ROXOBEL – Two women have been arrested after allegedly passing counterfeit checks here last month.

Starlet Williams Deloatch, 33, of Rich Square, was charged with two felony counts of obtaining property by false pretense.

Roshonda Foreman, 18, of Lewiston, stands charged with three counts of the same thing.

According to Detective Sergeant Ed Pittman of the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office, his office received a report from Southern Bank in Roxobel on December 19.

&uot;They stated that they had five counterfeit $500 American Express traveler’s checks there,&uot; he said.

Pittman continued, &uot;I went there, got the checks, and the names of the people who cashed the checks were on them. I verified that they were counterfeit and obtained warrants on Deloatch and Foreman.&uot;

Deloatch, who was arrested Jan. 16, was placed under a $1,000 secured bond, while Foreman’s (arrested Jan. 14) was upped to $1,500 because of the third check.

The pair claimed they received the checks in the mail and thought they were legitimate.

Pittman warned that ignorance of the law is no excuse.

&uot;People need to understand that if something looks too good to be true, it usually is,&uot; he said.

He continued, &uot;If anyone receives a check of this nature, they should inform the sheriff’s office or another law enforcement agency immediately.&uot;

Both women’s first court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 7.