LYNDONVILLE — Two men have been charged in connection with a series of forged checks and identity theft that targeted a Lyndon resident and a local credit union, according to the Lyndonville Police Department.
Sterling Heaton Denby, 40, of Bangor, Maine, and Scott Lapoint, 60, of St. Johnsbury, are accused of uttering a forged instrument after an investigation revealed that seven checks totaling approximately $840 were fraudulently drawn from a 74-year-old Lyndon woman’s account.
The checks were reportedly written without her authorization between February and June.
The police were alerted to the fraudulent activity on June 27, after Christina Denby reported the unauthorized transactions.
Following an investigation, Officer Gerrish of the Lyndonville Police Department apprehended Scott Lapoint on July 25 at the Bay Street Pavilion in St. Johnsbury.
Further investigation led to the identification of Sterling Heaton Denby as a second suspect.
In cooperation with the Bangor Police Department, Denby was located and cited in Bangor on August 2.
Both men have been charged with multiple counts of uttering a forged instrument and identity theft, with Lapoint facing additional charges related to the case.
Lapoint is scheduled for arraignment at the Caledonia Superior Court on Sept. 23 at 8:30 a.m. Denby is expected to face the court on Oct. 21 at the same time.
The New England Federal Credit Union, which also fell victim to the fraudulent activity, is working in conjunction with authorities on the case.
