DISTRICT ATTORNEY - NEW YORK COUNTY, Robert M. Morgenthau

Manhattan District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau announced today the indictment of 18 individuals for operating an identity theft and bank fraud scheme, involving hundreds of victims, thousands of counterfeit checks and numerous commercial banks in Manhattan? The investigation leading to today's indictment revealed that the defendants obtained personal and bank account information belonging to 500 identity theft victims and used it primarily to manufacture thousands of counterfeit checks. By fraudulently cashing and depositing the counterfeit checks, the defendants stole over $1.4 million from one bank's accounts and substantial additional sums from other banks. Victims of this scam included private individuals, corporations, religious institutions, hospitals, and schools, as well as city and state government agencies