A man who moved to Shreveport only six months ago said he opened accounts at eight local banks and credit unions to scam money to further his gambling habit.

John Darrien Hays, 46, of the 7700 block of Millicent Way, was booked into the Caddo Correctional Center on eight counts of bank fraud, four counts of forgery, and two counts of identity theft following an investigation by Caddo sheriff's detectives.

During the investigation, it was discovered Hays used counterfeit checks to open accounts and withdraw money, causing a loss for the banks. He also negotiated forged checks to withdraw money and used false or stolen social security numbers to open accounts. In all about $30,000 was taken. 

Hays was arrested by Sheriff's Detectives Bobby Herring and Frank Edmondson of the Caddo-Shreveport Financial Crimes Task Force.