Stafford, VA. A wanted suspect was arrested on Wednesday by deputies with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office after attempting to cash a stolen check.

On April 8, 2020, at approximately 3:51 p.m., deputies responded to a check fraud call at the Bank of America located at 1525 Stafford Market Place. Deputy O’Neill made contact with a bank employee who advised that a male subject attempted to cash a check that had been altered from $1500.00 to $11,000.00. The check had also been reported stolen. The subject then left the scene in a dark colored vehicle with several other occupants.

Deputy Hurt and Deputy Demirci located the suspect vehicle in the area of 40 Prosperity Lane. Initially, the front passenger provided false identification to deputies. Eventually, he admitted his real identity was Eric Wilhoit II, 26, of Fredericksburg. Deputies learned he was wanted out of Maryland for extradition.

The rear passenger was identified as Jayshon Bates, 18, of Stafford. Deputies determined that Wilhoit gave the check to Bates and asked him to go into the bank and cash it.

Wilhoit was taken into custody and incarcerated at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond on charges of forgery, providing false identification to avoid arrest, and fugitive from justice. Bates was released on a personal recognizance bond on charges of uttering a check.