(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. – A 44-year-old Kenosha woman is facing a felony forgery charge after allegedly cashing a stolen federal tax refund check belonging to her former roommate and pocketing the proceeds.
Estela Navarro was in court today for a bail hearing after being arrested on a warrant issued June 30, 2025. She was taken into custody Monday. Cash bail was set at $1,500, matching the amount of the warrant. As part of her bond conditions, Navarro was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim, who personally appeared in court and made the request.
Navarro is charged with one count of forgery, a Class H felony punishable by up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
According to the criminal complaint, the case began in August 2024 when the alleged victim reported to Kenosha police that someone had fraudulently endorsed and cashed a $1,331.29 IRS refund check issued in her name. Although the signature on the check resembled hers, she told police it was forged and misspelled.
She identified Navarro—who had lived with her briefly in 2022—as a possible suspect. The check was ultimately cashed in November 2022 at Educators Credit Union, with the payee listed as a man connected to Navarro.
That man later told police that Navarro had asked him to deposit the check for her because she didn’t have a bank account. He said he handed over the full amount to Navarro after the check cleared, keeping only enough to cover gas.
Another witness told police that Navarro admitted to stealing the check, forging the signature, and using the acquaintance to cash it. The witness also claimed Navarro contacted her ahead of the police interview and asked her to “be on her side.”
Navarro denied any involvement when first contacted by police, saying she didn’t remember forging a check and noting that many people had come and gone from her residence during that time.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 15, 2025.
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One Response
Estela Navarro does not have the talent of Frank Abagnale in doing this sort of crime.
Consider a job at King Richards Fair as a Mud Eater.