Man Bilked Banks of More Than $30K, Indictment Alleges

A Bergen County man faces multiple criminal charges accusing him of withdrawing tens of thousands of dollars from banks in Manchester and Toms River via counterfeit checks.

Yildirim Simsek of Elmwood Park, 32, was indicted by an Ocean County grand jury earlier this month on charges of presenting phony checks to Sovereign Bank branches in both townships as well as TD Bank branches in Toms River and Manchester.

Simsek garnered $31,900 on six counterfeit checks presented on Dec. 20 and Dec. 23, authorities said.

On Dec. 20, Simsek cashed checks for $4,780 at TD Bank in Toms River and two separate checks for $4,850 and $4,950 at Sovereign Bank in Toms River, authorities said. On Dec. 23, he cashed checks for $5,780 at TD Bank in Manchester and $5,640 and $5,900 at Sovereign Bank in Manchester, the charges state.

In all cases, the checks were drawn on the account of a limited liability company, JRSMI, and featured false or forged endorsements, authorities said.

Simsek was charged with third-degree theft by deception and six counts of third-degree uttering a forged instrument.

He was jailed on $40,000 bail, no 10 percent option.

Ocean County grand juries also indicted: 

• Jason Smith, 31, of Toms River on drug charges.

Smith was found to be in possession of marijuana, alprazolam, diazepam and clonazepam on July 8 in the township, the indictment states.

He was charged with four counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance and one count of possession with intent to distribute.

Smith was released on a summons.

• Frank Sblendorio, 24, of Route 166 and Alan Conway, 29, of Howell on drug charges.

Sblendorio was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance after authorities found him to have heroin April 28 in Lakewood.

Conway was charged with possession with intent to distribute, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and possession for allegedly selling the heroin.

Both men were released on summonses.

• Nikita L. Wilson, 24, of Old Bridge on charges of robbing the Toms River CVS of hydrocodone between Feb. 1 and Aug. 3.

Wilson stole pills worth between $200 and $500 from the pharmacy, the indictment states. She was charged with theft, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession with intent to distribute.

She was released on a summons.

• Joseph N. Ensinger, 22, and Demetri Gudrupis, 24, both of Toms River, on drug charges.

Both men were in possession of oxycodone Aug. 1 in the township, the indictment alleges. Gudripis was additionally charged with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance.

Ensinger and Gudrupis were both released on summonses.