Teller, age 19, charged in bank scam: Coloma, Michigan woman is alleged to have embezzled $34K in two months

A young woman who allegedly stole more than $34,000 from customer accounts while she worked for Chemical Bank Shoreline in St. Joseph faces a felony embezzlement charge. Ashley Jones, 19, of Coloma waived a preliminary hearing Tuesday in Berrien County Trial Court on a charge of embezzlement over $20,000. She is free on bond pending a trial set for June 8.
Jones started working for the bank in January and was assigned as a teller to a drive-up window off Main Street, said Berrien County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Michael Sepic.
During February and March, Jones allegedly wrote counter checks from the accounts of three customers for a total of about $34,000 and cashed them, Sepic said.
Customers reported account withdrawals that they did not make, and the matter was turned over to St. Joseph police. The victims were older customers.
If convicted as charged, Jones would face up to 10 years in prison.