Kinston Police Arrest Three in Fraud Case Involving Stolen Checks
The Kinston Police Department (KPD) has been actively investigating a fraud case involving stolen checks from Blizzard Walls Inc. The suspects in this case forged and deposited the stolen checks, leading to multiple arrests.
On March 7, 2025, KPD arrested Montaris Johnson, 26, of Snow Hill, on several charges related to the incident. Following continued investigation, detectives obtained warrants for Paul Hardy III, 29, of Kinston, and Shenika Hardy, 33, of Kinston.
On March 25, 2025, KPD’s C-Squad apprehended Paul Hardy III during a traffic stop. He was taken into custody without incident on the following charges:
Obtain Property by False Pretense
Identity Theft
Forgery
Aid and Abet Forgery
Uttering a Forged Instrument
Accessing Computers to Commit a Felony
Aiding and Abetting a Felony (3 counts)
Hardy was transported to the Lenoir County Jail and placed under a secured bond.
Later that same day, Shenika Hardy voluntarily turned herself in to KPD detectives. She was served with multiple charges, including:
Obtain Property by False Pretense
Identity Theft (2 counts)
Forgery of an Instrument
Possession of a Counterfeit Instrument
Accessing Computers to Commit a Felony
Felony Conspiracy (2 counts)
Misdemeanor Conspiracy (2 counts)
Aiding and Abetting a Felony (3 counts)
She was also placed in the custody of the Lenoir County Jail under a secured bond.
Link to Montaris Johnson arrest:
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