Feb. 07--Days after a Muskogee woman was arrested in a fraudulent check scheme, investigators have a clearer picture of the alleged crimes.

Muskogee police and Secret Service agents arrested Taisha O'Brien, 25, on Friday after weeks of investigation into a series of fraudulent checks.

Investigators searched O'Brien's house at 920 S. B St. and found cases of check paper, a computer and a check printer.

"They were getting account numbers for different businesses and printing checks," Lt. Bobby Lee said.

"They" refers to O'Brien and two women whom police arrested in January. Rebecca Cox, 38, and Senyel Cox, 20, a mother and daughter, were arrested Jan. 25 on complaints of uttering false or bogus checks. Police detained others Friday but arrested only O'Brien.

"They were what we call 'mules,' " Lee said. "What would happen is, O'Brien would print these checks and they would cash them for her. Then, (O'Brien) would pay them for doing that."

Lee said more businesses than those in Muskogee were affected. "They got businesses in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, too," he said.

In total, Lee said, investigators found $20,095 worth of fraudulent checks at O'Brien's home already printed and waiting to be cashed. Authorities also found evidence of several thousand dollars worth of cashed checks believed to be fraudulent.

Investigators conducted surveillance on O'Brien and others Friday. As they followed O'Brien's 2007 red Ford Mustang, she pulled in to Foxcroft Villa Apartments, Lee said.

"While she was there, we saw her commit a burglary," Lee alleged.

Police obtained a search warrant and looked through O'Brien's Mustang on Monday. Lee said items taken in the burglary were found in the car.

Rebecca Cox is held at the Muskogee County/City Detention Facility on $10,000 bond and a $750 cash bond. Senyel Cox is out on $5,000 bond.

O'Brien's bond will be set today.

Reach Dylan Goforth at (918) 684-2903 or [email protected].

Copyright 2012 - Muskogee Phoenix, Okla.