Chicago man accused of passing bad checks

SYCAMORE – A Chicago man charged with passing a series of bad checks in April and May across the county was granted a signature bond in DeKalb County court on Wednesday, but he was still in jail because he is wanted in two other counties.

Jeremy N. Boltz, 43, of the
500 block of south Clark Street, Chicago, was charged with forgery after he was arrested for passing four bad checks at banks in DeKalb, Sycamore and Malta in April and May of this year, according to court documents.

He also is wanted for arrest in Winnebago County on a forgery charge and in Ogle County in connection with a civil matter.

If convicted, he could face up to
five years in prison.

Police said Boltz cashed four fraudulent checks between April 27 and May 6, totaling more than $7,500, according to court documents. At First National Bank in DeKalb, bank investigators were able to provide police with photos from surveillance cameras, the check and a thumbprint of the suspect, according to court documents.

The thumbprint was a match for Boltz, police said in court documents.

Two of the checks appeared to be from Hinckley-Big Rock School District 429 and two were from Country Homes Group, according to court documents.

When asked his current address in court on Wednesday, Boltz at first gave a Chicago address with a Waterman ZIP code. On another try, he gave a nonexistent ZIP code. When he tried a third time, Judge Phillip Montgomery interrupted him.

“Quit while you’re ahead,” Montgomery said.

Montgomery ordered Boltz released on his signature, subject to pretrial supervision and electronic home monitoring, although he said he was hesitant to do so because of Boltz’s criminal history.