A Muldrow woman is facing a felony charge in connection with harboring two women who were wanted by the Secret Service on federal charges of conspiracy stemming from a counterfeit check-cashing ring.

Janice S. Richmond of Muldrow, 54, was charged July 31 in Sequoyah County District Court in Sallisaw with one count of harboring a fugitive from justice.

Sequoyah County Sheriff's Deputy Lance Yoakum reported on July 24 that he was asked to assist agents with the Secret Service to apprehend two female suspects, Ashley Looper and Dee Plank, for whom federal warrants had been issued, when the duo arrived at Richmond's home north of Roland. Looper and Plank were supposed to be staying with Richmond.

When authorities entered the driveway a small truck pulled up behind them. At that time, a woman, who identified herself as Richmond, walked up to them, Yoakum reported. Yoakum said when they told Richmond there was information that Plank and Looper were staying at her home, Richmond allegedly said the two were not there. Richmond said that Looper left and went to Oklahoma City on July 23 and that she and Plank had a disagreement and she had not seen Plank in a while.

After receiving consent to search Richmond's home, authorities discovered both Looper and Plank inside. Looper told Yoakum they had been there for the past several days.

Plank, also known as Linda Denise Blake, and Looper, both of Muldrow, are currently in federal custody. The two, along with 12 others, were indicted in federal court last month and are named in a 26-page federal indictment. They are facing charges of conspiracy from a counterfeit check cashing scam across Sequoyah County and western Arkansas.

The others named in the indictment include Matt Cole Hutchinson of Muldrow, Roger Dale Plank of Roland, Phillip Daren Shockey of Sallisaw, Linda Ruth Spencer of Muldrow, Sarah Renee Parker of Muldrow, Robert Hammond King of Pocola, Rickey Dewayne Faldon and Toi Lynn Hedrick, both of Fort Smith, Ark., and Keith L. Barnett, Terry David Cameron, Elizabeth Ann Jones, and Philip Eugene Walston, whose residences are unknown.

Shockey and other defendants would allegedly use computers in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere to create counterfeit checks of various businesses and individuals. According to the indictment, the defendants would allegedly cash the counterfeit checks or recruit others to cash the checks at different banks and businesses, including those in Sequoyah County and in Arkansas. The defendants would also allegedly trade counterfeit check for stolen mail or illegal drugs, according to the charges against them. The defendants are also accused of stealing mail and identification of others in order to make counterfeit checks.

Last year, Hutchinson and Shockey were arrested in Sallisaw after police discovered counterfeit check cashing material in the motel room in which they were staying.

Hutchinson, Shockey, Roger Plank, and Barnett face the most charges and are accused of being the main conspirators in the crimes, the indictment indicates.