Hearing set in check scam

Two men are accused of distributing fake U., CHOP checks Two men indicted for distributing counterfeit University and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia checks worth $155,000 will have a hearing before federal Judge James Kelly today. One of the men, Demetrius White of the 5500 block of Regent Street, will plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute counterfeit checks as part of a government plea bargain, White's attorney David McGlaughlin and U.S. Attorney Robert Zauzmer said. The other man, David Davis of the 1300 block of South Lindenwood Street, has chosen to go to trial, Zauzmer said. Davis and White originally pleaded innocent to the charges, but McGlaughlin conceded from the start that White might change his plea before today's trial date. Zauzmer said he is not allowed to discuss government plea bargains. And while McGlaughlin was reluctant to comment, he did say an agreement would be offered Monday. After entering a guilty plea, White will face a maximum of five years in prison, Zauzmer and McGlaughlin said. White's decision to change his plea may have been influenced by the decision of a third man indicted in the case, Richard Walker of the 8500 block of Marsden Street. On November 9, Walker pleaded guilty to one count of distributing counterfeit checks and at the time, Zauzmer said Walker would testify against White and Davis. Davis is facing up to 65 years in prison and a fine of up to $1.75 million. The original indictment alleges that Davis and White obtained authentic blank checks from the University and CHOP in April 1992. They then allegedly placed orders for 1,000 CHOP checks and 250 University checks with a New Jersey printer, using the authentic checks as samples. Davis and White then allegedly conspired with others, including Walker, to cash the counterfeit checks at Philadelphia area stores. The scheme lasted from April 1992 to last March, during which time Davis and White attempted to cash checks totaling over $120,000 and were able to get cash and goods valued at over $35,000, the indictment said. Walker had attempted to cash four checks with a total value over $35,000. The men were arrested following a Federal Bureau of Investigation operation, but Zauzmer said he could not comment about the specifics of the operation or on how the men were able to obtain the original blank checks.