Thursday, September 11, 2014

Schenectady Man Overcharged in Paving Scam, and Other Financial Crimes in Albany County

District Attorney P. David Soares announced the recent resolutions of several cases in the Financial Crimes Unit.

MICHAEL FINK, 28, of Schenectady, was sentenced to up to 1 year in local before the Honorable Peter A. Lynch in Albany County Court this morning.

On July 8, 2014, FINK pleaded guilty to (1) Count of Grand Larceny in the 4th Degree, a Class E Felony.

Between July 25, 2013 and September 19, 2013, at a residence on Robinhood Road, in the Town of Guilderland, FINK did overcharge an elderly couple in a driveway paving scam.  FINK took $14,300.00 in additional payments for a paving job that had an actual value of $2,500.00.

An employee at the victim’s bank notified the Guilderland Police, who were able to locate and arrest FINK.

“The unfortunate reality is that we live in a world where criminals prey on senior citizens, and in this case a diligent bank employee was able to contact law enforcement and do something about it,” commented DA Soares.  “I thank this Trustco bank employee for their commitment to protecting our senior citizens, and I encourage the public to be aware of scams like this.”

Assistant District Attorney Jessica Blain-Lewis is handling the prosecution of this case.

Additionally, BRENDAN DARMETKO, 22, of Albany, pleaded guilty to (1) Count of Forgery in the Second Degree, a Class D Felony, before the Honorable Judge Stephen W. Herrick in Albany County Court yesterday morning.

On or about June 28, 2014, at the retail store Exscape on Lark Street in the City of Albany, DARMETKO used a stolen credit card to purchase assorted merchandise, and did falsely sign a name that is not his to the receipt.  An investigation led by the Albany Police Department did uncover that DARMETKO was the suspect by reviewing surveillance video and executing a search warrant on DARMETKO’s residence where they recovered the purchased items.

DARMETKO faces 6 months in jail, in addition to 5 years of Felony Probation upon release from custody, when sentenced on October 8, 2014.

Lastly, KIMBERLY LOUNSBERY, 48, of Averill Park, pleaded guilty to (1) Count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D Felony, before the Honorable Judge Stephen W. Herrick in Albany County Court on September 5, 2014.

Between October 2, 2013 and November 5, 2013, while employed at Affordable Dentures of Albany, LLC, LOUNSBERY stole patient payments in the amount of $10,340.00.  LOUNSBERY falsely recorded that she was making deposits of said patient payments into the company bank account, but instead kept the money for her own personal use without the permission or authority to do so.  Police were alerted by the company after an internal audit discovered the theft and LOUNSBERY had been terminated.  An investigation had uncovered that LOUNSBERY had been falsely recording these entries and keeping the patient payments six times during this time period.

LOUNSBERY faces up to 6 months in jail, in addition to 5 years of Felony Probation upon release from custody, when sentenced on October 24, 2014.  LOUNSBERY will also be ordered to pay full restitution to the company at the time of sentencing.  She has already paid $975.00 back to date.

Assistant District Attorney Philip Apruzzese of the Financial Crimes Unit is prosecuting the cases against both DARMETKO and LOUNSBERY.

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