UTICA — A 23-year-old Utica man has been charged with multiple felonies in connection with a check fraud scheme that cost a local bank nearly $2,000.
Isaiah Jefferson was arrested Sept. 19 by New Hartford police and later charged by Utica police with four counts of possession of a forged instrument and grand larceny in the third degree.
The investigation began July 30 when Utica police received a report from a local bank about fraudulent checks being cashed.
The bank reported that the same individual had cashed checks at various branches around the area, resulting in the financial loss.
The case was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division due to the total value and information involved.
Investigators determined that Jefferson had committed similar acts in other jurisdictions beyond those initially reported.
Police said the checks belonged to a deceased individual with whom Jefferson had no connection and no permission to possess the checks.
