WALTON COUNTY, Fla. — A 26-year-old Arizona man has been extradited to Florida to face a grand theft charge after allegedly cashing a fraudulent check made to appear as if it was issued by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), the agency announced.
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According to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the case began in March 2025, when the agency was alerted to a $1,520.70 check that had been cashed using the bank account information.
Investigators determined the check was fraudulent and had not been issued by the agency, the WCSO said.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau launched an investigation and later determined that the bank account where the funds were deposited belonged to Daniel Arturo Gonzalez, 26, of Chandler, Arizona.
A warrant for Gonzalez’s arrest was signed on August 25, 2025, according to the WCSO.
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After searching the last known addresses, investigators located Mr. Gonzalez in Phoenix, Arizona, the agency said.
When Gonzalez reportedly declined to waive extradition, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office sought assistance through the governor’s office. The extradition requisition was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Secretary of State, according to the WCSO.
Mr Gonzalez was transported back to Florida and booked into the Walton County Jail on a charge of grand theft.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office said check fraud remains a significant issue for businesses and public agencies nationwide and emphasized the importance of safeguarding financial accounts.
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The agency recommends monitoring bank accounts weekly, enabling two-step authentication on online banking platforms, responding promptly to bank alerts, reporting suspected fraud to financial institutions and law enforcement, closing unused accounts, and never sharing bank information, particularly with individuals met online.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office thanked the Office of State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit of Florida, Victorville Police Department, Phoenix Police Department, Chandler Police Department, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, the Office of Governor Ron DeSantis, and the Office of Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs for assisting in the investigation and extradition.
Mr Gonzalez is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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