By Nathan Duke
Staff Writer

Police arrested a Manchester man at the Mast Road Bank of America attempting to cash a fraudulent check.

John Doherty, 29, was arrested at the Goffstown bank branch when he tried to cash a check made out in excess of $7,000.

Police believe Doherty has hit up to 19 banks in 14 different communities in the greater Manchester area this past week and may have cashed as much as $150,000 in fraudulent checks. The FBI and United States Attorney's Office have taken over the investigation.

Goffstown Police officer Keith Chauvette arrested Doherty at the bank on Thursday, April 28, just before noon. A bank teller questioned the legitimacy of the check as Doherty attempted to cash it and notified the bank manager. The manager stalled Doherty at the bank until police arrived.

The check in question at the Mast Road branch was a forgery of a check issued by a legitimate company located in the Bronx, N.Y.

"We immediately thought it was a bogus company," said Goffstown Police Capt. Glenn DuBois. "We called and found out it was legitimate, but do not know how (Doherty) came to use the checks of that particular company."

Goffstown police are currently not sure whether there is any link between Doherty and the Bronx-based company.

DuBois said Doherty's scheme had been ongoing for about a week prior to his arrest in Goffstown. Police believe Doherty may have hit Bank of America branches with fraudulent checks in a number of communities, including Manchester, Contoocook, Nashua, Hampton, Derry, Londonderry, Hampstead, Exeter, Salem, Plaistow, Hooksett, Concord and Bedford.

"We think he might have pretty much hit most of the lower southern tier of the state," said DuBois. "He has been a pretty busy boy."

Doherty was charged with forgery and theft, both class A felonies. He was arraigned in the Goffstown District Court on April 29 and is being held at the Valley Street Jail with a bail of $300,000.

A federal indictment is expected in the near future.

Robert Kinsella, a prosecutor at the United States Attorney's Office in Concord, said the cashing of counterfeit checks can result in a maximum penalty of 30 years per check.