When the owner of Elmer Moser & Sons Trucking in the Village of Castorland, in Lewis County, located in the foothills of the Western Adirondacks checked, he noticed two checks for 4,058 and $4,280 that he never issued, taken from his account.

Community Bank agreed the checks were the result of one of the company’s actual check issued and “washed” criminal elements. Check washing scams involve changing the payee names and often the dollar amounts checks and fraudulently depositing them. Occasionally, these checks stolen from mailboxes and washed chemicals to remove the ink. Some scammers will even use copiers or scanners to print fake copies of a check.

The trucking company reported the bogus cashed checks to the Lowville barracks of the State Police (Troop D) October 5th of 2021. That set off a flurry of investigations of the trucking company’s checks drawn on the Community Bank account. The bogus cashed checks on the account totaled over $40,000, according sources.

The case reached down to Lyons National Banks in Williamson and Lyons. State Police investigations also appeared in Syracuse area, Ontario County, and moved west to Monroe County.

On Friday (10/7) Kirk L. Martin, age 45, of Phelps Street in Canandaigua was arrested. It was learned that prior to his arrest 20 washed checks were produced, with 10 of the checks successfully cashed.

Martin, an employed laborer (one police source indicated that he is currently caring for his mother suffering with cancer), told police he was approached by two men offering him a way to make some quick, easy money.

Martin, using his own drivers license and identification, reportedly received a portion of the ill-gained cash, passing the rest to the check washing gang.

Martin has been charged with one count of Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree in Williamson in the amount of $5,261, for two counts in Wayne County for $4,058 and $4,280, three counts in Ontario County in the amounts of $3,950 in Canandaigua and $4,280, and a third check at the Community Bank in the Village of Clifton Springs. The Times has not learned the charges and amounts in either the Syracuse area, nor in Monroe County.

Martin is being held in jail and the investigation is continuing.