Two men arrested in counterfeit scheme

Thursday, September 13, 2018 - 14:25

— Photo from Bethlehem Police
Donovan Joseph

— Photo from Bethlehem Police
Naveion Kirkley

BETHLEHEM — Police arrested two men on Monday involved in a check-cashing scheme, according to a report from the Bethlehem Police Department.

Naveion Kirkley, 21, of Troy, and Donovan Joseph, 19, of Altamont, were each charged with 33 counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, one count of third-degree grand larceny, and one count of first degree scheme to defraud, all felonies.

They were arrested on sealed indictment warrants issued by Albany County Court and arraigned there. Kirkley was remanded to Albany County’s jail without bail while Donovan was remanded to jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Additional charges are pending.

Kirkley and Joseph were identified as leaders in a large-scale payroll check-cashing scheme. They are alleged to have recruited several others to enter banks and cash fake payroll checks forged by the two.

Kirkley and Joseph would then receive a majority of the funds, which added up to be over $50,000.

A search of Kirkley’s residence resulted in a seizure of a laptop and printer, a forged payroll check, and around $9,500 in cash.

Bethlehem Police worked with the United States Postal Inspection Service, Colonie Police, Albany Police, and the Albany County Sheriff’s Office on the investigation, which lasted several months.

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