Lake Charles, Louisiana - A two-year investigation into counterfeit check schemes across multiple financial institutions in Calcasieu Parish has resulted in the arrest of a Lake Charles man who allegedly recruited others to cash fraudulent checks.
Trevon L. Benoit, 27, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, was arrested September 18 at a local casino after evading law enforcement on multiple outstanding warrants. The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office Financial Crimes detectives have been investigating a scheme where account holders at various banks and credit unions deposited counterfeit and forged checks before withdrawing the money.
According to investigators, Benoit was recruiting the account holders to deposit and cash the fraudulent checks. The investigation, which began in 2022, led to multiple arrest warrants being issued for Benoit in 2024.
Casino Arrest Leads to Additional Charges
Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office detectives contacted the Louisiana State Police Lake Charles Gaming Field Office for assistance after learning Benoit frequented local casinos. When troopers located Benoit at a Lake Charles casino and attempted to detain him, he allegedly tried to hit a trooper with his vehicle.
During the arrest, law enforcement found Benoit in possession of a firearm, narcotics, and other items consistent with bank fraud and forgery activities.
Benoit was booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center on multiple charges. The financial crimes charges include five counts of bank fraud and three counts of forgery, with bond set at $207,500.
Additional charges from the casino incident include aggravated assault with a motor vehicle upon a peace officer, possession of marijuana first offense, resisting an officer, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Bond for these charges totals $293,000.
Benoit also had two outstanding warrants for contempt of court and an out-of-state detainer from Texas.
Second Suspect Remains at Large
The investigation also identified Maleah M. Williams, 26, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, as one of the account holders involved in the scheme. Judge Clayton Davis signed an active warrant for Williams' arrest on bank fraud charges.
The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information about Williams' whereabouts to call 337-491-3605.
Ongoing Investigation Expected to Yield More Arrests
Detective Steffan Weekly with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office Financial Crimes unit serves as the lead investigator on the case. According to authorities, the investigation remains active and more arrests are expected.
The scheme involved multiple banks and credit unions throughout the parish, though specific financial institutions have not been identified. Bank fraud involves using deception to obtain money or assets from financial institutions and can result in federal charges depending on the scope of the criminal activity.
Financial crimes detectives continue working to identify additional suspects and victims connected to the counterfeit check operation that has been active for the past two years.
All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.