CLEVELAND — A man has been charged with failing to disclose that he was taking more than $10,000 out of the country after federal agents found him at the airport with nearly $40,000 and 60 endorsed blank checks.

        Nabeeh Awawdeh, 47, of Lakewood, was en route to Tel Aviv to see his family when he was stopped at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Mr. Awawdeh, a native of Jordan, was charged Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Cleveland and released on bond.

        A U.S. Customs agent asked whether Mr. Awawdeh had more than $10,000 as he boarded a Toronto-bound flight Tuesday night. Mr. Awawdeh said he did not. He reached in his pockets and pulled out $9,353, according to the charges.

        Agents then found six checks for $5,000 each in his carry-on luggage. Each check was signed by two people, but the payee spaces were left blank, according to the charges.

        If convicted, he could receive five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

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