Illinois Man Arrested After Alleged Multi-City Check Fraud Scheme
Lake County- An Illinois man, Gregory L. Morris, 56, has been charged after investigators linked him to a string of fraudulent check cashing incidents across Griffith, Hammond, and East Chicago between October 29 and November 4, 2025.
Detectives from multiple agencies, including East Chicago Police, Griffith Police, and Hammond Police, began investigating after employees at Speedy Check Cashers locations in each city reported similar transactions involving an elderly white male using false identification and cashing large cashier’s checks that were later returned as fraudulent.
On October 29, 2025, the suspect entered the Griffith Speedy Check Cashers at 1030 East Ridge Road, using an Ohio driver’s license and false identification to cash a BMO Harris Bank cashier’s check for $7,260.00. The same man was seen two days later, October 31, at the Hammond Speedy Check Cashers on Calumet Avenue, using another fake Ohio license to cash another BMO Harris cashier’s check for $4,203.30, court records state.
In both cases, the man appeared to be the same individual: an older white male with white hair and a goatee, wearing a plaid shirt.
On November 4, 2025, employees at the East Chicago Speedy Check Cashers on West Chicago Avenue contacted police after recognizing the same suspect attempting to cash another check. Officers arrived and found Gregory Morris inside the store. According to police, he presented a fraudulent Illinois driver’s license bearing his photo, along with a medical insurance card and a purported cashier’s check for $5,550.00.
Police detained Morris, who admitted the identification was fake and said he was “given that ID by someone” who promised to pay him for cashing the check. He reportedly told detectives, I guess if something is too good to be true, I guess it is,according to the affidavit.
During a recorded interview the following day, Morris said he had been picked up by a man known only as “L” in a white BMW from the Stairway Inn in Lansing, Illinois, and brought to Northwest Indiana. He admitted to participating in similar frauds for the last several months and claimed he was paid about 10 percent of the check amount. Morris told detectives he was part of a nationwide organization where some people print fake IDs, others steal mail, and others—like him—cash fraudulent checks.
He also admitted to being high on crack cocaine during the earlier “jobs” in Griffith and Hammond.
Police recovered the fake Illinois driver’s license, the counterfeit cashier’s check, and the fraudulent medical card. Investigators later confirmed the identification used in the scheme was falsified and that the document bore Morris’s photo with another person’s information.
Authorities determined Morris successfully cashed $11,463.30 in fraudulent checks at the Hammond and Griffith locations and attempted to obtain another $5,550 in East Chicago before being caught.
Charges filed November 6, 2025:
• Fraud — Loss Between $750 and $50,000 — Level 6 Felony (three counts)
• Theft — Value Between $750 and $50,000 — Level 6 Felony (two counts)
• Attempted Theft — Value Between $750 and $50,000 — Level 6 Felony
Lodged in the Lake County Jail
