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Police: Woman arrested for forging checks from Phoenix Methodist church

Posted at 2:49 PM, Feb 13, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-13 16:50:40-05

A woman has been arrested after allegedly forging checks from a church and cashing them for nearly $2,500 on three occasions at three different Food City locations.

Phoenix police report that on January 25, a woman, later identified as 36-year-old Kijuana Nechelle Ellis, went to a Food City store and cashed a forged check for about $980.  Two days later, police say Ellis went to another Food City store and cashed another check for $785. Both of the forged checks had valid checks numbers belonging to the Desert Southwest United Methodist Church.

On February 1, Ellis attempted to cash another forged check for $684. However, this time suspecting Food City employees contacted police who arrested her at the store near 35th and Glendale avenues.

Police contacted the church who verified that the checks were never issued and that Ellis is not a member or church employee.

Ellis reportedly admitted to the forgeries saying she is unemployed and desperate for money to support her six children.

Ellis has been charged with forgery.