Woman accused of passing countless bad checks across central Nebraska -- again

ST. PAUL, Neb. (KOLN) -- Abigail Cronin, a 29-year-old from Grand Island, has been charged with additional fraud-related offenses involving numerous bad checks throughout central Nebraska. She was arrested on Tuesday and is currently being held in the Buffalo County Jail, facing felony charges in Hall, Valley, and Howard counties.

The series of fraudulent activities began when the Grand Island Police Department was notified of suspicious checks presented at a local bank on December 6, 2024. Bank officials reported that Cronin had attempted to open an account with three checks totaling $2,400, all of which were invalid. Investigations revealed that she had also tried to deposit two other checks amounting to $9,000 at different banks in Grand Island and Kearney. When one bank discovered that a presented check was linked to a closed account due to prior fraudulent activity, they alerted law enforcement.

In early March, another incident involved Cronin trying to purchase a generator for $5,000 from an agriculture retailer. She paid with a check that later turned out to have invalid accounting and routing numbers, prompting the retailer to file a police report. Shortly after, she attempted to buy a truck and camper from a dealership in St. Paul, writing two checks totaling $113,550, which similarly bounced. Cronin continued her pattern by returning to the dealership for another vehicle purchase, but the promised wire transfer never materialized.

Cronin now faces multiple felony charges, including theft by deception and issuing bad checks. Her alleged fraudulent activities date back to 2022, with previous charges relating to the unlawful purchase of two trucks in Minden and passing a counterfeit check worth over $255,000. At the time of her recent arrests, she was already on bond and probation in several counties.

Authorities believe Cronin may have conducted similar fraud schemes in nearby Buffalo and Kearney counties prior to her arrest. They urge anyone who may have fallen victim to Cronin's fraudulent activities to reach out to their local law enforcement agencies for assistance.