More than $22,000 stolen from local school foundation through fraudulent checks, police say

PITTSBURGH — Several people are facing charges after more than $22,000 was stolen from a program at a local school system using fraudulent checks.

According to a police criminal complaint, 28 checks were written and cashed by 11 different people. Each check was counterfeit, appearing to be drawn on Propel Schools accounts through Dollar Bank.

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None of the checks were legitimate Propel Schools checks and were never made out by school personnel, police said.

The total amount of money cashed using the school system's actual bank account was more than $22,000.

So far, four people have been arrested in connection with the fake checks:

• Alaysha Johnson, 19
• Nia Haley, 19
• Terry Perry, 27
• Sasha Rucker, 25

Police said a fifth arrest warrant is still outstanding and could be for Marquis Fussell.

The group has been charged with forgery, access device fraud, theft by deception and receiving stolen property.

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Six other people were listed in the criminal complaint as having received and cashed some checks, but no charges have been filed against them yet.

Propel school officials told Channel 11 Friday morning the organization the money was taken from is called Propel Schools Foundation. The incident did not have anything to do with Propel Schools or any of the schools independently.

Cox Media Group