Police say three used fraudulent documents to get 'payday loans'

Three Gaffney residents are accused of receiving nearly $4,000 from six local payday loan companies using fraudulent financial statements.

William Mark Fowler, 47, of 3537 Corinth Road has been charged with five counts of obtaining money by false pretenses. Angela Gayle Fowler, 27, of the same address has been charged with three counts of obtaining money by false pretenses. Gary Todd Cunningham, 32, of 607 Filter Plant Road, has been charged with six counts of obtaining money by false pretenses.

According to incident reports at the Gaffney Police Department, the three are accused of going to the following Gaffney businesses between July 2 and 25: Carolina Payday Loans, 1100 W. Floyd Baker Blvd.; Approved Cash Advance, 901 W. Floyd Baker Blvd.; Advance America Cash Advance Center, 535 W. Frederick St.; Check Advance Cash Advance Service, 720A S. Granard St.; Cash Now, 117 N. Granard St.; and Checkmate Cash Advance Center, 1234 W. Floyd Baker Blvd.

Police said they received $3,800 in loans from the businesses by using bank statements and paperwork from the Social Security Administration that had been forged.

Officers responded to Cash Now at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday after Cunningham attempted to get a loan from the business using the same paperwork that William Fowler had used to get a loan, the report states. When police arrived, William Fowler and Cunningham were still outside the business in a Ford Explorer being driven by Angela Fowler. While officers were at the business, an assistant manager from Checkmate told police that William Fowler borrowed money there using altered paperwork. Cunningham also provided the business with the same paperwork but was denied a loan, according to the report.