FARMINGTON -- Two men have been indicted in a scheme in which large-ticket items such as appliances, furniture, large screen TVs, and chain saws were being purchased across six Maine counties using bogus computer-generated checks and were being stored at homes around Farmington.

Brandon R. Belanger, 38, of North New Portland was indicted by a Franklin County grand jury this week on felony forgery that occurred between Jan. 15 and March 3, 2009. Dennis Ayala, 46, of 558 Temple Road in Wilton was indicted for receiving stolen property and possession of drugs on April 3 in Wilton.

Belanger is also facing multiple charges of forgery and theft by deception in other counties including Kennebec, Somerset and Oxford and in New Hampshire.

The stolen items taken in the Farmington area filled two U-Haul trucks, Farmington police said at the time. Investigators also said the items were being bartered or sold for drugs.

The checks were passed at stores from Madison to Augusta to Lewiston and were all accepted by merchants and clerks, according to police. Some stores did jot down a license number for identification but many did not. Belanger, sometimes with another man, would allegedly load the goods into the back of a pickup and drive off, according to police at the time.

Betty Jespersen -- 778-6991

bjespersen@centralmaine.com