Former DOB employee charged with fraud

A woman who worked in the Department of Buildings as a quality control manager was accused of illegally using bank account data from permit applications to help co-conspirators cash more than $50,000 in bogus checks, federal authorities said.

Officials charged Bronx resident Zena Johnson, 29, with bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud for her role in the scheme to cash the counterfeit checks, the office of the United States Attorney in Manhattan said. She faces up to 30 years in prison for each count.

Prosecutors said Johnson, who was responsible for reviewing permit renewals and alteration repair applications in the DOB’s Manhattan office, copied at least 50 to 70 checks, and gave the information to co-conspirators.

Johnson, who resigned May 26, surrendered to authorities this morning, authorities said. TRD