Coralville man faces theft, forgery charges related to construction project

NORTH LIBERTY- A Coralville man faces theft and forgery charges related to a North Liberty construction project.

According to the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, in December 2016, 50-year-old Tony A. Pederson wrote a check for $135,351 to Iowa Concrete for concrete work done at Liberty View Mall, 595 Country Lane, in North Liberty. However, authorities said Pederson's check bounced for insufficient funds.

Authorities said Pederson was made aware of the bad check and wrote a second to Iowa Concrete for the same amount. That check was also returned for insufficient funds, the sheriff's office said. Last month, Iowa Concrete submitted a bad check report and Pederson was served notice by the sheriff's office on Feb. 13. The sheriff's office said Iowa Concrete still has not been paid for the work they completed.

In addition to not paying for the concrete work, the sheriff's office said Pederson forged the signature on several Final Waiver of Lien forms relating to the same construction project and presented them to the Solon State Bank. Authorities said the victims in those forgeries did not give Pederson permission to sign those documents on their behalf.

Pederson has been arrested and faces charges of first-degree theft, a Class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison; and five counts of forgery, a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

l Comments: (319) 398-8238; lee.hermiston@thegazette.com