A local man has been accused of cashing a fictitious check for $625.46.

Christopher Strickland, 29, was charged Jan. 3 with forgery.

According to an Iowa City police complaint, Strickland cashed a fictitious check in the amount of $625.46 at the customer service desk at a Hy-Vee.

The check was made payable to the defendant by Timberline Management, a company that processes payroll for Taco Bell in Iowa City and Coralville. Strickland did not work for Taco Bell during the months proceeding or following the date the check was cashed for, the complaint said.

Strickland displayed his Iowa driver’s license as identification while cashing the check, and the clerk wrote the number on the check.

Strickland reportedly admitted to cashing the check and said he had received it in the mail, but never worked for it. He said he gave the $400 of the money from the check to a guy he named as “Jeremy,” and kept the rest for himself, the complaint said.

Forgery is a Class-D felony.

— by Alison Keim