A 29-year-old Illinois man is awaiting extradition to Kentucky after deputies say he used a bounced check to walk out of a Paducah shooting supply store with more than $3,500 in merchandise, much of which he then allegedly resold on Facebook Marketplace. Hunter M. Greene, of Buncombe, Illinois, was arrested Tuesday on an outstanding McCracken County felony warrant for theft by deception.
The case traces back to Sept. 14, when Paducah Shooter’s Supply, located at 3919 Cairo Road, reported to the McCracken County Sheriff's Office that a check it had accepted came back for insufficient funds. According to kbsi23.com, investigators determined Greene had written the check Sept. 2 to purchase $3,572.09 worth of merchandise from the store.
Much of what Greene bought with that check never stayed in his hands for long. The outlet reports that most of the merchandise was reportedly sold off through Facebook Marketplace following the transaction.
Detectives Track Greene Across State Lines
On Tuesday, McCracken County detectives teamed up with Illinois State Police to locate and arrest Greene at his home in Buncombe, per the same report. He was booked into the Massac County Jail in Illinois, where he remains while awaiting extradition back to Kentucky to face the outstanding charge.
Investigators didn't come away empty-handed on the merchandise front, either. One of the crossbows purchased during the original transaction turned up at a pawn shop in Marion, Illinois, and was recovered with help from Marion Police Department detectives, the station's report notes.
Greene now faces a felony charge of theft by deception involving an amount between $1,000 and $10,000. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
A Possible Pattern Beyond Paducah
The investigation didn't stop at one storefront. Authorities say they also developed information connecting Greene to a separate case in Marshall County, Kentucky, involving a check written to another outdoor supply business, though further details on that case were not disclosed.
Ryan Norman with the sheriff's office emphasized the importance of protecting local businesses and holding people accountable for fraud, adding that Mccracken County businesses should not have to absorb financial losses from merchandise obtained through deception. He said the sheriff's office takes these cases seriously and will continue investigating and pursuing those responsible.
The Mccracken County Sheriff's Office credited Illinois State Police and the Marion Police Department for their assistance and cooperation in locating Greene and recovering the stolen property. The office also reminded residents and businesses that suspected fraudulent transactions should be reported to law enforcement, with investigators saying they will pursue credible leads and work with partner agencies to hold offenders accountable under the law.
