RACINE COUNTY (WITI) -- 26-year-old Edward Jordan of Chicago is facing charges, accused of scamming a Racine County cheerleading group.
Jordan faces one count of felony theft - movable property (greater than $2,500 - $5,000), and two counts of felony theft - movable property (greater than $5,000 - $10,000).
A criminal complaint in the case says Jordan was running a group called "Fierce Wisconsin All Stars Cheerleading," through which he had arranged for a cookie sale fundraiser with the assistance of parents with children involved in the group.
The money raised was deposited into a TCF Bank account for the organization, which was controlled by Jordan -- according to the criminal complaint.
The complaint says a parent learned via the cookie manufacturer that the check provided to them by Jordan had bounced, and thus, no cookies were to be delivered to customers -- and the people who sold the cookies were out the money.
The complaint says bank records showed several withdrawals made from the account that were not for the purchase of cookies. Additionally, the complaint says a payment from a parent was never deposited into the account.
When officials looked into the bank account, it had a balance of zero, according to the complaint.
The complaint says a search warrant was obtained for Jordan's Racine residence, at which time it was found to be abandoned, with the only items in the apartment being an air mattress and TV.
Inside the residence, officials discovered invoices for items shipped by GTM Sportswear to different addresses in Chicago -- intending on them to be sent to a Maranatha Christian Academy in Chicago -- but an academy by that name was never found -- according to the complaint.
GTM Sportswear reported never receiving payment for the items shipped, which totaled almost $25,000, according to the complaint.
Officials obtained a search warrant for Jordan's business on Wisconsin Avenue in Racine, where they found two foam mats, numerous pairs of blue shorts, black shorts, tank tops, and other items of clothing, all of which belong to GTM Sportswear, and were identified by GTM Sportswear as being items that were obtained fraudulently by was purportedly the Maranatha Christian Academy. The total value of these items recovered were in excess of $5,000.00, according to the complaint.
Additionally, recovered from the defendant's apartment were numerous pairs of cheerleading shoes with a total value of $5,775.00, according to the complaint.
The complaint says these items were identified by the Athletic Equipment Source, a store located in St. Charles, Illinois, as shoes that were obtained from them. The Athletic Equipment Source also indicates that these shoes were obtained from them fraudulently, and that they were shipped to the same Maranatha Christian Academy as was used to defraud the GTM Sportswear.
Neither the Athletic Equipment Source or GTM Sportswear consented to the defendant retaining possession of these stolen items, which were obtained fraudulently.
The cheerleading shoes were recovered on September 26, 2012, and the items from GTM Sportswear were recovered on October 24, 2012.