<img src="http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/policeandfire.gif" border=0 > Florida residents face charges after van stop

February 18, 2009 12:45 am

— CARTHAGE, Mo. — Three Florida residents are facing felony charges of receiving stolen property after stolen electronic merchandise and counterfeit checks allegedly were discovered in their vehicle by a state trooper during a traffic stop on Interstate 44 in Jasper County.
Patrol officials said a westbound Toyota van was stopped at 4:35 p.m. Friday on I-44 for an alleged traffic violation.
A search turned up electronic equipment believed to have been purchased with counterfeit checks at various Wal-Mart stores in Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky, the patrol said. Maps detailing locations of Wal-Mart stores in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma also reportedly were found in the vehicle.
The driver of the van, Catina V. Porter, 36, and her passengers, John R. Johnson, 48, and Terence L. Dunbar, 31, all of Tampa, Fla., were taken into custody and charged with receiving stolen property. They posted bonds of $10,000 on Sunday and were released from the Jasper County Jail in Carthage.