Man arrested for forgery, ID theft Man arrested for forgery, ID theft (December 31, 2004)

Suspect cashed more than $10,000
by Teresa C. Brown

A man was arrested Dec. 14 for attempting to cash a $6,295 cashier's check was that fraudulently obtained.

Pavel Kotsyubchuk, 18, of North Highlands, Calif., was arrested at Washington Mutual at 561 Main St., where he was trying to cash the check, Pleasanton police said.

Police reported that Kotsyubchuk had cashed a forged personal check at a San Jose Washington Mutual branch earlier that day.

During that transaction, Kotsyubchuk pocketed $2,500 in cash and had a cashier's check made out to himself for $6,295, police said. The bank later discovered that the personal check was a forgery.

The victim, a Vista, Calif., resident, had been unaware that his checks were being forged, police said. Kotsyubchuk is also believed to have cashed an $8,000 check the previous week that belonged to the victim. The forgery took place in Stockton, police said.

In addition to the forged checks, the victim also learned that an unauthorized person had transferred $18,000 from his savings account into his checking account, police said.

Police believe that Kotsyubchuk, who is from Ukraine, was planning to travel there the day after cashing the cashier's check.

Police continue to investigate the case to determine if Kotsyubchuk and other suspects are involved in an identity theft and forgery organization.

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