Richard S. Hartunian, United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York announced that Richard Reid, of Schenectady and Elmira, pled guilty today to possessing and uttering a counterfeit $58,010.02 check. Reid, age 61, admitted before Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr.that, on or about January 5, 2007, he possessed and deposited the counterfeit check into his account at Trustco Bank, 320 State Street, in Schenectady.
The check was drawn on the account of Buttonwood, Inc., which also does business as Buttonwood Books and Toys of Cohasset, Massachusetts.
The defendant subsequently was identified by a Trustco employee in a photo array presented by the Schenectady Police Department and, following his arrest by federal authorities last March, executed a sworn statement indicating in substance, among other things, that he had received the counterfeit check in the mail through “an internet deal,” that he had signed and deposited the check, and that he had received approximately $20,000 from it, with which he purchased a used car and some things for himself and his girlfriend. In fact, investigation revealed that he withdrew virtually all of the funds, including wiring some to another account that he controlled in Elmira.
Sentencing in the case was set for Friday, June 25, 2010, at 12:30 p.m., before Senior Judge Scullin in Albany.
The investigation in this matter was conducted by the local offices of the United States Postal
Inspection Service and the United States Secret Service. The case is being prosecuted by the United
States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York.
Twitter
Facebook