Albany, NY – 51-year-old Elizabeth Dolder of Delanson, NY, pleaded guilty to 6 counts of a 34-count indictment before the Hon. William Little in Albany County Court on Thursday morning.

The Counts Dolder pleaded guilty to are:

-1 Count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree (The First Count of the Indictment)

-2 Counts of Identity Theft in the First Degree (Counts 3 and 7)

-1 Count of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree (Count 13)

-1 Count of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the First Degree (Count 23)

-1 Count of Identity Theft in the Second Degree (Count 33)

As a part of her plea, the defendant admitted to acting in concert with others in a counterfeit check cashing ring. Specifically, she pled guilty to the following crimes:

-         On August 22, 2023, while at a financial institution on Central Avenue in Colonie, she cashed a forged check in the amount of $2500

-         On August 24, 2023 while at a financial institution on Western Avenue in Guilderland, she helped another defendant cash a forged check in the amount of $2500

-         On October 14, 2023 while at a financial institution on New Karner Road in Albany, the defendant attempted to cash two forged checks, one in the amount of $1,000 and the other in the amount of $2,000 under a fake identity

-         On October 19, 2023 while at a financial institution on Albany Shaker Road in Albany, the defendant used a counterfeit Iowa Driver’s License in another fake identity to cash a forged check in the amount of $985.98

-         On October 19, 2023 while at a financial institution on Wolf Road in Colonie, the defendant used the same forged Iowa Driver license she used earlier that day, and cashed a forged check in the amount of $980.00

The investigation also revealed that the defendant and an associate stole checks from various mailboxes in the area, after which they washed those checks, increased the amounts, and made the checks payable to either themselves or fictitious identities.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 22, 2024. The defendant faces up to 15 years in state prison when sentenced, and will be required to pay restitution to the victims involved.

Shane Shoemaker, President of the Financial Crimes Bridge said:

“Fraud is a growing problem across the globe that harms every community. These charges are an example of what the collaboration and partnership at the heart of the Financial Crimes Bridge can accomplish.”

District Attorney Soares said:

“While financial crimes may not grab headlines in the same way violent offenses do, they can still have a life-changing impact on victims. I’d like to thank the Financial Crimes Bridge and ADA Andrews for their diligent work on this case. In times of fiscal uncertainty, rampant theft cannot be tolerated. I would like to thank the Colonie Police Department, and the Guilderland Police Department for their work in securing justice.”

Assistant District William Andrews is handling the prosecution of this case.

All parties are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty