Rincon officers have arrested and charged two Atlanta area men with bank fraud after an incident at a Rincon bank Tuesday afternoon.

At approximately 2 p.m. Tuesday, the Rincon Police Department responded to the Citizens Bank of Effingham in Rincon to two males attempting to cash a fraudulent $5,000 check. Rincon officers made contact with Richard Derrick Howard, 49, of Mableton, and Eugene Young, 55, of Riverdale, who was standing in the bank’s lobby.

Rincon Police Chief Mike Bohannon said the preliminary investigation revealed Young and Howard were picked up in Atlanta on Tuesday morning and driven to Effingham County with three other individuals in a black Dodge Nitro with Fulton County license plates. Both Young and Howard said they were to go to different banks and credit unions and attempt to cash four fraudulent checks, each for $5,000 each. Young and Howard said the Citizens Bank was their first stop of the day.

The other three individuals fled as Young and Howard were being apprehended.

“They watched the bank, and they took off,” Bohannon said.

Young and Howard were placed under arrest and taken to the Effingham County Jail and charged with forgery in the first degree, identity fraud and identity theft. Further investigation by the Rincon Police Department revealed that Young is wanted on felony warrants in Blairsville for the same type incident. Both Young and Howard are cooperating with law enforcement officials.  

A similar incident occurred earlier this year, and it was an alert teller and bank manager who called Rincon Police about Tuesday’s attempt.

“The banks know what they’re looking for,” Bohannon said.

Atlanta area authorities have been alerted about the vehicle and the other three individuals.

“We’re working with other law enforcement agencies,” Bohannon said.