People v. Johnson

Although such knowledge may be shown circumstantially by conduct and events (People v Johnson, 65 NY2d 556, 561), it may not be imputed solely from possession or presentation of the instrument (People v Green, supra). In this case, defendant stated that he knew there was "something wrong” with the check given to him by his friend. However, when he first gained possession, the check had been indorsed in blank, defendant did not know the payee or her signature or how his friend acquired the check and when he presented the check at the bank where he had an account and placed his own indorsement…