Florida man accused in theft of $156K check from Mt. Pleasant Township company

A missing $156,000 check written by a Mt. Pleasant Township manufacturer led state police to a Florida man who is accused of intercepting it and taking it for himself.

Potensky Jean-Pierre, 26, was jailed over the weekend on charges including theft, forgery, corrupt organizations and dealing in proceeds from an unlawful act.

Troopers said they were notified in early 2023 by Intervala that a check written to a Texas electronic component procurement firm apparently never arrived. Investigators determined the check was altered to be paid to Tenski Enterprises and cashed at a bank in Florida, according to court papers.

Tenski Enterprises is registered as a limited liability company to Jean-Pierre, according to Florida business records. Documents creating the company were filed in October 2022.

Through a search warrant to the bank where the check was cashed, police said they learned the account was opened in November 2022 by Jean-Pierre. The check was cashed in January 2023 by an unidentified man who was wearing glasses and a green jacket, according to court papers. Afterward, video surveillance showed Jean-Pierre made five withdrawals totaling $58,000, police said.

It was unclear from court papers how the check was intercepted.

Police got an arrest warrant for Jean-Pierre in June 2023, and he was arrested last month in Florida during a patrol, according to Polk County court records. He did not have an attorney listed in online court records. A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 15.

He was being held on $200,000 bail at the Westmoreland County Prison.

Intervala has manufacturing capabilities in electronic and electromechanical products, including printed circuit board assemblies and cable and harness assemblies. The company works with customers in fields such as industrial, medical, defense and transportation, according to its website.