Pittsburgh Law Firm Manager Cashed $827K in Forged Checks

Anthony Calaiaro, a 33-year-old Pittsburgh man, is staring down federal prison after being indicted on a bank fraud charge tied to an $827,020.39 theft spree from his employer — a local law firm where he worked as Office Manager.

The indictment, handed down by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh, alleges Calaiaro forged the signature of a law firm partner to write checks to himself between June 2014 and April 2016. He then cashed those forged checks at multiple locations, funneling the stolen cash into personal use.

Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song confirmed the charges today, painting a picture of a calculated betrayal of trust. Calaiaro wasn’t a lawyer — he was the man behind the scenes, the one who kept the lights on and the books balanced. Instead, prosecutors say, he exploited his access to rip off the firm for more than three years.

The total loss: $827,020.39. Each dollar represents a breach of duty, prosecutors argue. The scheme only unraveled when internal discrepancies flagged the unauthorized withdrawals, triggering an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.

If convicted, Calaiaro faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a fine of $1,000,000, or both. Assistant United States Attorney Lee J. Karl is handling the prosecution. Under federal sentencing guidelines, the final penalty will hinge on the severity of the crime and whether Calaiaro has any prior criminal record.

An indictment is not a conviction. Anthony Calaiaro is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. But the paper trail, according to federal authorities, tells a damning story of greed and deception at the heart of a Pittsburgh law office.