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Office of the District Attorney P. David Soares District Attorney P. David Soares Announces Arraignment of Mark Reed on 33 Counts of Fraud ALBANY, NY – District Attorney P. David Soares today announced the arraignment of Mark Reed, 38, of 401 9 Woods Road, Catskill, NY on a 33 counts indictment for a sophisticated scheme to design, manufacture, and pass forged identification papers and financial documents. The Indictment alleges that the defendant, between April and June of 2004, engaged in a systematic scheme to defraud the Albany County Probation Department and/or various people and/or businesses including Grand Union, Price Chopper, Hannaford Brothers, and other businesses. The Indictment further alleges that the defendant, along with others, falsely manufactured identification documents including driver’s licenses and numerous counterfeit checks. The checks bore the names of fictitious business and account holders while utilizing legitimate business bank account routing numbers. Additionally, the Indictment alleges that the defendant, along with others, did make, possess, and cash a large number of these counterfeit checks using the bogus identities. If convicted of all charges, Reed faces up to 20 years in state prison. District Attorney Soares said, “We are all victims of these kinds of schemes. Not only do the individual businesses lose money though illegal means, but the costs of such crimes are ultimately passed on to the consumer.” The defendant was arrested as a result of an investigation conducted by the Albany County Sheriff’s Department. It is alleged that Reed had possession of an additional blank 250 counterfeit checks at the time of his arrest. Reed was arraigned today before the Honorable Thomas A. Breslin and remanded to the Albany County Jail with bail having been set at $50,000. The next court date is set for January 11 th, 2005. One of the alleged conspirators, Diane Effie, 42, of 57 Brunswick Ave., Troy, has entered a plea of guilty to Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the First Degree and is facing up to 10 years in state prison. Effie is due to be sentenced on February 14, 2005. Other charged defendants, Kevin Cooke, 46 and Gail Dreyden, 45 both of Oakbrook Manor Apartments, Ravena, NY, are due to appear in court later this month. Back to Press Releases For further information contact: Richard Arthur
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