Two people accused of stealing over $40,000 through forged checks

Two people have been arrested for allegedly stealing more than $40,000 from a Rensselaer County resident by forging checks.

Prudence M. Cavanaugh, 42, of Schenectady, allegedly had access to the victim’s checkbook. Cavanaugh then wrote 62 checks made out to Peter M. Mitchell, 76, of Troy State Police said.

Michell then allegedly cashed the checks at numerous locations in Rensselaer and Albany, and turned all the money over to Cavanaugh.

Both were charged on May 27 with 62 counts of possession of a forged instrument. Cavanaugh is also facing two counts of grand larceny and four counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance for allegedly having multiple controlled substances containing drug residue.

Both were released on appearance tickets and are due in town courts at a later date.