BEDFORD — A Bedford man is facing forgery and fraud charges after allegedly depositing checks from the account of a deceased individual.
Ryan Andrew Terrell, 33, of Bedford, was arrested following a police investigation that began in May.
The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department initiated an investigation on May 22, 2025, when a male reported check fraud involving his late brother, who passed away in February. The male discovered that a check dated May 17, 2025, for $200 had been debited from his brother’s account. The check was made out to Ryan Terrell and bore the signature of the deceased.
“My brother can’t have written the check since he is deceased,” the man told Officer Calvin Callahan, according to the probable cause affidavit.
The affidavit states that the check was endorsed and deposited into a JP Morgan Chase Bank account belonging to Ryan Terrell. A second fraudulent check for $100, dated May 20, was also discovered, which was later flagged and returned by the bank as “forged.”
The investigation led police to the deceased man’s son, who confirmed that Terrell had stayed at his residence, where some of his father’s belongings, including an old checkbook, were stored. The son told police he believed Terrell must have found the checkbook and written the fraudulent checks without permission.
Terrell, who is reportedly homeless and was in Bloomington at the time of the investigation, initially denied the allegations in a phone conversation with Officer Callahan. However, a subpoena for bank records from Chase Bank revealed two checks—for $200 and $100—were deposited into Terrell’s account via a mobile banking app from a cell phone on May 17 and May 21.
Based on the evidence, Officer Callahan requested a warrant for Terrell’s arrest on charges of forgery and fraud. Terrell was detained on Monday, August 11.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the Probable Cause Affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
