Stolen Money Located and Returned to Erie County

STATEMENT FROM ERIE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOHN J. FLYNN

Today, the District Attorney’s Office received an update from the U.S. Secret Service on the investigation into a fraud scheme involving a check issued by the Erie County Clerk’s Office. A hold harmless letter was issued by a bank, which stated that the entire sum of $326,456 in missing taxpayer money will be returned to the bank account for Erie County.

A check issued by the Erie County Clerk’s Office to the State of New York Mortgage Agency in March 2022 was intercepted by an unknown individual. The check was forged and fraudulently re-directed the money to “Get Mobile LLC.” The funds were withdrawn from the Clerk’s Office bank account after the counterfeit check was deposited into a business bank account in Maryland.

Our office referred the case to the U.S. Secret Service who was able to further trace the bank transactions. After the counterfeit check was deposited into the business bank account, the Secret Service determined that the money was converted into a cashier’s check, which was sent through the United State Postal Service to an address. The cashier’s check was never negotiated or deposited into another account, so the stolen funds remained held by the bank. 

While this remains an ongoing investigation into the person or persons responsible for this crime, I am pleased to announce that this stolen money has been located and will be returned to Erie County.”