Pittsburgh Man Charged with Trying to Pass a Counterfeit Check
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh has been indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of making, uttering and possessing a counterfeit security of an organization which operates in and the activities of which affect interstate commerce, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
The one-count indictment, returned on June 19, named Andrew Jones, 34, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment, on May 1, 2011, Jones possessed a counterfeit check drawn on Parkvale Bank in an attempt to deceive Big Lots Department Store.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
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 conducted the investigation that led to the Indictment in this case. The Western Pennsylvania Financial Crimes Task Force (WPFCTF) was established in February 1995 as a collaborative, multiagency effort to effectively combat financial crimes, including identity fraud, in Western Pennsylvania. Partnering in this effort is 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.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
