Donald Raines Given Probation For Conspiracy To Obtain Goods By False Pretenses

A Casper man will avoid prison time, after admitting that he helped out in a check forgery scheme to get money.

Donald Raines was given a four-to-six year suspended prison sentence with three years of probation, after he pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy to obtain goods by false pretenses.

Investigators with the Casper Police Department say in October 2015, the victim alerted police that her checking account had been depleted of almost $5,000 in less than one month and upon review, she found a number of checks that she did not write.

She suspected two people could have done what was done, because they had stayed at her residence in the past and had access to her checkbook.

Those two ended up being Raines and Dawnelle Engleman.

The majority of the checks were written at both Casper Wal-Marts, and upon reviewing security camera footage and receipts, police say Engleman was the one signing the checks with the victim's name.

Many times after purchasing high dollar items, Raines would then return the item with receipt, almost immediately to the other Wal-Mart store and receive cash.

When interviewed by police, Engleman said that a few transactions that she made were authorized by the victim, but the victim told investigators she never gave anyone permission.

Meanwhile, Engleman has pleaded guilty to charges connected to this case, and has already been sentenced.