A Paragould man has been sentenced to four years of probation after pleading guilty to writing a fraudulent $9,900.84 check, according to Greene County Circuit Court records.
Steven Floyd Crockett, 69, entered a negotiated guilty plea on Oct. 2 to violating Arkansas’ hot-check law, which is classified as a Class C felony. Circuit Judge Melissa Richardson imposed the probation sentence and ordered Crockett to pay $4,164.19 in restitution within 30 days. Additional penalties include a $500 fine, $150 in court costs, and a $60 booking fee.
Prosecutors dropped two Class D felony theft-of-property charges as part of the agreement, with the sentencing order marking the counts as "nolle prossed."
The case originated from a series of events detailed in an arrest-warrant affidavit signed by Detective Cpl. Aaron Gamber. The affidavit stated that Unico Bank reported suspicious transactions involving Crockett on April 28, 2025. Crockett allegedly opened an account on April 22 with a $100 deposit, withdrew $80 that day, then wrote himself a $9,900.84 check on the account. He deposited the check into a separate account at Focus Bank, where he later withdrew $1,000 on April 22 and $4,200 on April 23 before the check was rejected.
Detective Gamber obtained account records, statements, and video evidence to support the charges. On May 20, 2025, prosecutors filed the hot-check charge along with the two theft charges.
Under the terms of his probation, Crockett must report to a supervising officer, obtain approval for changes in residence or certain travel, obey all laws, and refrain from possessing firearms or ammunition. He is also subject to random drug testing and must comply with all court-ordered financial commitments. Violations of these conditions could result in a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
Adam Butler, a deputy prosecutor under Greene County Prosecutor Sonia Fonticiella-Hagood, handled the case. Armando Fonticiella served as Crockett’s defense attorney. Court records list the sentencing order and probation conditions under case number 28CR-25-212.