Seaborn Larson

Great Falls Tribune

Three people have been charged following a failed attempt to cash a forged check written for more than $50,000.

Chad Allen Miller, Jaylee Marie Marceau and Angela Marie Gneiting have each been charged with felony forgery, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in state prison and a $50,000 fine.

A Great Falls Police officer on Friday afternoon responded to a report from EZ Money Check Cashing in Great Falls about a forged check. According to court documents, Miller, Marceau and Gneiting were at the business when the officer arrived.

The officer first spoke with the store manager, who said staff became suspicious of the $52,408.49 check when Marceau filled out the “pay to the order of” line while at the window. The manager contacted the check owner about the check number, to which the owner told the manager that check had been stolen and was supposed to go to a business in Kalispell.

Gneiting reportedly told the officer the check had landed in her mailbox in Kalispell, and that she had decided to open the letter, finding the check.

Gneiting later traveled to Browning with Miller and met up with Marceau, according to court documents. Gneiting ran out of money at a casino in Browning, and, remembering she had the check, decided to drive down to Great Falls to get it cashed, charging documents state. Maceau agreed to cash the check because, according to court documents, she was the only one with an ID.

Gneiting allegedly told officers that Miller and Marceau did not know the check didn’t belong to her. Police also reported that Miller told Marceau the check belonged to him, so she wouldn’t ask any questions. Marceau allegedly told officers she signed the “pay to the order of” line, even though she knew the check didn’t belong to her.

Miller reportedly has prior felony convictions for sexual assault, sexual intercourse without consent, issuing a bad check, assault on a peace officer and failure to register as a violent offender. The state requested his bail be set at $50,000.

Gneiting has prior convictions of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony, as well as endangering the welfare of a child and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors, according to court documents. The state requested her bail be set at $10,000.

Marceau reportedly has a prior conviction for misdemeanor theft and pending charges for criminal trespassing. The state requested bail be set at $10,000.