The Kennebec Journal

March 19

Authorities search for couple suspected of fraud

By Craig Crosby ccrosby@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

AUGUSTA -- Police are hunting for a pair of Augusta residents suspected of trying to steal thousands of dollars from the city and local businesses.

Lt. Keith Brann of the Augusta Police Department said authorities are looking for Leona Ann Havens, 31, and Douglas Allen Buotte, 29, after the pair allegedly forged checks from the Augusta school and city accounts.

Payment was stopped on the checks before any money was lost, Brann said.

Buotte and Haven created the fraudulent checks, Brann said. "They didn't even look close (to the real checks)," he said.

Buotte and Haven allegedly cashed multiple checks worth between $5 and $1,000 at local businesses during the past couple of weeks, Brann said, and obtained several thousand dollars.

"That's their income," said Brann.

Assistant City Manager Ralph St. Pierre discovered the fraud Tuesday during his daily review of the city accounts and stopped payment before money was withdrawn from the accounts, Brann said. St. Pierre's action likely saved the city thousands of dollars, he added.

Detectives visited stores where the checks were cashed and were able to identify Havens and Buotte through surveillance videos and interviews.

A search at the couple's Glenridge Drive apartment on Thursday turned up thousands of dollars in fraudulent checks made to look as if they had come from the school department and several local businesses, Brann said.

Buotte was also the driver in a crash on Feb. 7 that left an Augusta woman severely injured.

Sandra Hill, 48, of Augusta, remains hospitalized at Central Maine Medical Center, according to co-workers. Her Volkswagen Beetle was T-boned by Buotte's Dodge Durango at the intersection of Bridge and State streets.

Buotte was not injured in the crash.

Hill's co-workers at the Senator Inn's restaurant, Cloud 9, are organizing a fundraiser to help cover her medical expenses. The event is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on April 7 at the Senator Inn.

Augusta police are asking anyone with knowledge of the whereabouts of Havens or Buotte to call Detective Vincente Morris at 626-2370, ext. 212.

Craig Crosby -- 621-5642

ccrosby@centralmaine.com