A Waterville man has been summoned on charges that he printed a fake check on his computer and used it to buy a riding lawn mower that he later tried to disguise as a John Deere brand tractor.

Troy Eafrati, 31, was charged with two misdemeanors following an investigation into a false check paid to a Starks Road resident in New Sharon, according to a press release from Franklin County Sheriff Scott Nichols.

Eafrati agreed to buy the Toro riding lawn mower from the Starks Road resident, who had posted the mower for sale on Craig’s List, police said. Eafrati is reported to have arranged with the seller by phone to pick up the mower April 27 at the seller’s residence. After writing the seller a check, Eafrati left with the machine, police said.

“The seller discovered from his bank that the check was fraudulent, the business listed on the check was false and the entire check had been manufactured on a computer,” Nichols said in the release.

The seller reported the fake check to Detective Ken Charles, who Nichols said “chased down several leads, which lead him to the town of Waterville.”

Detectives interviewed Eafrati at his residence, where the man allegedly confessed to the crime. The lawn mower was seized by police and returned to the owner. Nichols said Eafrati had painted the tractor “John Deere green,” and put John Deere stickers on the tractor to alter its appearance.

Eafrati was summoned by detectives on charges of class D theft by deception and class D forgery. Eafrati could face more charges, pending review of the case by the district attorney’s office, said Nichols.

Kaitlin Schroeder — 861-9252kschroeder@centralmaine.com


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