BROOKLYN, N.Y. — A Gravesend bookkeeper and two accomplices have been indicted for allegedly stealing over $1.1 million through a fake payroll and check-cashing scheme spanning five years, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced Thursday.
Maya Roytlender, 44, is accused of orchestrating the scheme while working as an office manager for D. Malek Realty, LLC. According to the indictment, she issued fraudulent payroll checks to co-defendants Ihor Dubno, 61, and Michael James, 33, and deposited the money into personal and associate-controlled accounts.
Roytlender faces one count of first-degree grand larceny, while Dubno and James are each charged with second-degree grand larceny. All three were arraigned before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Phyllis Chu and released without bail. They are scheduled to return to court on August 13.
Prosecutors say that between 2015 and 2020, Roytlender placed James on the company’s payroll despite him never working there. Dubno, who did work for the company, was allegedly paid inflated salaries beyond his actual earnings.
Funds used to pay off personal debts, prosecutors allege
The stolen funds were allegedly funneled to pay off credit cards and lenders, including payments to Roytlender’s Capital One and Chase accounts, and toward James’ outstanding personal debts. The funds came from D. Malek Realty’s business accounts, authorities said.
“This defendant, along with two accomplices, allegedly carried out and coordinated an extended scheme to steal over a million dollars through lies and manipulation,” District Attorney Gonzalez said.
The investigation was supported by Supervising Financial Investigator Vincent Jones, Chief Financial Investigator Ludwig Sanchez and Intelligence Analyst Veranika Basak, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
