Town of New Hartford NEW YORK

TOWN of NEW HARTFORD

ONEIDA COUNTY

NEW HARTFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT

32 KELLOGG ROAD, NEW HARTFORD, NEW YORK 13413-2850

 Telephone: 1-315-733-6666

Fax: 1-315-724-8618

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April 23, 2009

FRANKFORT WOMAN ARRESTED FOR CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF A FORGED INSTRUMENT

A Three month investigation into several counterfeit American Express money orders passed at First Source Federal Credit Union in New Hartford lead the the arrest of Diane M. Roman, 38 of Frankfort, N.Y.  During February 2009 Roman arrived at the credit union with four American Express Money orders totaling $2,000.  Roman approached the teller and asked to exchange the money orders for cash.   When Roman gave the money orders to the teller the teller became suspicious of the legitimacy of the money orders and informed the branch manager.  Amercian Express was contacted while Roman was still inside the credit union.  American Express Fraud Investigators informed the credit union that these money orders were in fact counterfeit, at which time The New Hartford Police Dept. was contacted and subsequently located Roman in the Lobby area of the credit union.  Roman initially stated that she was not aware that the money orders were counterfeit, and that she had received them by way of the internet. 

An investigation into this matter revealed that within the two months prior Roman attempted to cash similar counterfeit money orders at The First Source Federal Credit Union in Herkimer, N.Y., which she had received again by way of the internet, indicating that Roman did in fact know that the money orders she brought to The New Hartford Branch to be counterfeit. 

Roman was located at her residence by The New Hartford Police Warrants Unit and charged with Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument, which is a Felony and attempted Grand Larceny, a Misdemeanor.  Roman was arraigned in The Town of New Hartford Court and will further answer the charges in Town Court at a later date. 

Police credit alert tellers and management staff at First Source Federal Credit Union with identifying these money orders as suspicious and promptly contacting police, ultimately leading to the arrest of Roman.

Police caution that money orders obtained online or by email attachments in which the person issued the money orders as a form of payment of wages are likely fraudulent.  Another type of illegal activity  is in which a person  is sent a money order or check and is asked to cash the money order or check and for doing so is to keep a portion of the proceeds and mail the remaining amount to the original sender of the money order or check. 

Investigating Officer: Patrolman Ronald Fontaine

Submitted by : Patrolman Ronald Fontaine

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