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Rotterdam man charged with PBA magazine scam
Tuesday, October 21, 2008

ROTTERDAM — A Rotterdam man arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of drugs earlier today has also been charged with running a scam involving the New York State Police PBA magazine last year.
After stopping him for allegedly speeding on the state Thruway in Catskill this morning, troopers arrested Richard J. Messina, 38, on the felony driving while impaired charge, as well as a marijuana possession charge.
Messina was also charged with first-degree falsifying business records, second-degree criminal impersonation, and petty larceny. Troopers said they were recently alerted to a 2007 scam in which Messina identified himself as a representative of the PBA Trooper Magazine (the official publication of the PBA of the New York State Troopers, Inc.) and used a fraudulent receipt in order to obtain gift certificates from a local restaurant under the guise that they were to be considered a donation. He allegedly tried to do the same thing again earlier this month at the same restaurant.
A background check also indicated Messina was wanted by Glenville Police on arrest warrants for seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and petty larceny.
He was arraigned in Rotterdam Town Court and sent to Schenectady County Jail without bail.
State Police are asking any local businesses that may have had similar dealings with Messina to contact the State Police at Princetown Bureau of Criminal Investigation at 630-1712.