A well-known Alexandria businessman has found himself in trouble with the law after allegedly changing the amounts of customers checks without their knowledge.

According to DeKalb County Sheriff Patrick Ray, on January 25, 50-year-old Stein Edward Prichard of Brush Creek Road, Brush Creek, manager of Prichard’s Foods, was arrested on four counts of forgery.

Sheriff Ray said that, “People would come into the store and buy goods, and would write a check, and Prichard would allegedly change the amount of the check and run it through the bank. He would then take the proceeds from the forged checks for his benefit.”

“We got a report at the sheriff’s department on December 5 about an altered check. It was found that the check was altered at Prichard’s Foods in Alexandria. We started an investigation with assistance of the District Attorney’s office. They assigned an investigator to assist us,” Sheriff Ray continued.

“There was a total of four subpoenas issued on business records of the store. We found that one victim had three altered checks, and another victim had one altered check. That’s what the investigation revealed, and what the charges are for today.” said Sheriff Ray.

The individual charges detailed by Sheriff Ray are as follows:

“On or about March 30, 2023, Prichard forged a personal check belonging to a victim by altering the amount from $247.60 to $3,247.60 with intent to defraud the victim.”

“On or about April 11, 2023, Prichard forged a personal check belonging to a victim by altering the amount from $135.36 to $935.36 with intent to defraud the victim.”

“On or about April 12, 2023, Prichard forged a personal check belonging to a victim by altering the amount from $199.26 to $5,199.26.”

“On a different victim, on or about December 2, 2023, Prichard forged a personal check belonging to a victim by altering the amount from $205.69 to $6,205.69.”

Prichard is under a $26,000 bond and is due to appear in court on the charges on February 8.