1 suspect in check theft, 'washing' scheme jailed; police still looking for 2nd in $10K case

A McKees Rocks man accused in a check “washing” scheme was jailed Tuesday.

Bryan. A. McGraw, 30, was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison on $50,000 bail. State police announced last week they were searching for McGraw and Michael G. Machay, 35, of Butler, in connection with a check that was stolen from a Ligonier mailbox and used to steal about $10,000 from Latrobe Municipal Authority.

It was unclear if McGraw turned himself in or was picked up by police.

Troopers still are looking for Machay.

The two suspects are facing numerous counts of forgery, theft, tampering with records and related offenses.

Police said the pair used a “washing” process that erases details written into a check, then replicated a blank version of it.

Troopers were notified of the situation Dec. 30 by the municipal authority in Derry Township and were provided copies of the six forged checks. Three were made out to Machay totaling $5,432 and were cashed Dec. 22 at a trio of Commercial Bank & Trust branches in the area, according to court papers.

The other three checks, totaling $5,173, were cashed by McGraw at the same branches, police said. Troopers learned that a check from the municipal authority to Singer Accounting was missing from the Route 30 firm’s mailbox, according to court papers.

Troopers got arrest warrants Jan. 2 for Machay and McGraw. Anyone with information on Machay’s whereabouts is asked to call 911 or the state police Kiski Valley station at 724-697-5780.

McGraw did not have an attorney listed in online court records. A March 23 preliminary hearing is set.