BROOKVILLE BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) – A Brookville woman is facing criminal charges after allegedly cashing nearly $3,000.00 in fraudulent checks at a local bank.
Court documents indicate the Brookville Borough Police Department filed criminal charges against 44-year-old Michelle R Oakes.
According to a criminal complaint, Brookville Borough Police initiated an investigation into the use of fraudulent checks on June 8 involving checks cashed at a local bank. Police then spoke to an employee of the bank who reported the checks were cashed by Michelle R. Oakes.
According to the complaint, Oakes submitted a mobile upload of a U.S. Treasury check on January 21 for the amount of $885.14, a second US Treasury check on January 22 for the amount of $1,482.71, and a personal check from a known man in the amount of $610.00 on January 21. The complaint notes the bank later determined all three of the checks were altered or fraudulent and were not legal tender.
Oakes was then contacted by the bank regarding the discovery and signed a statement dated January 24 saying she understood that she was responsible for the three checks and agreed to repay the money.
The complaint states Oakes also signed a statement dated February 14 that she was responsible for repayment to the bank and that she would pay at least $150 per month to the bank until restitution was made.
According to the complaint, on March 25, the bank received a personal check from Oakes, dated March 20, in the amount of $250 from an account at a second area bank, but the check did not clear as it was issued from a frozen or blocked account. Police spoke to a manager at the second bank who verified Oakes account was frozen/blocked.
The initial bank then used a “cash only” clause to the repayment agreement. The complaint states Oakes then failed to make payments and a certified letter was sent to her from the bank asking for full payment of the amount due. That request was not met.
The complaint notes police spoke with Oakes regarding the investigation, and Oakes claimed she was scammed and received the checks in question as a result of the scam. She also told police she was “making arrangements to pay all the money back when other life factors came into play.”
The following charges were filed against Oakes through Magisterial District Judge Gregory M Bazylak’s office on Wednesday, June 10:
– Theft by Deception-False Impression, Misdemeanor 1
– Bad Checks, Misdemeanor 1
– Bad Checks, Misdemeanor 2 (two counts)
– Bad Checks, Misdemeanor 3
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on August 11, with Judge Bazylak presiding.
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