New York Woman Indicted for Bank Fraud and Forgery of US Treasury Check

United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian announced today that a federal grand jury in the Northern District of New York, in Albany, returned a two-count indictment charging KENITA HOKE, 44, of Troy, New York, with bank fraud (Count 1) and forging an endorsement on a United States Treasury check (Count 2). If found guilty of Count 1, HOKE faces a statutory maximum sentence of thirty years imprisonment. Count 2 carries a statutory maximum sentence of ten years of imprisonment upon conviction. A maximum fine of $250,000 applies to both counts. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of the proceeds of the offenses from HOKE.

The indictment alleges that, on September 24, 2009, HOKE knowingly executed a scheme to obtain monies from First Niagara Bank, a financial institution whose deposits were insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, by means of false and fraudulent pretenses and representations. According to the indictment, HOKE deposited a $10,190.73 United States Treasury check payable to another person into her account at First Niagara Bank, in Troy, N.Y.