Lake Charles, Louisiana - A Lafayette resident has been found guilty on two counts of forgery following a scheme where he altered checks for personal gain.

David K. Ware, 49, of Lafayette, Louisiana was convicted on March 31st after evidence showed he had changed the name of the payee on two separate checks to his own name. According to the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney's Office, Ware then cashed these forged checks at two different banks within a 30-minute window in 2022.

The fraudulent transactions netted Ware $4,467.36 before the forgeries were discovered.

Prosecutors David Guidry and Jordan Sutterfield represented the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney's Office during the trial. The case was heard in the 14th Judicial District Court.

Sentencing for Ware has been scheduled for April 10th before Judge Bobby Holmes. The formal sentencing will determine what penalties Ware will face for the forgery convictions.

Forgery, which involves the creation or alteration of documents with the intent to defraud, is considered a serious financial crime in Louisiana. These cases often involve significant investigative work to establish the paper trail necessary for conviction.