May 24, 2012
A New York City murder suspect arrested after turning up on a North Carolina sports arena's jumbo screen is facing new charges: helping lead a 37-person check fraud ring accused of stealing more than $150,000.
Earl Barranco's arraignment was postponed Thursday until next week in the latest in a series of check fraud and identity theft cases brought by the Manhattan district attorney's office.
About 20 others were arraigned Wednesday and Thursday. Prosecutors say Barranco and other ringleaders deposited counterfeit checks drawn on unwitting victims' bank accounts into other accounts held by accomplices. Prosecutors say the accomplices' ATM or debit cards were used to get the money before the victims realized what was happening. The banks lost the money.
Barranco has pleaded not guilty in the previous murder case.
