Oct. 6, 2015
For Immediate Release
Contact: Paul Jarvey
508-368-7241
WORCESTER – Men from Worcester, Spencer and North Brookfield were arraigned today in Worcester Superior Court on charges involving a wide-ranging counterfeit check scheme, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.
Christopher M. Cardinale, 31, of 193 Oakham Road, North Brookfield, and Daniel P. Cronin, 56, of 21 Elbridge St., Worcester, each face 58 charges, including larceny over $250, forgery, uttering and conspiracy. Judge James Lemire set bail at $15,000 cash.
Zachary Millett, 25, of 13 Dale St., Spencer, faces 20 charges. He was released on personal recognizance.
The defendants were indicted last month by a Grand Jury.
All three cases were continued to Nov. 19.
The men are charged with posing as employees of a fictitious construction company and using counterfeit checks to purchase equipment and gift cards and acquire cash. There were 19 check-cashing incidents late last year, resulting in the theft of $32,701.
Counterfeit checks were cashed in Worcester, Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Millbury, Grafton and Gardner. Police in those communities, along with Oxford Police and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the thefts.