(Photo provided by the City of Cortland Police Department).
A man attempted to withdraw a “large amount” of cash at a local bank with a fake identification, according to a report.
The City of Cortland Police Department report stated that last Wednesday, officers responded to a complaint at the KeyBank on North Main Street in Cortland.
According to a report, Alexander J. Bernstein, 40, entered the bank, used a fake identification and “attempted to check” on his $25,000 wire transfer. Bernstein then attempted to “withdraw a large amount” of cash from an account of another person, the report continued.
After an alert teller discovered the fake ID, Bernstein “got nervous” and left the bank before the police arrived, the report noted. Bernstein showed up to a KeyBank in Homer, but was arrested shortly thereafter. City police officers were assisted by the Homer Police Department in the investigation.
Bernstein was charged with second-degree possession of a forged instrument (a Class-D Felony), second-degree identity theft and third-degree attempted grand larceny (a Class-E Felony), and fifth-degree conspiracy (a Class-A Misdemeanor).
Bernstein was sent to Cortland County Jail without bail and will appear in Cortland city court on Dec. 20. The investigation is ongoing, the report stated.
