Two booked on check fraud charges

BROOKSVILLE – A Crystal River couple was arrested Tuesday night after trying to cash a forged check at Amscot, according to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.

When Natasha Miller, 27, tried to cash a check at the 13379 Cortez Blvd. location, employees called the person listed on the check, who said he did not know who Miller was and had not written a check to her.

Miller later told law enforcement that her husband, Zachariah Duvall, 21, asked her to cash the check for him, because he did not have identification.

The arrest affidavit states that Miller eventually became “nervous” and walked out of Amscot. Duvall then called the store from the parking lot to ask why they would not give Miller the money. When Amscot staff said they could not discuss the transaction with him, Duvall entered the store and asked for the check back.

Both Miller and Duvall later said they did not know the victim, and Duvall said a friend in Citrus County had given him the check.

Miller was charged with uttering a forged instrument and remains in the Hernando County Jail. Her bond is set at $500. Duvall was charged as principal to uttering a forged instrument and received an additional charge of violating drug offender probation. He is being held on no bond.