Bad Checks Spell Trouble For Forger

AUGUST 5--Meet Fitzhugh Fenderson, an alleged felon in dire need of a spell checker. The 33-year-old Long Island man is facing grand larceny and forgery charges for a scheme to swindle car dealerships out of pricey SUVs. According to cops, Fenderson last month passed bogus certified checks at two Cadillac dealerships, walking away with a pair of $65,000 Escalades. When the checks bounced, the dealers ran to Nassau County cops, who yesterday nabbed Fenderson, who was at the wheel of one of the Cadillacs when placed in cuffs. However, had the car salesmen looked more closely at Fenderson's checks they would have realized there was a problem with the paper. Along with misspelling "Roosevelt," his own hometown, Fenderson had trouble correctly rendering "Chase Manhattan Bank." Below you'll find one of those bogus 65k checks, passed at a Freeport dealership last month. Perhaps the next time Fenderson goes auto shopping he'll leave the checks at home and pay with cash. (1 page)