MAYVILLE - A Chautauqua County man is in jail after detectives from multiple law enforcement agencies unraveled a check-cashing scheme which allegedly defrauded several stores and financial institutions throughout the county.
Marco A. Michalski, 22, of 1701 Eggleston Hill, Sherman, has been charged with several counts of scheming to defraud, issuing a bad check and petit larceny for allegedly passing at least 60 bad checks over the past few months.
What appears to be the first charge was leveled by the Lakewood-Busti Police Department back in February, after Michalski allegedly wrote bad checks twice to Value Home Center on Fairmount Avenue for a total amount of $198.57.
''He had moved to Chautauqua County from another state and it looks like our charges against him were the first in this long line,'' said Sgt. Investigator Paul Gustafson of the Lakewood-Busti Police Department.
According to Undersheriff Chuck Holder, charges have been filed against Michalski in Clymer by the New York State Police, in Jamestown by the Jamestown Police Department, in Sherman by the county Sheriff's Department and in Westfield by the village police.
The Westfield Police Department was notified about the situation by the Jamestown Police Department and began speaking with local businesses and banks to see if Michalski had attempted anything in the village. Westfield police report that they learned Michalski attempted to open a bank account at the Westfield Area Federal Credit Union with a check from a closed account at another bank, and made off with $252.65.
It is unknown exactly how many bad checks Michalski has allegedly circulated throughout the county, but Holder said it is at least 60, and it is suspected that it may be as many as 150.
District Attorney David Foley's office is working to consolidate the charges to simplify the prosecution process, Holder explained.
Holder urged any person, business or financial institution that has received a check from Marco Michalski to call the non-emergency number of their local law enforcement agency and explain their situation.
Michalski is being held in the Chautauqua County Jail in lieu of $2,300 bail and will return to court later.
