Westmont man gets 5 years for role in check-forging scheme

A Westmont man who tried to cash a fake check at an Aurora store was sentenced this week to five years in prison for his role in a regional check-forging scheme, authorities said Friday.

Rodney Gaiter, 44, whose last known address was on the 1100 block of Florence Avenue, pleaded guilty July 18 to one count of forgery, a class 3 felony.

Prosecutors said Gaiter cashed a fake payroll check made out to him for $987.62 on Dec. 3, 2010 at a retail store on the 2900 block of Kirk Road in Aurora. The store later reported the fake check to police, who determined Gaiter was part of a larger, regional scheme.

Others involved in the scheme have been convicted on federal charges, officials said.

Gaiter has an extensive criminal history, prosecutors said, including multiple drug- and theft-related convictions in Cook and Tazewell counties over the last 27 years.

He was given credit for at least 168 days served in the Kane County jail, where he has been held since his arrest in lieu of $30,000 bail.