ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - A local business in Albany said it is their legal right to deny services to anyone after a woman who recently moved to the east side of Albany was denied a service to cash her check.

“I felt like it was discrimination,” the woman, Lorrieann Thurman, said. “Not because I’m Black, but because I’m Black and in an area where it’s majority of low-income families and people are trying to make it.”

Thurman said she relocated to Faith Avenue on the east side of Albany because that’s what she can afford. After moving to town, she said a check cashing service denied her because of the street she lives on.

“As a struggling person that came here to live better and to enjoy life — to be told that you’re not going to cash a check because of the street that I live on... There are so many closed doors already when it comes to me and people like me,” Thurman continued.

The business owner of the check cashing service confirmed that their business will not service people who live on Thurman’s street on the east side of town because of some fraudulent activity that happened in the past.

Malcom Mathis, who lived on Faith Avenue, was charged with fraud and making fake IDs in 2023.

According to the 2023 incident report, Mathis “forged the victim’s name and social security number without his knowledge, and when the victim checked his credit report, he saw approximately $6,000 for unpaid rent.”

The business owner said that because they have been scammed out of money by Mathis, they no longer service people who live on the east side’s Faith Avenue.

Ward 1 Albany Commissioner Jon Howard has been fighting the negative perception of the east side for years.

“East Albany is no different than any other city. Crime has increased nationwide. It doesn’t matter where you stay because you’re dealing with different personalities,” Howard said.

Thurman said that since living on Faith Avenue, she has had no complaints or problems. She said she hopes that the community of Albany can start to shift their perspective on the east side.

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