Copyright Arkansas Online
FAYETTEVILLE -- A Georgia man already facing charges in Benton County over accusations he recruited homeless people to cash forged checks has now been arrested in Washington County in connection with the same scheme. Fayetteville police on Tuesday arrested Kalil De'shon Smith, 27, of Idlewood Drive in Atlanta in connection with seven counts of forgery, theft of property and engaging in a continuing criminal or gang enterprise. Smith remained at the Washington County Detention Center on Wednesday in lieu of $100,000 bond. According to a probable cause affidavit from the Police Department, an out-of-state criminal group targeted Northwest Arkansas with multiple check forgeries between Aug. 17 and Aug. 28. "The criminal group would pick up homeless individuals and have them cash forged checks for the criminal group," according to the affidavit. "Typically, the checks were in the $2,400 range. The accomplice would be paid approximately $100, and the criminal group would keep the rest; the check casher would usually be caught and charged for the forgery, while the criminal group remained free to commit additional forgeries." Seven forgeries were committed at various banks in Fayetteville, according to the affidavit. Two suspects who were cashing the checks in Fayetteville were identified and arrested in Alma and Fort Smith in connection with passing additional forgeries, police reported. Fayetteville investigators interviewed both individuals, and they said they were currently homeless. They told police a Black male known to them as "C.J," later identified as Smith, approached them at Hope Campus in Fort Smith and asked if they wanted work, the affidavit states. Once in the vehicle, he told them they would be cashing checks for him and would receive a cut from the check, they told police. Both individuals described C.J. as a short Black male with multiple tattoos, including a dagger on his forehead, court documents claim. They told police C.J. drove them to multiple cities to cash forged checks in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri for about a month and a half, according to the affidavit. They said he would provide checks with their names typed onto them and would listen in via phone and provide instructions while they attempted to cash the checks. Video surveillance shows Smith dropping off accomplices in a 2025 black Nissan Rogue, the affidavit states. On Aug. 28, the Rogers Police Department identified Smith as the suspect known to other participants as C.J. A forged check was passed in Rogers, and a photograph of the suspect vehicle was taken that included the license plate, according to police. Smith was seen driving the 2025 Nissan Rogue associated with forgery suspects and was arrested after leaving an Airbnb in Bentonville, police reported. During a subsequent interview, Smith initially denied knowledge of the forged checks, but was confronted with surveillance footage from a Walgreens store in Fayetteville showing him wearing the same hat and glasses he possessed at the time of his arrest, according to the affidavit. Smith did not deny he was the person in the photographs. Both of the people arrested earlier positively identified Smith as C.J, the man who recruited them to cash fraudulent checks, and they also told police other suspects were working with Smith to recruit and provide transportation and other items to help homeless people cash forged checks, according to the affidavit. Investigators identified four additional out-of-state "handlers" and two other local accomplices. A search of the Airbnb was completed and approximately 140 stolen checks were discovered, the affidavit states. Smith admitted he traveled to Northwest Arkansas from Atlanta via a flight through Tulsa, Okla., on Aug. 25 and stayed at an Airbnb rented in his name, according to the affidavit. He was in possession of the suspect vehicle and items linking him to the conspiracy, including numerous stolen checks and clothing matching that seen on surveillance during forgery transactions, police reported. Smith was identified as a handler who recruited and directed local accomplices in the cashing of forged checks drawn on multiple business accounts, resulting in the theft of several thousand dollars, according to the affidavit. Smith is considered to be an organizer and facilitator in the continuing criminal enterprise responsible for these forgeries, the affidavit states. A total of $9,805 was stolen from Fayetteville banks. Smith is also wanted in Indiana for forged check cashing schemes, according to the affidavit. Smith was arrested in 2024 in Evansville in connection with having homeless people cash forged checks there. Smith was arrested, posted bond and never appeared for court, according to authorities. Fayetteville police said they expect additional charges and arrests of accomplices as more information is obtained. BENTON COUNTY CASE In the Benton County case, Smith was arrested Aug. 28 in connection with forgery and theft by receiving. A day before, Noah Brogdon, 24, of Barling was arrested Aug. 27 in connection with forgery and theft of property related to the same check-cashing scheme. Rogers police received a report Aug. 27 a man had cashed a fraudulent check at 4901 W. Pauline Whitaker Parkway, according to a probable cause affidavit in the Benton County cases. The affidavit claims the fraudulent check was made out to Brogdon for $2,182.56. Gravette police later arrested Brogdon after he attempted to cash another fraudulent check at Legacy Bank in Hiwasse, according to the affidavit. The check was for $1,982.56, and a teller notified police due to a company-wide email that had just been circulated with a picture of Brogdon at another location with a fraudulent check, according to the affidavit. Brogdon told Gravette officers he was forced into a vehicle by a man who drove him to multiple banks and told to cash checks, according to the affidavit. The affidavit claims there was no evidence found to support Brogdon's statement of being held at gunpoint. Police obtained video of Smith getting into a black sports utility vehicle and Brogdon exiting the vehicle a few seconds later, according to the affidavit. Detectives with the Fayetteville Police Department informed Rogers police they were investigating similar incidents involving forged checks being cashed, according to the affidavit. Police obtained a search warrant for the place Smith was staying and found 148 stolen checks with 18 of them being dated in 2025, according to the affidavit. Smith pleaded not guilty in the Benton County case Monday and is next due in court Jan. 13, according to court documents. Brogdon failed to appear in court Oct. 20 and a warrant for his arrest has been issued, court documents state.
