A Syracuse man is under arrest, facing charges after allegedly stealing checks made out to a business and changing them over to his name.

The investigation began in June of 2021 when the Utica Police Department says it was made aware of several checks that had been stolen while they were being delivered to other businesses. The checks, for payments for outstanding service bills, were from Carlo Masi Distributors.

Authorities say that at least two of the checks were presented at the Bank of Utica.  One was disbursed in an amount over $6,800.  According to a written release from the UPD, once "Carlo (Masi) learned of the theft and fraudulent cashing they were reimbursed causing a loss to the Bank of Utica for the above amount."

Michael Mathew Stevens Photo Credit: Utica Police Department (January 2022)
Michael Mathew Stevens Photo Credit: Utica Police Department (January 2022)
loading...
Police determined that the checks were allegedly stolen from the Syracuse area, and, according to their investigation, "altered so that the payee was changed from the business to the individual Michael Mathew Stevens."
When the checks were presented at the bank, the teller secured the driver’s license and other pedigree information.  Consequently, the information from the person presenting the check, identified as Michael Mathew Stevens, was recorded by the bank, as is customary with many transactions.  Police say that this assisted with developing information about a suspect in the case.
Police say after they identified Stevens as the suspect, the financial crimes investigator with the Utica Police Department filed warrants for Michael Stevens, age 32 of Syracuse.
Stevens was located on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 and taken into custody.  He is being charged with Forgery in the 2nd degree and Grand Larceny in the 3rd degree.
[EDITOR'S NOTE:   This post is for informational purposes and is based largely on information from the Utica Police Department.  All arrested persons are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.  At the time of this posting no additional information was available.]

25 True Crime Locations: What Do They Look Like Today?

Below, find out where 25 of the most infamous crimes in history took place — and what the locations are used for today. (If they've been left standing.)

50 Most Popular Chain Restaurants in America

YouGov investigated the most popular dining brands in the country, and Stacker compiled the list to give readers context on the findings. Read on to look through America's vast and divergent variety of restaurants—maybe you'll even find a favorite or two.

LOOK: What major laws were passed the year you were born?

Data for this list was acquired from trusted online sources and news outlets. Read on to discover what major law was passed the year you were born and learn its name, the vote count (where relevant), and its impact and significance.

LOOK: Here is the richest town in each state

Just saying the names of these towns immediately conjures up images of grand mansions, luxury cars, and ritzy restaurants. Read on to see which town in your home state took the title of the richest location and which place had the highest median income in the country. Who knows—your hometown might even be on this list.

LOOK: Here Are 30 Foods That Are Poisonous to Dogs

To prepare yourself for a potential incident, always keep your vet's phone number handy, along with an after-hours clinic you can call in an emergency. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also has a hotline you can call at (888) 426-4435 for advice.

Even with all of these resources, however, the best cure for food poisoning is preventing it in the first place. To give you an idea of what human foods can be dangerous, Stacker has put together a slideshow of 30 common foods to avoid. Take a look to see if there are any that surprise you.

More From 96.1 The Eagle