Bergen County man charged in $12.5M Treasury check scheme
Prosecutors said Lee claimed to be the president of a legitimate corporation, despite having no affiliation with the company.
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A 70‑year‑old Palisades Park man is accused of trying to deposit a $12.5 million U.S. Treasury check intended for a corporation, prosecutors said.
Sonny Y. Lee was arrested Tuesday and charged with attempted money laundering, attempted theft by deception, forgery and impersonation of a corporate officer, according to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office. Prosecutors said the investigation began in November 2025 after the IRS contacted the prosecutor’s Financial Crimes Unit about an attempted fraudulent transaction involving a U.S. Treasury check in Bergen County.
Investigators said the check was issued for $12,515,828.30 and was intended for a business. Prosecutors said Lee claimed to be the president of a legitimate corporation, despite having no affiliation with the company. Detectives said Lee produced forged documents to open a business bank account in the corporation’s name and tried to deposit the intercepted Treasury check into the unauthorized account.
Members of the prosecutor’s Financial Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at Lee’s home Tuesday. He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a court appearance.
