14 indicted on check-kiting scheme


December 2, 2010 · Updated 11:13 AM 

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Fourteen people, including a woman who worked for the Washington State Department of Licensing office in Bellevue, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Seattle.

The charges include cigarette trafficking and check kiting scheme. Officials say that the group defrauded banks of more than $1 million.

Five people in California have been arrested in the alleged conspiracy and one in Washington.

Locally, Melinda Kay Johnson, who worked in the DOL's Bellevue office is accused of accepting bribes to provide fraudulent Washington driver's licenses.

Court documents say the group defrauded banks of more than $1 million, much of which was used to buy cigarettes at California big-box retailers.

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