4 arrested in Propel Schools check forgery case; warrant out for 5th suspect

Police arrested four people in connection with a scheme to steal nearly $23,000 from Propel Schools by forging checks in the Western Pennsylvania charter school operator’s name, officials said Monday.

The Propel Schools Foundation filed a report with police on Nov. 12 after discovering nearly two dozen fraudulent checks in Propel’s name had been cashed at various places, Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said.

A few days later, Pittsburgh detectives met with the controller of Propel Schools, which operates 10 charter schools in the region, and began investigating what happened, a criminal complaint said.

Investigators learned that at least 28 checks drawn against the school’s Dollar Bank account were counterfeit, the complaint said. The fake checks were cashed using the forged signature of the school’s co-founder, Jeremy Resnick.

Four of the five people charged in connection to the check fraud were arrested as of Monday night, Cruz said.

They include: Alaysha Johnson, 19, and Nia Haley, 19, both of Pittsburgh, Terry Perry, 27, of Verona and Sasha Rucker, 25, of Wilmerding. Each faces charges of forgery, access device fraud, theft by deception and receiving stolen property.

A fifth arrest warrant for Marquis Fussell, 31, of Wilmerding remains outstanding, Cruz said.

The criminal complaint cited six other people who may have cashed forged checks but are not facing charges.

Police continue to investigate.