Man Suspected in $10,000 Check Scam

LAKE ELSINORE - A San Jacinto man suspected of falsifying numerous checks used to purchase thousands of dollars worth of items from Lake Elsinore Walmart stores was behind bars today.

Michael Joseph Tomassaci, 34, was booked on suspicion of burglary, grand theft, writing fraudulent checks and forgery. Riverside County sheriff's investigators identified him as a suspect in a monthlong scam that led to losses of more than $10,000 for Walmart, according to Sgt. Todd Pauling.

Tomassaci, who was arrested Tuesday, is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta.

The suspect allegedly created fake checks using a program on his home computer. Tomassaci allegedly stole personal bank account numbers and used them to manufacture the phony checks.

The suspect passed off several bad checks in September, buying merchandise from the supercenters, according to Pauling.

Investigators were able to trace the illegal activity to Tomassaci's house at 146 N. Victoria Ave., where a search warrant was executed Tuesday, resulting in the seizure of ''stolen checks, computers, check-making equipment and fraudulent checks,'' Pauling said.