Four out-of-state men are accused of traversing south-central Missouri to cash thousands of dollars in fraudulent business checks.
The individual cases, spanning Howell and Ozark counties, involve separate multi-bank check-cashing schemes targeting local financial institutions using forged commercial accounts.
Howell County Cases
David C. Shelton, 60, of Pine Bluff, Ark., failed to appear for his scheduled initial court appearance on May 26 after a first-class mail summons was returned undeliverable. Following his failure to appear, the court issued a new criminal summons via certified mail on June 4. Shelton is now rescheduled for an initial appearance on July 20 before Associate 37th Circuit Judge R. David Ray.
Shelton faces two counts of forgery after allegedly cashing a fraudulent $2,369.23 check from a Cape Girardeau truck repair shop at Wood & Huston Bank in August 2025. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Rizwan Ahad is prosecuting the case.
Shelton’s co-defendant, Phillip Y. Owens, 63, of North Little Rock, Ark., was scheduled to make an initial appearance before Judge Ray on June 1 regarding two felony counts of forgery. Owens allegedly attempted to cash a $2,965.44 check from the same truck repair business at two different Wood & Huston locations in West Plains, but was turned away after a branch manager recognized the fraudulent account activity. Further updates on Owens' case status following his June court date are unavailable as of Tuesday afternoon.
In a separate Howell County case, a warrant has been issued for Michael W. Masten, 43, of Springfield, who is charged with forgery and stealing $750 or more. On May 5, Judge Ray ordered the warrant and established a $25,000 bond.
Masten allegedly cashed a forged $2,978.13 check from Tyree’s Fertilizer at the West Plains Bank branch in Willow Springs, as well as an additional branch in Houston. Masten was intercepted by Willow Springs Police Department Sgt. David Hocking at the Howell County Sheriff’s Office, where Masten had arrived to claim he was a victim of fraud. Masten later told officers he was a panhandler who had been driven to the area by two unidentified men and instructed to cash the checks in exchange for cash.
Ozark County Case
In Ozark County, Willie T. Clemmer Jr., 35, of Springfield, is held in the Ozark County Jail following his arrest on a felony forgery charge. Clemmer is accused of cashing three fraudulent checks totaling $9,234.39 drawn on a Cloud Nine Ranch business account. According to an investigative statement by Ozark County Sheriff Cass Martin, the checks were processed on April 21 at Century Bank locations in Ava, Theodosia and Mtn. Home, Ark.
Clemmer’s case advanced on Monday when Ozark County Prosecuting Attorney Curtis Lee Pipkins filed a formal felony information following a probable cause transfer from Division II. Clemmer is now scheduled for a formal arraignment on July 8 before 44th Circuit Judge R. Craig Carter.
