Con Man Reportedly Dupes Jewelry Store

A man who passed himself off as a member of a federal terrorism task force hoping to propose to his fiancee before heading to Iraq conned a ritzy jewelry store into accepting a bogus $16,000 check for a diamond ring, a newspaper reported.

Michael Morgan is accused of paying for the ring at British jeweler Asprey with a counterfeit cashier's check, the New York Post reported Tuesday.

Morgan, 39, pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of forgery and grand larceny, the paper said.

Morgan, who was arrested Dec. 26, admitted to authorities he printed the counterfeit check on his laptop after telling a sales clerk he worked for a counterterrorism task force and wanted to get engaged before leaving for Iraq that night, the Post said.

By the time the store discovered the check was bogus, Morgan had unloaded the ring at a pawn shop for between $2,500 and $3,000, according to the paper.

Telephone calls placed Tuesday to police, prosecutors and defense lawyer Matt Goldsmith were not immediately returned.
Source: ap