The Covington County District Attorney’s Office Worthless Check Unit has been ramping up efforts to bring in people wanted on outstanding warrants for passing bad checks.

On Friday, Investigator Lamar Stokes told The Star-News the unit has whittled down the number of wanted individuals from more than 2,900 to more than 2,700 in about a year’s time, but is still hard at work looking for suspects, while even more names pour in.

“We’re constantly getting new names,” Stokes said Friday. “We’ve been steadily working that number down.”

Stokes said the number of people wanted for passing bad checks includes those who simply wrote worthless checks, those who have failed to appear in court on charges related to worthless checks, and those who have begun making restitution payments, but have since stopped meeting their end of the financial arrangement.

Monday, Stokes released a list of the top 10 suspects currently wanted by the Worthless Check Unit. They include:

• No. 1 – James Edward Gantt, 47, for 25 counts of failure to pay or appear in court;

• No. 2 – Anita Karnes Gantt (AKA Anita Ann Gantt), 43, for nine counts of failure to pay or appear in court;

• No. 3 – Larry Caldwell for five counts of failure to pay or appear in court;

• No. 4 – Byron Todd Carpenter, 44, for three counts of negotiating a worthless instrument;

• No. 5 – Clinton Eric Riddle, 27, for one count of negotiating a worthless instrument;

• No. 6 – Patricia Mary Bushlee, for seven counts of negotiating a worthless instrument;

• No. 7 – Lacretia N. Green, for two counts of negotiating a worthless instrument;

• No. 8 – Shawna Ranee Hamby, for two counts of negotiating a worthless insturment;

• No. 9 – Lori Marie Moss for two counts of negotiating a worthless instrument; and

• No. 10 – Frankie Lee Owens Jr., for seven counts of negotiating a worthless instrument.

Stokes said, even for those on the top 10 list, simply coming in and paying the debt will make the warrants go away.

“If they know they have an active warrant, they can call the circuit clerk, or come by and see David (Floyd) at the DA’s office, and they can set up payment and have the warrant recalled,” he said. “It won’t even be on their record. All restitution will be taken care of.”

Officials say it is important to note that once a warrant has been issued, payment must be made at one time, in full and will include court costs.

For those on the list who are don’t come in willingly, Stokes is asking that anyone with any information as to their whereabouts contact the DA’s office at 334-222-2513.

For a list of wanted suspects not featured in the top 10 list, visit the Covington County District Attorney’s Office – Worthless Check Unit on Facebook.