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BETHLEHEM – Police arrested two men for their alleged involvement in a check cashing scheme that cost multiple businesses more than $50,000.
On Monday, Sept. 10, an indictment was unsealed in Albany County Court charging 21-year-old Naveion Kirkley of Troy and 19-year-old Donovan Joseph of Altamont on 33 counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument, one count of grand larceny and one count of scheme to defraud.
The arrests stems from a months-long investigation involving Bethlehem police, Colonie police, the Albany County Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
The two are alleged to have recruited several individuals to enter local financial establishments and use their own credentials to cash fake payroll checks created by the duo. The recruits would then turn the majority of the proceeds over to Kirkley and Donovan.
The fake checks were made to appear as if they came from businesses.
A search warrant executed on Kirkley’s residence resulted in the seizure of a laptop computer and printer, a forged payroll check, and approximately $9,500 in cash.
Additional charges are pending.
After arraignment in Albany County Court, Kirkley was remanded to Albany County jail with no bail and Donovan was remanded in lieu of $100,000 bail.
