification clearer. Detectives also used facial recognition software, which matched him with more than 97 percent certainty.
The complaint also noted that another business, Big Shark Fish and Chicken in Milwaukee, reported nearly identical fraudulent check activity during the same timeframe, though its owner declined to press charges.
Kenosha police reviewed Linton’s record in Minnesota, which includes prior arrests and convictions for theft, receiving stolen property, robbery, and providing false information to police.
Court records show a $7,500 warrant was issued Monday for Linton’s arrest.
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