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Suspect In Midtown ATM Counterfeit Scam At Chase Banks Arrested

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Authorities have made an arrest in a case involving counterfeit cash at Manhattan ATM machines.

The man suspected of stuffing fake bills into two Midtown ATM machines, 26-year-old Jean Carlo Pena, was arrested Monday upon his return to New York on a flight from the Dominican Republic, 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa reported.

Pena, who works for bank contractor National Cash Register, was taken into custody as he got off his JetBlue flight after 4 p.m.

Last week, counterfeit bills were discovered at Chase Bank branches on West 57th Street and Ninth Avenue.

The counterfeit bills were blank on one side.

Authorities believe the fake cash was meant to make the ATM function as if it was carrying a full complement of cash.

Customers who got some of the fake bills alerted bank employees.

Published reported indicated that the banks were short a total of nearly $110,000 as a result of the counterfeiting.

Pena faces federal charges of possession of counterfeit currency and embezzlement by a bank employee.

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