44 year-old Clifford Cook and 43 year-old Thomas Cook
/ KHQA file photo
HANNIBAL, MO. -- Two Hannibal brothers are headed to prison for passing bogus checks to support their travels across country.
44 year-old Clifford Cook was sentenced to more than eight years in prison after he was caught in a Nebraska hotel with 48 bogus payroll checks.
Just a month ago, his younger brother, 43 year-old Thomas Cook, also of Hannibal, got 10 to 15 years for the same crime.
One of those crimes occurred in May of 2011 in Pleasant Hill. Chief of Police Zack Orr of Pleasant Hill conducted an investigation into fraudulent payroll checks after one check was cashed at a local Pleasant Hill business. Chief Orr notified several outside law enforcement agencies, news media outlets, and the Pike County Crimestoppers organization.
A subsequent Crimestopper’s tip was received which led Chief Orr to a hotel room in Lincoln, Nebraska. Chief Orr contacted the Lincoln Police Department as well as the US Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force. Agents and Investigators went to a west Lincoln hotel where both Thomas and Clifford Cook were located and subsequently arrested. Agents and Investigator’s located and seized United States’ Currency, 48 fraudulent payroll checks, and fake ID’s.
Chief Orr traveled to the State of Nebraska in order to meet with investigators, conduct interviews, and compare evidence seized from the hotel room. Chief Orr also worked with officers and agents from the Rushville Police Department,
The Cook brothers face similar charges in Kentucky and Illinois.
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