UTICA, N.Y. Last week, charges were brought against a man from Utica in relation to a fraudulent bank transaction that cost a local financial institution $1,500.
A local bank reported to Utica Police in the middle of April that a customer had placed a cheque for over $4,000 and taken out $1,500 right after. The loss occurred when the bank realized the next day that there were not enough money in the account to cover the deposited check.
The case was sent to an investigator from the Criminal Investigations Division of the Utica Police Department because of the size of the stakes. Using security footage from the bank, investigators were able to identify the culprit with the help of New York State Parole and the Mohawk Valley Crime Analysis Center.
The person, later identified as Utica resident Kevin Singleton-Lee, 34, was already detained at the Oneida County Jail on separate charges, according to the authorities.
After an investigation, the suspect is charged.
After being taken to the Utica Police Department on June 12, Singleton-Lee was officially charged with fourth-degree grand larceny.
Neither the original deposit nor the separate charge that resulted in his detention have been made public.
Several agencies worked together to coordinate the investigation, which demonstrated how surveillance technology and interagency collaboration were used to identify the suspect.
As the case proceeds, Singleton-Lee is still being held.