Schenectady woman pleads guilty to check washing

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- A 43-year-old Schenectady woman pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and criminal possession of a forgery device in Albany County Court on Wednesday, Aug. 21. District Attorney David Soares' office said Averil Hall-Lewis' guilty plea satisfied the 66-count indictment.

Hall-Lewis admitted that between Wednesday, Aug. 23, and Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, she stole checks from mailboxes to wash them, filling them out for various amounts. The funds were split between co-defendants who also participated in the check-washing process.

At least $7,500 was defrauded from Trustco Bank branches, Next Step Federal Credit Union, Broadview Federal Credit Union, School Systems Federal Credit Union, and Sunmark Federal Credit Union. The official total of defrauded funds has yet to be finalized. Among the Hall-Lewis and co-defendants, the check-washing ring used the personal information and identity of 29 people.

Hall-Lewis is scheduled to be sentenced on Monday, Oct. 28, and faces 7 to 21 years in prison. Co-defendant Robert Odom, 67, pleaded guilty to four counts on a separate indictment, and Elizabeth Dolder, 51, pleaded guilty to six counts.