Syracuse, NY -- Seven people are charged in a check-cashing scheme involving family members and acquaintances that defrauded a credit union of about $15,000, Syracuse police said. Whitney Allen, 22, of 120 Gage Court, is accused of being the first to use a closed account at the Empower Federal Credit Union to withdraw funds, Deputy Chief Joe Cecile said today....
Syracuse, NY -- Seven people are charged in a check-cashing scheme involving family members and acquaintances that defrauded a credit union of about $15,000, Syracuse police said.
Whitney Allen, 22, of 120 Gage Court, is accused of being the first to use a closed account at the Empower Federal Credit Union to withdraw funds, Deputy Chief Joe Cecile said today.
Shennell Howington, 31, of 104 Lawrence Ave., profited the most from the scheme, Cecile said.
Each person in the scheme would deposit a fake check into the closed account at the credit union, Cecile said. They then withdrew money from the credit union’s automated teller machine, Cecile said. The only victim was the credit union, he said.
Police have determined that about $15,000 was fraudulently withdrawn from the bank, Cecile said, but the investigation is still open and that figure could change.
Allen was charged with forgery, falsifying business records and grand larceny, all felonies. Howington received those charges plus a misdemeanor petit larceny charge.
Also charged with forgery, falsifying business records and grand larceny are Lonnisha Mosely, 21, of 126 Belle Ave; and Shalanda Sutton, 33, of 220 Garfield Ave.
Those charged with forgery, falsifying business records and petit larceny are Adrian Dey, 70, homeless; Nicole Dillard, 40, of 106 Frisbie Court; and Kasheeba Crawford, 113 Dearborn Place.