Lafayette woman convicted in 2020 Logansport check fraud scheme

Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at 10:28 AM

By Shelby Lopez

Gail Slavens convicted on seven counts, including two counts of check deception, two counts of theft, and three counts of conspiracy to commit check deception, theft and counterfeiting.

A Lafayette woman has been found guilty in a check fraud scheme from 2020 by a Cass County jury.

A news release from the Cass County Prosecutor's Office states that Gail Slavens, 54, had cashed several forged check over a four-day period at The Dutch Mill, a Logansport bar. The local bar reported suffering significant financial loss due to the scheme and no longer offers check cashing services to its customers. The checks were purportedly issued by a fictitious business, “Last Call, LLC.”

Co-defendants Chad Myer and Justin Hogg had previously pleaded guilty to charges related to the conspiracy and testified on Slavens’ behalf at the trial. On Aug. 7, Slavens was convicted on seven counts, including two counts of check deception, two counts of theft, and three counts of conspiracy to commit check deception, theft, and counterfeiting.

Slavens admitted in court to being a habitual offender with at least five prior felonies, including convictions for dealing methamphetamine, possession of controlled substance, possession of methamphetamine and two unrelated convictions for theft. The prior convictions allow for increased penalties for individuals with multiple felony convictions, which could add an additional fixed term of two to six years to Slavens' sentence.

Slavens is now facing a total sentence ranging from two and a half years to 10 years. Her sentencing hearing is set for Sept. 4.