Three people have been arrested in connection with a forged check scheme.

State Police began an investigation in March 2023. Troopers witnessed Jahquel S. Robertson, 28, and Anisa Figueroa, 29, both of Troy, providing Albany resident Erik Aponte Ortiz Jr., 30, a forged check for the purpose of cashing it at financial institution in East Greenbush, police said.

Investigators stopped Ortiz and while he was arrested, police found a controlled substance. Robertson and Figueroa were subsequently stopped in a vehicle together on I-787 in Colonie. Multiple fraudulent checks were found in their vehicle, police said. 

Police searched the home that Robertson and Figueroa shared and found check generating equipment, controlled substances along with illicit drug packaging materials and multiple debit cards in other people’s names. 

Robertson was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, three counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument, forgery, attempted grand larceny, conspiracy, criminal possession of a controlled substance and two counts of petty larceny.

Figueroa was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a forged instrument, attempted grand larceny, conspiracy and criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Ortiz was charged with four counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument, three counts of attempted grand larceny and criminal possession of a controlled substance. He was issued an appearance ticket and due in East Greenbush Town Court on Nov. 30. 

Robertson and Figueroa were arraigned at the Troy City Court and released under the supervision of the Rensselaer County Probation Department. Robertson was also issued appearance tickets and is due in Colonie and Rotterdam town courts at a later date.