TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A Topeka business owner has admitted writing thousands of bad checks that prosecutors say inflated his bank balances by more than $600,000.
The U.S. Attorney’s office says John Charles Humpage, 48, pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to one count of bank fraud. He faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine at his sentencing, scheduled for June 10.
Humpage did business under various names, including Crescent Limousine and Yellow Cab of Topeka.
Prosecutors say Humpage engaged in a check-kiting scheme over four months in 2008, depositing more than 5,000 bad checks in bank accounts and withdrawing the money before the checks bounced.