Lincoln Police were called tot he West Gate Bank on June 24th to investigate a belated fraud. On June 21st, 30 year old James Mologianes tried to cash a check for almost $2,000 that was made out to a local sign company on an account of a local retail business. The bank refused to cash the check. Mologaines returned to the bank later that day and presented the check again. This time it had been altered and was made out to him. The bank cashed the check. The bank later called the business who said they had not authorized any payments to Mologaines and that the check had likely been stolen from a mailbox while trying to send it to the sign company. Mologaines was identified through video surveillance at the bank.
Investigators then learned that Mologaines was also wanted in other investigations.
Overnight on June 5th through the 6th, the owner of a F350 Superduty truck had been parked in the LES lot at 26th and Fairfield. The owner reported that several power tools were taken and three titles to vehicles he owned.
On June 22nd, the victim reported he suspected an employee, Mologaines, was responsible for the theft. He allowed Mologaines to use the vehicle for work and now he was refusing to return it claiming the victim sold it to him. He had altered the title to show that he was the owner.
Investigators also checked out pawn records and found that Mologaines had pawned several of the power tools that were taken from the victim’s truck. Those items included a grinder, impact driver, batteries and a laser level. He was apparently paid $850 for the tools.
On June 30th at 10:30 p.m. officers were sent to 49th and Meredeth for a motorist assist. The vehicle was that Superduty truck and Mologaines was working on the vehicle. Officers then learned that Mologaines was wanted on an outstanding warrant as well as the local cases. He was booked for felony theft by deception, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and possession of stolen property. The altered title was located in the vehicle. One power took a Stihl power saw estimated at $750 is still missing.