SHARON - An Illinois woman is facing charges in Mercer County after police say she deposited a fraudulent check claiming to be from the City of Sharon.

According to a criminal complaint, the alleged fraud happened in December of 2025 and involved a First National Bank check from the City of Sharon's General Fund for $4,734.62.

Sharon Assistant Finance Director Leanne Doughton told police she received a call from a bank in Illinois about a pending transaction in the name of Zaria Shanell Berry of Woodridge, Illinois.

The bank stopped the pending transaction after Doughton said she did not authorize payment to Berry or know who she was.

According to the complaint, the legitimate $4,734.62 check was meant for WEX Bank in Illinois and mailed to the bank's PO box. Police say Berry works for a company that also receives payments at the same post office.

Police say the check appeared to have been misdelivered, altered, and fraudulently negotiated using her personal information.

According to the complaint, surveillance footage shows a woman matching Berry's description personally depositing the check at the bank's drive-thru and immediately driving away after the transaction.

From there, police say Berry transferred the proceeds from the check to Zelle and used them to make retail purchases.

Police say Berry had prior run-ins with law enforcement in her home state, including a time she allegedly threatened to kill her employer after she was fired, as well as a larceny case from 2020.

Charges against Berry were filed on Thursday, February 5. She is facing third-degree felony charges of theft, identity theft and access device fraud, as well as a second-degree felony charge of forgery.

Court records do not show any arraignment information for Berry at this time.