NEW YORK STATE -- Six people have admitted to being involved in a counterfeit check cashing ring.

According to the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York, the ring is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, but targeted businesses in Syracuse, Oswego and Binghamton from November 2010 to June 2011.

Those involved with the ring would steal corporate checks from mail boxes of businesses. They would then get homeless people, drug addicts and others to cash the stolen checks for a small amount in return.

Officials have estimated that the ring dealt with more than $140,000 worth of counterfeit checks.

The following people plead guilty this week in Syracuse Federal Court to varying charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, commission of mail fraud and possession of stolen mail. They could spend up to 30 years in prison and have to pay up to a million dollars in fines.

• Jamaine Ryder, 37, Charlotte, NC


• Wallik Ryer, 37, Oswego


• Diana Sacco, 29, Fulton


• Timothy Johnson, 37, Syracuse


• Charles Koflan, 55, Pennelville


• Peter Napolitano, 27, North Syracuse

Sentencing is scheduled for June.

Four other people have previously faced charges in connection with the ring.