Alleged check thief facing more charges
A Pittsburgh man, already facing charges filed by police in Cecil and North Strabane townships, now faces more charges, as does an alleged accomplice.
Joseph T. Hoffman, 33, was arraigned Tuesday via video from the Allegheny County Jail before District Judge David Mark on three counts of theft, theft by deception, forgery and conspiracy filed by Chartiers Township police Sgt. Michael Filosi.
Filosi also obtained a warrant for Hoffman’s alleged accomplice, James D. Gibson, 34, of Rankin.
Checks sent by Ellis Asphalt, 580 Plum Run Road, Chartiers, were reportedly stolen from the mailbox of a company in Robinson Township, Allegheny County.
The checks of the asphalt company were duplicated and three cashed for $10,656. The company learned of the theft after a bank employee noticed suspicious checks.
Hoffman and others face similar charges in the other municipalities as well as communities in Allegheny County. Investigators said checks are apparently stolen from mailboxes of companies in industrial parks, duplicated and then homeless people are enlisted to cash them.
Mark set Hoffman’s bond at $50,000.