Second person charged in Boyceville forgery/counterfeiting case

By Cara L. Dempski

MENOMONIE — A second person has been charged in an alleged forgery and counterfeiting case in Boyceville.

Zachary D. Morgan, age 31 of Boyceville, was charged October 5 in Dunn County Circuit Court with one count of uttering a forgery after law enforcement found a suspicious check in the home he shares with Lori N. Klund.

The criminal complaint states the check was found during the execution of a search warrant on August 4, 2016, that resulted in Klund’s arrest on allegations of forgery and uttering. The search warrant for Morgan and Klund’s home came after she was identified from video footage at a Boyceville business passing counterfeit currency.

She was charged with two counts of forgery – uttering and seven counts of forgery in August, and charged with another count of forgery – uttering in September after more bills bearing the same serial numbers as those found in her home were discovered to have been used to get into the Dunn County Fair.

The complaint indicates Morgan, a convicted felon, was not present in the home when the warrant was executed. In addition to seizing multiple counterfeit bills in varying denominations, law enforcement seized the check for $2,500. Boyceville police chief Greg Lamkin referred to the item as a “clear forgery.”

The check was drawn upon a United Western Bank account and from the MG Trust Company; it was dated May 28, 2016. Lamkin completed an Internet search and discovered United Western Bank was closed in January 2011, and MG Trust Company is closed. 

The Boyceville police chief also indicated the only instance of capitalization on the check was on Morgan’s first name, and all other instances that should have been capitalized were not.

Law enforcement took numerous electronic items and printers with copying and scanning abilities into custody, several pieces of currency with serial numbers matching those passed at two Boyceville businesses and one Glenwood City business, the check, a shotgun, and a 9mm assault-style rifle.

The complaint explains the weapons were taken into custody because their ownership was in question, Klund would not speak with the officers, and Morgan is a convicted felon.

According to the criminal complaint, Morgan contacted Lamkin on August 11 to notify the police chief he was returning to town to take care of his open warrants. Morgan asked Lamkin what happened at his home.

Lamkin informed Morgan he, and several members of Menomonie Police Department and Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, had executed a search warrant on Morgan and Klund’s home, and Klund had been arrested on suspicion of forgery. 

Lamkin reported Morgan asked if the warrant was “because of what she (Klund) had done,” and Lamkin verbally confirmed it was.

Morgan told Lamkin the check was one of two sent to him in payment for car parts purchased through a Craigslist.com transaction. Morgan then said he cashed one check at a Woodville bank and was not facing charges in St. Croix County. He referred to the checks as being part of a Craigslist scam, and told the police chief he was keeping the second check to show to a St. Croix County judge.

The criminal complaint also indicates Morgan informed Lamkin he would be contacting an attorney regarding police harassment.

In an unsolicited email sent to this publication, Morgan alleged Lamkin is a liar and overuses his power.

Morgan’s email alleges Lamkin “destroyed my home and my family, broke the law and are (sic) civil rights, provided false statements and accusations in order to try to make a case out of something that should of (sic) been investigated and proper procedure taken.”

The email message further alleges 14 members of law enforcement arrived at the home in “deep tactical gear” and weapons were pointed at children in the home during execution of the warrant. Morgan also said no warrant was provided upon entry to the home, and Lamkin did not keep a list of evidence taken from the property.

Morgan is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on January 31, 2017, at 1:45 p.m. Uttering a forgery is a class H felony in Wisconsin, and carries a penalty of up to six years imprisonment, a fine up to $10,000, or both.