Man accused of writing more than $45,000 in fraudulent checks

by Melissa Farenish

Dalmatia, Pa. — A Dalmatia man was charged for writing 44 fraudulent checks for more than $45,000 and taking advantage of his former landlord. 

Police filed felony forgery charges against Andrew John Souder, 35, after the accuser told them on Dec. 1 that she had discovered a number of fraudulent checks were written and debited out of her bank account. The checks were written from Jan. 2 to Nov. 30, 2023, according to Trooper Michael Adams of state police at Stonington.

The accuser, a 74-year-old woman, had rented a home in Lower Augusta Township to Souder from 2018 to 2022 when she moved out of the country. By October 2022, the accuser sold the home to Souder. She discovered the fraudulent transactions when she received an overdraft notice from her bank on Nov. 22. The accuser told police she had never given Souder her checks nor did she give him authorization to conduct financial transactions on her behalf, Adams wrote in the affidavit. 

The checks had the accuser's signature, which were allegedly forged by Souder. Police found during the investigation that Souder came to the Sunbury branch of M&T Bank at least four times to physically cash the checks. Video surveillance showed Souder was there on April 7 and cashed a $1,600 forged check. Souder also cashed several other checks at the bank branch on Oct. 17, Oct. 30, and Nov. 2, according to Adams. The rest of the checks were deposited via mobile deposit using Souder's bank app. Check amounts ranged from $2,500 to $100. 

In addition to the felony forgery charge, police also filed felony counts of bad checks, theft by unlawful taking, and financial exploitation of an older adult. Charges were filed at the Sunbury office of District Judge Rachel Wiest-Benner, who set bail at $10,000 at 10% monetary, which Souder posted. A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 30 at Wiest-Benner's office. 

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Man accused of writing more than $45,000 in fraudulent checks