Man accused of leading bogus check ring
Suffolk County police said Crime Stoppers and detectives from the Suffolk County Police Department Identity Theft Section have released photos of Timothy Lamont Howard, 50, who they said is a suspect in connection with a ring that opens bank accounts, deposits forged payroll checks into them and then makes ATM withdrawals from the accounts once the funds are available. Credit: SCPD
A Bronx man wanted by Suffolk, Nassau and New York City police, accused of leading a bogus check-cashing ring, tried to change his appearance Wednesday by shaving off his full beard, police said, but the change came too late.
Suffolk identity theft detectives were waiting for Timothy Howard, 50, outside his home at 660 St. Anns Ave., Wednesday morning, police said, and when Howard emerged, he was arrested and charged with 17 counts of criminal possession of forged instruments, and one count of grand larceny.
Howard's image was captured on numerous Suffolk bank surveillance cameras since last year depositing a total of about $100,000 of forged payroll checks, police said. Once the money became available, the funds were withdrawn through ATMs or with the purchase of postal money orders, police said.
Suffolk Det. Sgt. Edward Aki said banks in other jurisdictions, including Nassau County, are believed to have lost an additional $100,000 to Howard and or others in his ring.
Authorities recently distributed to media outlets pictures of a bearded suspect in hopes of getting tips that would lead police to him, Aki said.
"He tried to disguise himself so he could move to a different place," Aki said. "He attempted to change his appearance a bit by shaving . . . but we already knew where he was."
Howard, who is also wanted on a New York State parole warrant, police said, is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in First District Court in Central Islip.
"He is the first to be arrested in this ring," Aki said.
The investigation is continuing and police asked that anyone with information contact Crime Stoppers at 800-220-8477.
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