Authorities conduct searches in check scheme

A cooperating witness says she saw hundreds of blank payroll checks.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Patrolman Dale E. Posterli's house was one of three places searched by detectives investigating a counterfeit check-cashing scheme.
Posterli, 30, is not charged with a crime and continues to work while the investigation continues, said Capt. Martin Kane, head of the Internal Affairs Division.
Kane said Thursday that IAD will take whatever action is necessary once detectives complete the investigation.
The search warrants were issued for Posterli's North Side home; the residence of Dwayne Arrington at 216 Thornton Ave.; and North Pole car wash, 1401 Elm St.
Municipal Judge Robert P. Milich authorized the searches based on an affidavit from Detective Sgt. Anita Davis, who investigates fraud cases.
As with Posterli, Arrington is not charged with a crime.
What was taken
The affidavit states that the property being sought included counterfeit checks, fictitious driver's licenses and equipment used to make, retouch, edit or reproduce payroll checks.
Among the items taken during the search of Posterli's home Aug. 27 were North Pole car wash business cards, photographs and homemade compact discs. At Arrington's home, the property taken included a computer keyboard, cell phone, miscellaneous papers and homemade CDs.
Nothing was taken during a search of the car wash, according to papers filed with the court.
Neither Posterli nor Arrington could be reached Thursday.
Davis' affidavit states that Posterli and Arrington have "formal ties" to the car wash and have been seen together.
In July, Davis received a complaint from a grocery store owner on Elm Street who knows Posterli. The complaint was that Posterli cashed a counterfeit Economy Industrial Equipment Co. payroll check made out to "Pete Olson" for $861.16.
When asked why the store owner would cash the check for Posterli, Kane said maybe the man trusted that the officer would make the check good if there was a problem.
Same characteristics
Davis' affidavit states that the check has the exact characteristics as one detectives said they have that a cooperating witness got from Arrington on Aug. 24. That same day, Arrington's car was parked in Posterli's driveway for several hours, court papers show.
On Aug. 24, the cooperating witness told detectives that she saw Arrington go to an open bay at the car wash and take a blank payroll check and fake Ohio driver's license from a briefcase. She said she saw hundreds of blank checks and at least six suspected fake Ohio licenses, the affidavit states.
The witness took from Arrington a check titled Economy Industrial Equipment Co. that he had used a typewriter to make out to "Monica Levels" for $356.87. She also took a fake Ohio driver's license in Levels' name, the affidavit states.
The witness was told by Arrington to cash the check and return half the money to him at the car wash or his home, Davis wrote in the affidavit.
Followed orders
On Aug. 25, detectives gave the cooperating witness $169 and sent her to 216 Thornton to pay Arrington and watched as she went into the house and then left in a car driven by Arrington. The car pulled into the car wash parking lot.
The witness then met up with detectives and told them that, while in the car with Arrington, she gave him the $169 and returned the Ohio driver's license in the name of Monica Levels.
The woman said Arrington told her to return later that day to get two more counterfeit payroll checks but Davis' affidavit doesn't indicate if the woman did return.
The woman told detectives that she attempted to cash other counterfeit checks for Arrington the previous three days but Davis' affidavit doesn't indicate if the woman was successful.
meade@vindy.com