Staff Reports
A Florida man was arrested recently in Georgia and extradited to Alachua County after allegedly purchasing more than $62,000 in ATVs and trailers in Gainesville and Alachua using fraudulent cashier’s checks.
According to a Gainesville Police Department (GPD) social media release posted Wednesday, Carsen Quackenbush, 27, was arrested in Gwinnett County, Georgia, for unrelated charges on Aug. 1. He was then transported on Aug. 14 and booked into the Alachua County Jail on multiple charges.
The fraudulent purchases started on July 3 when Quackenbush purchased an ATV costing nearly $21,000 at an Alachua business. He provided the employee with a cashier’s check, took possession of the ATV and left the business. It wasn’t until the employee attempted to deposit the check that the business’ financial institution said that the check was fraudulent and the business did not receive payment.
Alachua Police Department (APD) detectives started an investigation and located other local law enforcement agencies that also listed Quackenbush as a suspect in similar cases.
Prior to the APD case, the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) investigated two cases involving the suspect. On June 29, Quackenbush used a fraudulent cashier’s check to purchase a trailer at a Gainesville business for $9,007. He returned to the business on June 30 and purchased another trailer for $12,081 using another fraudulent cashier’s check.
Also on June 30, the suspect purchased a $20,826 Can-Am UTV from another Gainesville business using a fraudulent cashier’s check.
In all the Alachua and Gainesville cases, Quackenbush was identified by his Florida Driver’s License he provided to verify his identity to the businesses and validate the name on the cashier’s checks.
While conducting their investigation, APD detectives were contacted by an Ocala business that said a member of the Quackenbush family was attempting to purchase a jet ski and trailer using a cashier’s check. APD detectives then obtained an arrest warrant with a $75,000 bond for Quackenbush to prevent further fraudulent purchases.
Quackenbush is being charged with the following:
GPD (two cases):
• F.S.S. 831.09 – Fraudulent Check – One Count
• F.S.S. 812.014 (2)(C)(3) – Grand Theft 10K Less Than 20K Dollars – Two Counts
• F.S.S. 817.034 (4)(A)(3) – Fraudulently Obtain Property Under 20k Dollars – One Count
• F.S.S. 831.02 – Fraud: Utter False Check – Two Counts
• F.S.S. 812.014 (2)(C)(2) – Grand Theft 5K Less Than 10K Dollars – One Count
• F.S.S. 832.05 (2)(A) – Fraud-Insufficient Funds – One Count
Case # 02-23-010791 & 02-23-011003
APD:
• F.S.S. 812.014(2)(C)(3) – Grand Theft 10K Less Than 20K Dollars – One Count
• F.S.S. 831.09 – Fraud: Utter False Check – One Count
• F.S.S. 817.034(4)(A)(3) – Fraud-Swindle: Obtain Property Under 20k Dollars – One Count
• F.S.S. 831.07 – Counterfeiting of Check – One Count
Case # 23APD00846