A Pennsylvania man is facing fraud and forgery charges after police say a counterfeit business check put money into his bank account and two additional fake checks were later rejected.
Franklyn Miguel De Mesa, 28, of Hazleton, was identified during an investigation involving Abbey Road Control Inc., whose business account information was allegedly used in the check scheme.
Police say the successful check and two attempted transactions represented more than $5,400 in actual and attempted losses.
According to FOX56, investigators traced proceeds from the counterfeit check to De Mesa’s account and later interviewed him about his alleged role in moving the money.
An Audit Found a Counterfeit Company Check
The investigation began in early July after an audit by Abbey Road Control uncovered a counterfeit check drawn against the company’s business account. Butler Township police said the check had already resulted in proceeds being paid before the suspected fraud was identified.
Investigators subsequently learned that two additional checks had been presented for payment using the company’s account information. Those transactions were declined before the money was paid. Police described the case as involving more than $5,400 in actual and attempted losses.
Police Say the Money Went Into De Mesa’s Account
After reviewing company records and other information gathered during the investigation, police identified De Mesa as the person whose account received proceeds from the counterfeit check. Investigators then interviewed him about the transaction and what happened to the money afterward.
According to police, De Mesa admitted participating with another person in what investigators described as a money-laundering scheme. Authorities said the fraudulent check was used to obtain money that De Mesa then transferred elsewhere. Police also said De Mesa acknowledged receiving a portion of the proceeds for his role.
He Faces Forgery, Conspiracy and Theft Charges
Police charged De Mesa with felony forgery and two counts of conspiracy to commit forgery. He also faces theft by deception and receiving stolen property charges in connection with the investigation.
The charge list does not include a separately identified money-laundering count in FOX56’s report, even though police said De Mesa described his conduct during the interview as participation in a money-laundering scheme with another person.
De Mesa surrendered at the office of Magisterial District Judge O’Donnell on July 31. He was released on his own recognizance rather than being required to post monetary bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for later in August, and Butler Township police said the wider investigation remains ongoing. The charges are accusations, and De Mesa has not been convicted.
Businesses Should Review Checks Before Fraud Spreads to Multiple Transactions
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency warns that criminals can use stolen checks or images of checks to make unauthorized withdrawals. Businesses should review paid checks frequently, comparing the check number, payee and amount against their own accounting records rather than waiting for a periodic audit to reveal discrepancies.
Companies can also ask their financial institutions about fraud controls such as Positive Pay. With that type of service, information about checks issued by the business is compared against checks presented for payment, allowing unexpected items to be flagged for approval or rejection before they clear.
If checks are sent through the mail, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service recommends depositing them securely inside a post office or handing them directly to a postal employee rather than leaving them unattended. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau advises account holders to notify their bank or credit union as quickly as possible after discovering an unauthorized payment.