A 24-year-old Illinois man is now facing theft charges after allegedly using a bad check worth nearly $160,000 to walk away with a brand-new 2023 Tige boat from a Kentucky dealership.
The McCracken County Sheriff’s Office says a local business first raised the alarm on May 19, reporting that a customer had made a large purchase using a check that later turned out to have insufficient funds.
How was he tracked down?
The break in the case came from a tip — a citizen in Illinois reached out to the dealership’s manager, saying they recognized the boat and had spotted it on Rend Lake just 20 to 30 minutes earlier.
McCracken County deputies quickly contacted the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois, who were already familiar with both the boat and the man operating it. Authorities located the boat at a marina and found the suspect nearby, along with the trailer.
Who is the suspect?
Travis Riechman, 24, of Benton, Illinois, was taken into custody by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and charged with possession of a stolen vehicle. The boat and trailer were returned to the dealership.
Authorities say more charges are possible as the investigation continues. The case involved coordination between McCracken County, Paducah E-911 Dispatch, and Franklin County Dispatch.
The McCracken County Sheriff’s Office has not yet confirmed when Riechman will face charges in Kentucky.
