Elmira, NY – A 21-year-old Elmira man has been arrested in connection with a forged $23,020 U.S. Treasury check that authorities say was part of a larger fraud scheme.
According to the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office, deputies arrested Anthony Brooks on charges of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the First Degree, a Class C felony, and Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony.
The investigation began on September 25, 2024, when deputies were called to Solutions Federal Credit Union in Southport after staff reported a suspicious check. Credit union employees told deputies that Brooks had allegedly attempted to cash a fictitious Treasury check for more than $23,000. Federal officials later confirmed the check was fraudulent.
The Sheriff’s Office said its Criminal Investigation Division determined Brooks had allegedly been provided with the check by another individual. In exchange for attempting to cash it, he was reportedly promised a share of the proceeds. Investigators added that additional arrests are expected as the case develops.
Brooks was arraigned in the Town of Southport Court and released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.
