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A Hammond woman was arrested last week, and is charged with committing bank fraud and other crimes at Washington Parish businesses, according to Chief Deputy Mike Haley of the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Haley said that Juleah Marie Knight, 18, a resident of North Magnolia Street in Hammond, appeared at banks in St. Tammany Parish and attempted to cash stolen forged checks on a Bogalusa business.

“She stated she was an employee of the business,” Haley said. “However, a telephone call from the banks to the business owner confirmed that she was not employed there.”

The Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office detective division was called in on the matter and was able to identify Knight as the person who was attempting to cash the forged stolen checks, Haley said. She was located and taken into custody on Thursday.

Knight remains in the Washington Parish Jail on one count of attempted bank fraud and two counts of forgery. Her bond has been set at $5,000.

Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal cautions all business owners to make certain their checks are secure.

“The only thing a thief has on his or her mind is to take what is yours,” Seal said. “Don’t give them an opportunity. Carefully guard what is yours and call us any time you feel that you are a victim.”