Former Columbus resident nabbed in check forgery scheme

A former Smithville postal worker and former resident of Columbus was arrested last month for her role in a check forgery scheme, according to authorities. 

Dominique Tamez was arrested Feb. 25 after stealing or forging around $1.6 million in checks, according to the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office. The office had been working on the case with the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service since July 2023, following reports of altered checks. 

Reports stated checks never reached their intended destinations and were intercepted or altered before being deposited through mobile banking into accounts at Houston area banks.