A man wanted by Cedar Bluff Police in connection to a “Quick Change Scam” has been arrested. According to Investigator Chris O’Neal with the Cedar Bluff Police Department, Investigator Josh Summerford, Commander of the Cherokee County Major Crimes Unit and Centre Police Officer Brody Moses apprehended the suspect after a concerned citizen called police headquarters in Cedar Bluff and identified the victim after seeing his picture on both the WEIS Radio and Cedar Police Department Facebook pages.

58 year old Johnny Leo Deleonardo of Hamilton County Tennessee has been charged with Theft by Deception 3rd Degree and was additionally charged with Obstructing Justice after giving officers a false name – Investigator O’Neal said that Deleonardo entered the Piggly Wiggly on Highway 9 in Cedar Bluff and purchase a 12 pack of cokes and then paid with a $50 bill, after the cashier completed the transaction and handed Deleonardo his change, he told her thought he had given her a $20 bill and asked for the $50 bill back stating that he would pay a different way.

The cashier gave Deleonardo back his $50 bill and he then gave the cashier a $100 in different bills and asked her to give a $100 bill in exchange since he had already paid for his drinks and at that point he left the store.