Cops: Man passed $90G in fake checks

Police on Tuesday arrested a man and charged him with grand larceny, accusing him of passing more than $90,000 in counterfeit traveler's checks to buy iPods, iPads and gift cards at retail shops in Nassau County.

David Phem, 28, was arrested in Westbury at 1 p.m. Tuesday by detectives from the county's Crimes Against Property Squad. He faces arraignment Wednesday on a single charge each of third-degree grand larceny and first-degree fraud; and 13 counts of possession of a forged instrument.

Detectives said in a news release that Phem, of Brooklyn, used more than 900 fake $100 American Express Traveler's Cheques "to make fraudulent high end purchases including iPods, iPads and gift cards" at Apple, Target and TJ Maxx stores.

His arraignment was set for Wednesday in First District Court in Hempstead.