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Canandaigua man charged in ‘check washing’ scam: Over $40,000 stolen from banks and businesses

A Canandaigua man has been arrested in connection with a large-scale ‘check washing’ scam.

Kirk Martin, 45, of Canandaigua is currently facing a number of charges as an investigation into fraudulently cashes checks continues.

He was arrested on October 7th, but investigators from multiple locations in the Finger Lakes and Central New York were involved unknowingly in the same investigation.


It started with a trucking company reporting two fraudulently cashed checks. For his role, Martin told state police investigating that he was approached by a group of individuals who told him that he would make some ‘quick money’ doing some work for them.

The total value of the bogus checks exceeded $40,000, according to investigators, who say investigations were unfolding in Syracuse, Ontario County, Wayne County, and Monroe County.

State police said the checks were not linked exclusively to one financial institution. Instead, Martin and the alleged group targeted several institutions.

Martin faces six counts of possession of a forged instrument with the investigation still active.