Schenectady woman admits to role in check washing scheme

A Schenectady woman has admitted to her role in a scheme that stole checks from mailboxes and “washed” them to cash them for various amounts of money.

Averil Hall-Lewis pleaded guilty in Albany County Court on Aug. 21 to criminal possession of a forged instrument and criminal possession of a forgery device.

The pleas covered a 66-count indictment in which prosecutors said she stole thousands of dollars from local financial institutions between Aug. 29, 2023 and Oct. 21, 2023.

Hall-Lewis had stolen checks, and then she worked with others to erase information and fill them out with money that was split among the participants in the scheme.

The group stole at least $7,500 from institutions including Trustco Bank branches, Next Step Federal Credit Union, Broadview Federal Credit Union, School Systems Federal Credit Union and Sunmark Federal Credit Union, investigators said.

Hall-Lewis faces 7 1/3 to 21 years in prison when sentenced on Oct. 29.

Robert Odom, 67, and Elizabeth Dolder, 51, previously pleaded guilty. They each face to 6 to 12 years in prison when sentenced.