Jose Castillo Pilfered Blank Checks That Had Been Delivered To His Neighbor
Schneiderman: Those Who Illegally Profit At The Expense Of Innocent Citizens Will Be Held Accountable
NEW YORK – New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the sentencing of Jose Castillo for orchestrating a forged check cashing scheme. Castillo will receive 6 months in jail and five years’ probation on his conviction for felony forgery charges.
The Attorney General's investigation revealed that Jose Castillo, 54, of Brooklyn, New York, pilfered blank checks that had been delivered to his neighbor through the United States mail at the apartment building where he lived. Castillo then forged dates, amounts, and signatures on the checks, and instructed others to cash the forged checks at TD Bank branches in the Bronx and elsewhere in NYC. Castillo pocketed a portion of the illegal proceeds for himself and paid off his associates with the remainder. Two other individuals have already pleaded guilty for their roles in this scheme. Castillo has been in jail on $200,000 bail since his arrest on May 14, 2015.
“Stealing mail, forging documents, and cutting someone else’s checks are shameful acts Attorney General Schneiderman said. “We have zero tolerance for this type of theft which preys on unsuspecting New Yorkers.”
Castillo was sentenced today in Bronx County Supreme Court before the Honorable Steven Barrett. On July 14th, Castillo previously pleaded guilty to Forgery in the Second Degree, a class "D" felony.
The Attorney General thanked the New York State Department of Financial Services for their assistance in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Isaac Gilwit of the Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau's Crime Proceeds Strike Force, with the assistance of Assistant Attorney General Hugh McLean. The Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau is led by Bureau Chief Gary Fishman and Deputy Bureau Chiefs Stephanie Swenton and Meryl Lutsky. The Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau is part of the Criminal Justice Division, led by Executive Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice Kelly Donovan.
The Attorney General's investigation was conducted by Investigator David Negron under the direction of Supervising Investigator John Sullivan and Deputy Chief John McManus, and Investigators Mark Spencer and Scott Petucci under the direction of Deputy Chief Antoine Karam of the Investigations Bureau. The Investigations Bureau is led by Chief Dominick Zarrella.