A 58-year-old Welland man is facing numerous criminal charges after police say he deposited suspicious cheques totalling more than $30,000.
Antonio Di Gioia faces three charges, including uttering a forged document and fraud over $5,000.
He has been released from custody pending his next court date.
Here is the full press release from police:
NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE
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In February of 2022, Detectives from the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Central Fraud Unit began a Fraud investigation in Niagara Falls at a business on Thorold Stone Road near Portage Road.
Business employees wished to report they had been contacted by their bank, who advised them of the deposit of suspicious cheques totaling just over $30,000 into the bank accounts of two corporations. The employees confirmed they had not authorized the payments, and the bank was able to reverse the cheque deposits.
Further investigation revealed that a business employee, who was responsible for assisting with accounting duties, had issued the cheques out to his own corporations.
On March 2, 2022, Antonio Di Gioia (58 years) of Welland was arrested and charged with the criminal offences of:
- Utter forged document, contrary to Section 368(1)(a) of the Criminal Code
- Falsification of books and documents, contrary to Section 397(1)(a) of the Criminal Code
- Fraud over $5,000, contrary to Section 380(1)(a) of the Criminal Code
Di Gioia was released from custody on a Form 10 Undertaking with a future court date.
Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact detectives at 905-688-4111, extension 1009487.
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