Police: Long Beach Teen Charged in Money Order Altering Scheme

A Long Beach teen was arrested on Thursday and charged in a money order altering scheme, police said.

According to police, Jermaine Hankins, 18, along with several other people who have not yet been arrested, purchased multiple money orders from the post office for low dollar amounts and then altered them to a much higher amount between Oct. 1 and Nov. 3.

Hankins would then deposit the money orders into bank accounts of individuals also involved in the scheme before withdrawing the funds from various ATMs, police said.

Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Capital One sustained a financial loss totaling more than $3,200, police said.

After an investigation, Hankins was placed under arrest at his home on Thursday. He is charged with third degree grand larceny and seven counts of second degree possession of a forged instrument. He will be arraigned on Friday at First District Court in Hempstead.

This investigation is continuing.