PITTSFORD, N.Y. — A Pittsford woman who carried out a multi-million dollar check-kiting scheme is asking for a 90-day delay in her sentencing.

Katherine Mott-Formicola is supposed to be sentenced on April 30 for charges including financial institution fraud. She pleaded guilty to financial institution fraud and money laundering in December 2024.

READ MORE: Prominent restaurateur admits to running elaborate check kiting scheme, faces prison time (Dec. 3, 2024)

According to court paperwork, both sides are asking for the delay so that Mott-Formicola can continue to cooperate with the feds, including testifying before a grand jury.

What happened?

Mott-Formicola over-inflated her bank balances, resulting in a loss of nearly $19 million for Five Star Bank. According to a criminal complaint from 2024, Mott-Formicola deposited 68 checks since Feb. 23, 2024, totaling over $62 million. She then withdrew over $20 million via checks, which Five Star Bank said she did not actually have.

The complaint said Mott-Formicola opened several business accounts with Five Star Bank in 2022. In 2024, she “exploited and abused the privilege of doing business in the corporate form” with a check-kiting scheme.

What is check-kiting?

Check-kiting is when someone writes a check for a dollar amount greater than what the bank account contains. The check goes to a different bank account, knowing that banks typically place funds into the depositing account before confirming the funds in the withdrawing account.

READ MORE: What is check-kiting? Legal experts weigh in on crime in Crescent Beach allegations (March 13, 2024)

More about Katherine Mott-Formicola

Mott-Formicola owned several businesses, including Monroe’s, The Wintergarden, The Divinity Estate, and Chapel, and the former Crescent Beach Hotel.

In 2024, a court-appointed receiver suggested Mott-Formicola might need to sell some of her businesses to stay afloat.

READ MORE: Court-appointed receiver recommends sale of restaurants owned by prominent restaurateur accused of defrauding bank out of nearly $19 million

Does anyone own the businesses now?

A former employee of Wintergarden at the Legacy Tower bought the event venue in March of 2025.

In April 2025, a purchase offer was first listed for Crescent Beach Restaurant in Greece.

READ MORE: Purchase offer listed for Crescent Beach after owner forfeits restaurant in court ruling (April 8, 2025)

Later that year in July, there was speculation that the Wegmans family might be interested in purchasing the restaurant. A local businessowner also expressed interest in acquiring the property, but later backed out.

Check back later for updates as News10NBC continues to follow this story.

RELATED STORIES:

• ‘No answer as to where these funds are’: Local restauranteur faces RICO claim over missing $19 million (April 3, 2024)
• Restaurant owner accused in check-kiting scheme sues bank (July 23, 2024)
• Crescent Beach Restaurant to be seized by U.S. government after owner pleads guilty to check-kiting case (Dec. 16, 2024)
• Lawsuit says woman who pleaded guilty in check-kiting scheme owes $2M in separate matter (March 5, 2025)
• Former Crescent Beach Restaurant owner agrees to forfeit sale proceeds in fraud case (Aug. 2, 2025)

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