Bank teller daughter-in-law catches forgery attempt of father-in-law’s check

IOWA CITY - A bank teller caught an attempt at forgery when she saw a familiar name on a stolen check - her father-in-law's.

According to an Iowa City police criminal complaint, the victim left a check for $700 to his landlord. The PAY TO ORDER line was left blank, police said.

Police said 29-year-old Brian J. Albaugh, of Coralville, got ahold of the check, put his name on the PAY TO ORDER line and went to the drive-through lane at MidWestOne Bank, 1906 Keokuk Street around 9:17 a.m. March 19.

Albaugh tried to cash the check; however, the bank teller recognized the check belonged to her father-in-law. Police said the teller contacted her father-in-law and his landlord and confirmed they didn't give Albaugh permission to take the check.

Police said Albaugh was convicted of forgery in December 2014. He has been charged with forgery, a Class D felony.

Albaugh also faces a fifth-degree theft charge for an unrelated incident. Police said on March 21, Albaugh and the victim went to the Money and More Pawn Shop so the victim could get his TV out of pawn. When they returned to the victim's residence, the TV remained in the vehicle and later left.

Police said they tried to handle the TV dispute as a civil matter and get the TV returned to the owner. Albaugh reportedly told police the TV was at his sister's apartment. However, when officers arrived at the apartment, he said there had been a break-in and the TV was stolen.

An officer asked Albaugh if the TV was sold to someone else or pawned. When Albaugh denied pawning it, the officer returned to Money and More and learned the TV had been pawned on March 21.