Lexington woman accused of forging 145 checks worth more than $50K from local business
A Lexington woman has been accused of cashing several stolen checks from a local business where she previously worked, according to court documents.
In November, the owner of Webster’s Engine Alley on Eastland Drive contacted police and said a former employee, Wendy Griffith, 39, forged many checks from the businesses while she was an employee, according to court documents. An investigation determined Griffith cashed 145 forged checks, valued at $56,678.30, from the business between Jan. 3, 2023, and Sept. 16, 2024.
The checks ranged from $100 to $600, according to court documents. The checks were either cashed in-person at a local Mini Food Mart or deposited into a PayPal account.
Webster’s Engine Alley suffered a financial loss of $52,421.18 after deducting Griffith’s withheld payroll, paid-time-off accumulation and other items, court documents said.
Griffith was an employee at Webster’s Engine Alley at various times over the past 18 years. Court documents say she was intimately involved in the business’ administrative functions but did not have the authority to issue checks from the business.
Griffith was fired on Sept. 18, 2024, and admitted to stealing the checks, according to court documents.
Griffith has been charged with 145 counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and one count of theft by deception — cold checks $10,000 or more, according to court records. She’s scheduled to be arraigned in Fayette District Court Thursday.
This story was originally published March 20, 2025 at 10:11 AM.
