Woman is sentenced to 3 years for forgery

The Ridge Street woman said drugs and gambling were her downfall.
& lt;a href=mailto:bjackson@vindy.com & gt;By BOB JACKSON & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- For Gail Black, it was a classic case of one thing leading to another.
What started out as a recreational activity became a gambling addiction, which led to her getting hooked on cocaine. She started forging checks to support those habits, then got caught and now is going to prison for three years.
"I've clearly made wrong choices," the 32-year-old Ridge Street woman said.
Prosecutors say Black, who is also known as Gail Robinson, is one of several women who took part in a counterfeit check ring. The women used their home computers to print out bogus checks, made out to look like corporate checks from several local companies.
They deposited the checks at local banks, then withdrew the money, sometimes through automated teller machines.
Another woman, 28-year-old Rochelle Robinson of Toledo, was indicted by a county grand jury in August on charges of forgery and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. Her case is pending in common pleas court.
Judge Jack Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court called it a criminal enterprise that was well thought-out and detailed.
"Most people would not even be able to think of how to do it, let alone carry it out," Judge Durkin said. "But you did."
Pleaded guilty
Black pleaded guilty in August to four counts of forgery, two counts of theft and one count each of tampering with records and taking the identity of another.
Defense attorney Joseph Gardner said Black fully cooperated with authorities after she was caught and questioned. He said her gambling and cocaine problems were the reason she started making and cashing counterfeit checks.
Judge Durkin gave Black credit for more than 200 days she has served in the county jail, and said he will consider granting her judicial release from prison if she seeks help for her addictions while incarcerated.
Black faces similar charges in Trumbull County.
& lt;a href=mailto:bjackson@vindy.com & gt;bjackson@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;