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Press Release

Local Man Sentenced For Role In Counterfeit Check Fraud Scheme

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Allegheny County has been sentenced in federal court to time served on his conviction of uttering counterfeit checks, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Senior United States District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose imposed the sentence on Jonathan Brown, 23, of Pittsburgh, Pa.

According to the information presented to the court, Brown obtained stolen identities and then, on April 14, 2011, and negotiated counterfeit checks at Big Lots stores which he used to buy merchandise. The court was advised that Brown was involved in a larger check fraud scheme.

Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Inspectors from the United States Postal Inspection Service along with agents from the United States Secret Service who, as part of the Western Pennsylvania Financial Crimes Task Force (WPFCTF), conducted the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Jonathan Brown. The WPFCTF was established as a collaborative, multi-agency effort to effectively combat financial crimes, including identity fraud, in Western Pennsylvania. Partnering in this effort are the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Department of Homeland Security, the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office, the Allegheny County Police Department, the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Pennsylvania State Police.

Updated July 14, 2015