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(M% trojan
Volume C, Number 4
University of Southern California
Wednesday, January 15, 1986
Student imposter arrested for writing bogus checks
Faces nine charges
By David Miranda
Staff Writer
A 24-year-old man suspected of fraudulent check writing was arrested at Troy East apartments last Thursday, and he may be involved in further charges involving checks he allegedly wrote to the university and stores in the Los Angeles area, said Robert Wade, an investigator for University Security.
Frank Wells was arrested and booked at Los Angeles Police Department headquarters and faces nine felony counts of fraudulent check writing involving 34 checks to the university totaling about $3,000. Wade said the checks were from accounts at Security Pacific National Bank, First Interstate Bank, and the USC Credit Union.
Checks written to the university for an additional $10,000 are also under investigation, Wade said.
Wade said Wells was also arrested in Glendale on Dec. 18 in relation to another $3,000 in bad checks allegedly written to Sears Department Store.
Detective David O'Connor of the Glendale Police Department said that based on Wells' past record, he could be sent to state prison if convicted of the Glendale charges.
Further charges involving checks written by Wells to other Sears stores in the area may also be coming, Wade added.
Wells registered for classes in the fall of 1985 and obtained a student identification card and a housing contract before withdrawing from the classes, Wade said, adding that Wells had never attended class at the university.
Prior to his arrest in Glendale, Wells worked in Doheny Library for a couple of months. He then transferred to a job at the Commons Cafeteria, and opened an account at the USC Credit Union after receiving a couple of pay checks, Wade said.
Wade said that he was first alerted to the fraudulent check case when people from the Sears store in Glendale called to verify Wells' status as a university employee following his arrest there in December.
Wade said that Wells should not have received work-study jobs at the university because he was not a student.
Wells also allegedly wrote a series of fraudulent checks to pay for items at different departments within the university, including the bookstore and the housing office, Wade said.
After an anonymous tip, Wade said he found Wells on campus last Wednesday and ran a check on the car that Wells parked outside Troy East apartments. The car turned out to be stolen, and Wells was arrested for grand theft auto, Wade said.
While Wells was being released on $1,000 bail, Wade did some additional investigation into the checks Wells allegedly wrote. He and officer John Lewis arrested Wells again the next day at 4:15 p.m. “He probably wasn't on the street more than two hours," Wade said.
At this point, as far as the university is concerned, Wells will only be held accountable for what has been discovered so far — about
S3,000	worth of allegedly fraudulent checks, Wade said.
But Wade also alleged that Wells registered for classes this semes-
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Representatives from the Black Student Union present flowers at memorial ceremony for Ma.tin Luther King Jr. Tuesday in the plaza of the Law Center.
King's birthday commemorated at Law Center Plaza ceremony
By Beth Laski
Assistant City Editor
What sponsors called the first official ceremony in the nation this year commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. and the legislation that made King the second American to be honored with a national holiday took place Tuesday at the university Law Center Plaza.
Sponsored by the USC Black Staff and Faculty Caucus, and co-sponsored by five other black organizations on campus, the program consisted of ceremonies in memory of King, who became in 1964 the youngest man in history to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
In a flier distributed by the Black Assembly, King was described as a man "who stood for a concept which transcended all national ties, ethnicities, and religious denominations. King sought the equality of all men regardless of race, creed or color."
Vernon Broussard, an associate professor in the School of Education, acted as master of ceremonies
and began the commemoration by reciting the remarks of President Reagan at the signing ceremony for Martin Luther King Jr. holiday legislation.
Broussard quoted Reagan as saying, "Now our nation has decided to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by setting aside a day each year to remember him and the just cause he stood for."
Reagan was also quoted as saying, "traces of bigotry still mar America. So each year on Martin Luther King Day, let us not only recall Dr. King, but rededicate ourselves to the commandments he believed in and sought to live every day."
Myrlie Evers, widow of one of the original civil rights leaders, was the keynote speaker, and said she sees King as "the father and leader of love throughout this world."
Evers said that although there has been enormous progress since the days of King, "We are still dealing with many of the same problems that were encountered in the past."
In 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was shot dead by
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Tommy Trojan becomes pulpit for lunchtime sermons
JOEL ORDESKY DAILY TROJAN
CiNDY SMOCK
Students ridicule preachers
By Rita Choi
While Jed Smock and his wife, Cindy, preached to a crowd of about 80 students, shouting out from the center of the mob about "repenting for sins" and "salvation," they faced constant heckling last Thursday and Friday afternoons.
The Smocks, who took turns preaching, were mocked, laughed at, and had obscenities and jeering questions shouted at them by the encircling students.
But despite the students' hostility', Jed Smock is undaunted and said he will continue his mission "to warn the wicked or they'll be damned. We're here to make them call upon Jesus for salvation."
Nor was Jed Smock worried about his wife being heckled by the crowd. "They're not as dangerous as they look," he said.
Cindy Smock said she expected the ridicule.
"I expect people to make fun. They need to repent and believe in Jesus," she said.
"They've been out here bragging about their immorality, drugs, rock and roll, and drinking beer on the Row," she said.
Afshin Stafford, an undeclared sophomore who was in the crowd of listeners, said he thinks people are entertained by them.
(Continued on page 3)
Preaching couple removed
By Marci Kenon
Staff Writer
Christian evangelists Cindy and Jed Smock were ordered off campus by security officers Friday afternoon after the crowd that had assembled to listen to the couple's preaching became "disruptive and potentially harmful to students," said security officer Russ Thvret.
Thyret said he requested and received permission from Lt. Melvin Stinnette, a watch commander at security, to disperse the group that had gathered in front of Tommy Trojan to hear the controversial couple speak.
"There were several different religious groups present and they began to argue amongst each other," Thyret said. "More and more insults were being exchanged, so we felt it was necessary to stop a potentially explosive situation before it got out of hand."
Although security regarded the issue as one of safety, Smock, who was arrested on campus in
1983,	said safety was not an issue and said security had violated the rights of he and his wife.
"We moved our group when this one guy began to interrupt our gathering," Smock said. "Nevertheless, he had a right to his freedom of speech just as we had a right to our freedom of speech,
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JUUE M. SEIDEL DAILY TROJAN
JED SMOCK