Long Branch Police Foil Check-Cashing Scheme

A check cashing scheme was stopped by the Long Branch Police with the arrests of four men who participated in the operation.

Joseph Aviles, 33, and Zachary Mosco, 21, both of Morford Avenue, Long Branch, and Omar Danger, 37 and Jessica Segundo, 32, both of Eatoncrest Drive, Eatontown were arrested and charged with theft and writing bad checks.

The scheme ran from June 27 to July 18 at Barrio Antiguo, 578 Broadway, a check cashing and money transfer store in Long Branch.

During this time the individuals cashed 33 checks from five different accounts totaling $15,575.48, according to Long Branch Police Capt. Jason Roebuck.

"This group accomplished this by wiring a portion of the money to other individuals in the check cashing ring," Capt. Roebuck said. "The checking accounts that these checks belonged to were either closed or contained insufficient funds."

Capt. Roebuck said three of the checks were reported stolen by the account holder.  

Long Branch Police Det. Brendan Cahill performed a "lengthy investigation," which led to the arrest of the four individuals. Segundo was released on a summons but the three men arrested were released after posting bail.