Empty ATM Envelope? Get Quick Cash, Felony, in One Fell Swoop
January 11th, 2008 by josh farleyThe advent of automated teller machines — or ATMs — brought about a new kind of honor system.
As we all know, the machine will let you deposit an envelop with cash and checks. It’s up to you to tell the ATM how much money you’re depositing, while the machine has no idea what’s actually in the envelope.
Problem is the honor system is only temporary, until bank employees do an inventory of the machine. It becomes painfully obvious that you didn’t fill up your fair share at that time. And they have all the personal information they need — or rather, that law enforcement needs — to track you down.
Take the case of Bremerton resident Joseph Aquino.
According to Kitsap County court documents, the 22-year-old opened
an account at Kitsap Credit Union in November. On Dec. 21, he
“placed an empty envelope” into an ATM on Highway 303 and claimed
to have deposited $400, according to a sheriff’s deputy’s
report.
He then withdrew $300 from the same ATM, and then went to another for the final $100.
The bank has tried to contact the 22-year-old to no avail. And now that it’s been reported, Kitsap County Prosecutors have filed felony theft charges against Aquino.
The lesson, then, is a Socratic one: some quick cash in the the short term might not be so good in long haul.
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Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
January 11th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
The sheriff’s might want to check the incustody page of the sheriff’s website. Someone with the same name is in custody . . .