Operation results in theft arrests
By SHARON KERR Staff Writer

The Kirbyville Police Department and Jasper County Sheriff's Department arrested five suspects last week in what looks like a large counterfeit check operation.

The five suspects taken into custody and charged include Constance Marie Amos, Debora Lyne Flores, Angela Ruth Cook, Charles William Carter and Franklin Burron Cook Jr.

Franklin Cook, 38, of Beaumont, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of dangerous drugs, theft, speeding, no driver's license, failure to appear and failure to identify and is being held in lieu of bonds totaling $12,000.

Angela Cook, 41, of Beaumont, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of dangerous drugs and theft. Her bonds were set at $23,000.

Amos, 20, of Vidor, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of dangerous drugs and theft. Bond on Amos was set at $23,000.

Flores, 43, of Vidor, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of dangerous drugs, and theft. Flores is being held in lieu of bonds totaling $23,000.

Carter 41, of Beaumont, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of dangerous drugs and theft.

According to Sgt. Mike Smith of KPD, it began as a routine traffic stop by patrolman Bob Walker, but "one individual fled and we apprehended him."

KPD found out he was staying at the Gateway Motel in Kirbyville and went to issue the girlfriend who was in the car a "no seat belt" ticket, but instead found four people in the room and a lot of electronic equipment.

They also allegedly found crack cocaine and took all the suspects in on possession of a controlled substance.

In the motel room, KPD allegedly found computers, printers, scanners, counterfeit checks and other evidence.

One item was a backpack with 30 scientific calculators belonging to the Beaumont Independent School District. BISD confirmed that the calculators had been reported stolen the morning before. At that point, the Beaumont Police Department sent people to assist with the investigation.

Smith said they allegedly also found a great deal of mail, none of which belonged to any of the people staying in the room, so a U.S. postal inspector joined the investigative team.

Smith said it is too early to tell if the mail was stolen from mailboxes or recovered from trash. The team thinks that the counterfeit checks have been passed in several counties beyond Jasper.