RIDGEWAY, Wis. (WXOW) - The Ridgeway Marshal's Office wants people to be on alert as it investigates a number of incidents where John W. Olson wrote checks from a closed account, including in La Crosse.
Authorities said their investigation stems from a March 18 incident where Olson, 59, cashed a check for $300 at a business in the Village of Ridgeway. Looking into the incident, Village Marshal Michael Gorham found similar cases in Mt. Horeb and Mineral Point.
The investigation uncovered another incident where a La Crosse business lost $200. The marshal said he believes Olson is writing checks from a closed account in amounts up to $300 to avoid being a felony offense. Although, when combined the total may rise to a felony.
Olson, formerly of Hazel Green, is a felon with a criminal history of Issuing Bad Checks and/or Defrauding Financial Institutions.
Law enforcement warns business owners in South Central, Southwest, and Western Wisconsin to take precautions if Olson tries to pay with a check. If you are the victim or have contact with Olson, notify local law enforcement.
The full release from the Ridgeway Marshal's Office
Date: April 9, 2021
Media Release: Financial Crimes Alert
Purpose: To Protect the Public, specifically Businesses or Financial Institutions, Against Fraud.
The Ridgeway Marshal’s Office wants to alert the Public, Businesses, and Financial Institutions of possible Fraud involving JOHN W. OLSON.
On or about March 18, 2021, John W. Olson, 59, Hazel Green cashed a check for 300.00 dollars at a business in the Village of Ridgeway. The check was drawn on his closed account. The business suffered a loss of $300.00 dollars. Mr. Olson no longer resides in Hazel Green WI.
During the investigation, Village Marshal Michael Gorham learned that similar events occurred in Mount Horeb, and another attempt to cash a fraudulent check occurred in Mineral Point.
Marshal Gorham believes there are more victims of this type of crime that Mr. Olson had perpetrated against. Marshal Gorham wants to thank Mount Horeb and Mineral Point Police Departments for their cooperation in assisting with their investigation.
There was another instance, in LaCrosse where another business was also victimized for 200.00 dollars.
The primary concern is to alert the public that Mr. Olson is writing checks on accounts that are closed. His victims are believed to be located throughout South Central, South Western, and Western Wisconsin thus far.
The amounts can vary up to 300.00 dollars which isolated by themselves are either misdemeanor offense or civil forfeitures.
Marshal Gorham believes this pattern of behavior is intentional to avoid the offense being a felony.
However, combined, the total amount may rise to the level of a felony offense when added together. This is tragic when businesses are trying to recover from the COVID 19 pandemic.
Mr. Olson is a felon with a criminal history of Issuing Bad Checks and/or Defrauding Financial Institutions.
If you are the business owner, please take the necessary precautions if Mr. Olson presents a check for payment.
If you are the victim of one of his bad checks, please notify your local law enforcement agency and reference this media release to aid your local agency.
The Ridgeway Marshal’s Office is actively seeking to contact Mr. Olson as a part of our investigation.
If you have contact with Mr. Olson, please contact your local law enforcement agency, and advise the release officers.
If you have information you would like to share, our contact information is as follows.
608-924-1030 voicemail
608-935-3314 Iowa County Dispatch
oic@villageofridgeway.com
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