Local Tobacco Farmers Paid with Worthless Checks

Source from:  thetomahawk.com By Angie Gambill 03/20/2008

According to reports from the Johnson County sheriff's office, checks written to Burley tobacco farmers in the area are being returned for insufficient funds. "We're talking about major money here," says Sheriff Mike Reece, "One farmer came by with a check for $27,000 that was no good to ask us what he could do about it." Reece says anyone that has had a check returned by the bank on Mountain City Burley Warehouse, Inc. must notify the company by certified letter. If they fail to respond and make the check good within 10 days, then the sheriff's office can issue a warrant. According to Officer Joe Woodard, the waiting time has expired on a number of checks and warrants have already been issued. President of Mountain City Burley Warehouse, Inc., Jesse Ray Faulkner, is a resident of Southern Pines, NC. Reportedly, law enforcement there is assisting the Johnson County Sheriff's Department in the matter. "I've contacted the officials in Southern Pines and they are cooperating in the investigation," says Woodard. He adds that Faulkner has been listed with the National Crime Information Center. Johnson County farmers are not alone in their plight, as Faulkner has allegedly written numerous checks for tobacco in other parts of Tennessee as well as North Carolina and Virginia. Officer Woodard said, "We have been informed that he has been in contact with Mary Swift (at the tobacco warehouse) and he intends to resolve the situation." Enditem