Iowa City man charged in fake-check scheme

An Iowa City man has been accused of multiple false-check thefts.

Kevin L. Penro, 39, of Iowa City was arrested Wednesday and charged with second-degree theft Thursday.

According to police, Penro asked young adults to deposit envelopes containing "checks" into their bank accounts at ATMs, then withdraw the amount they thought was being deposited and give the money to Penro. The envelopes were empty, or the checks themselves were false.

Police said Penro told his victims that he couldn't cash the checks himself because he hadn't paid a ticket and didn't have an identification card, but that he was in desperate  need of the cash to send his stranded family back to Davenport. Penro also told the victims they could keep a little extra for their inconvenience.

Two different people reported the scam, and approximately $1,035 was taken overall, police said. Other similar incidents are under investigation.

Penro was being held at the Johnson County Jail Thursday on a $7,500 cash-only bond.