Prosecutor: Area 33-Year-Old Man Charged with $44K Theft, Fraud in Bad Check Scam

An area man has been charged with the theft of more than $44,000 from a local bank branch, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced on Wednesday.

Jacob Gindi, 33, of Long Branch, has been charged with third-degree bad checks and third-degree theft by deception stemming from the alleged fraudulent activity at a local bank.

An investigation by the MCPO Financial Crimes and Special Prosecutions Unit was initiated upon receipt of a referral by Deal police, which noted that in December of 2024, they received word of fraudulent activity that had taken place at a bank branch in the borough.

The investigation revealed that several months earlier, Gindi had deposited a check for $44,500.

The funds were withdrawn from the account through a series of bank transfers, debit card purchases, and the purchase of a bank check, made in quick succession, before the $44,500 check cleared. The check was later returned for insufficient funds.

Gindi turned himself in to authorities yesterday and was released on a summons pending future proceedings in Monmouth County Superior Court.

Anyone with further information about Gindi’s activities is asked to contact MCPO Detective Sgt. Michael Acquaviva at 800-533-7443.

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office