UTICA — Utica police have arrested two suspects in connection with a kidnapping case where a victim was forced at gunpoint to cash stolen checks at area banks in late July.
Police say the victim met with a group of acquaintances when they were threatened with handguns and forced to cash stolen checks at various banks.
When the initial transactions failed to process, the victim was taken to a residence and held against their will until the following morning, according to police.
Several transactions were attempted again the next day and were successful, with nearly $5,000 withdrawn through the fraudulent transactions.
The Criminal Investigations Division took over the case and identified three primary suspects with assistance from the Mohawk Valley Crime Analysis Center.
On Aug. 22, the Utica Police Department Warrants Unit located the first suspect.
Jean Rivera, 18, of Utica, was charged with kidnapping in the second degree, grand larceny in the third degree, attempted grand larceny in the third degree, menacing in the second degree, criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree and possession of a forged instrument in the fourth degree.
On Aug. 26, a 17-year-old suspect turned himself in to police and was charged with the same offenses as Rivera.
A 19-year-old suspect remains at large in connection with the case.
