Local

Four accused of trying to pass fake checks

Darryl Causby, Drew Causby, Annette Bruce and Christopher Bull, are all accused of trying to pass forged checks.

Deputies said they claim to be sovereign citizens.  But the four made no mention of that today during their first appearances in front of an Osceola County judge.

Deputies said the group was counterfeiting checks out of a room at the Red Roof Inn on Kyngs Health Road in Kissimmee.

In addition to computers, printers and software, deputies said they also found paperwork for the individual sovereignty process.

"Sovereign citizens don't feel they have to abide by state or federal law. So maybe he didn't feel like he did anything wrong. But our investigation revealed they did break the law," said Twis Lizasuain of the Osceola County Sheriff's Office.

WFTV reporter Melonie Holt called all four suspects at the jail. Christopher Bull called back.

"Are you a part of the sovereign citizen movement?" Holt asked Bull over the phone.

"Ma'am, I'm a human being in this land. You know, I can make no claims for anyone else. I do know that the law is being broken as it is written by the federal government as far  as what a legal tender is," said Bull.

Bull went on to explain that he was acting as a banking institution when he attempted two bank drafts at a local Amscot.  The banking institution listed on the check was the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, which doesn't do business with individual account holders. Bull said his signature on the check made it legal tender.

"I should be freed immediately," said Bull.

The four suspects are being held at the Osceola County jail.

Bull's bond is the highest of the four at $6,000.