Stolen Money Order

[Sevilla]

Hello,

The main reason for this thread is to try to get some insight on what kind of charges may be imposed if it were to be proven that it was who took my money order.

THe backstory:

I was getting a money order for 750$ for rent. I prefer getting money orders because the money will be out of the account and I wouldn't be tempted to use it. I understand I could use checks, but this is assuming the landlord cashes them in soon so that I don't risk a bounced check (security clearance and bad checks are bad). I don't have a problem with money, I just hate taking risks that involve relying on someone else. So anyway, the money order I got was taken by another person. This happened while I was still at the counter, so I am sure the camera was there, but I don't know how Wal-Mart's security came is in terms of quality. And to answer a question that will come up, no I didn't write out the information on the money order after I got it. I know this was a stupid move on my part.

Here is where I stand now:

I do have a receipt of the money order, and bank statement to prove it. I requested for moneygram to investigate what happened, and the thief, cashed it in the following day (I received a copy of the money order with a name, and apartment number (most likely used it for rent)). And now I am waiting for an answer by the cops.

What I want to know:

I am wondering if anyone is familiar with how this case would be handled in Texas. If it were proven that this person was indeed who stole, what kind of punishment would he/she be facing?

[Salodin]

Grand theft? Maybe identity theft depending on how they cashed it (fake Id, etc). Seriously doubt jail time, but a shitton in restitution and of course, a felony to be discussed in every job interview.

[Toxictaru]

Its petty at best. MoneyGram is likely not going to be much help, you'll probably have to go after the guy who stole it directly. If he is arrested, restitution will take a while, if you go small claims, you'll lose money in legal fees. Either way, be prepared to not get full compensation for it.

If he cashed it using fraudulent ID and such, that complicates things, as far as getting the money back. I feel, however, it probably wasn't. All you need is to find some check cashing place that isn't feeling particularly up to doing their work that day and boom, you've been fucked.

I work in this industry, and while I don't do MoneyGram money orders, I do sell Western Union money orders. The process is shit, and is a major pain in the ass for whoever got ripped off.

[BaneTheBrawler]

What I want to know:

I am wondering if anyone is familiar with how this case would be handled in Texas. If it were proven that this person was indeed who stole, what kind of punishment would he/she be facing?

[Buffy]

What I want to know:

I am wondering if anyone is familiar with how this case would be handled in Texas. If it were proven that this person was indeed who stole, what kind of punishment would he/she be facing?

Probably has to pay it back, and then some sort of community service. The odds of jail for something so 'small' (obviously not to you) is negligible.

[Aylee]

Its petty at best. MoneyGram is likely not going to be much help, you'll probably have to go after the guy who stole it directly. If he is arrested, restitution will take a while, if you go small claims, you'll lose money in legal fees. Either way, be prepared to not get full compensation for it.

If he cashed it using fraudulent ID and such, that complicates things, as far as getting the money back. I feel, however, it probably wasn't. All you need is to find some check cashing place that isn't feeling particularly up to doing their work that day and boom, you've been fucked.

I work in this industry, and while I don't do MoneyGram money orders, I do sell Western Union money orders. The process is shit, and is a major pain in the ass for whoever got ripped off.

I am not sure on the case in Texas, but when I sued a previous landlord I had to pay the court fees in the beginning. Upon winning the case they were added to the amount they had to pay me. If that is not the case in Texas you can always just sue for the 750 + court cost and a random estimate that you think a lawyer is going to cost (if you decided to get one involved), although you can not sue for more than $1500 in small claims court (in Alabama at least). Then again i am not a lawyer so take all that with a grain of salt. It may not be 100% accurate

[Coren]

I am in the process of a business-to-business magistrate suit in south carolina. However I suspect there are parallels. We filed suit (costs $85) and provided evidence. He countersued. We were assigned a court date. We mopped the floor with him. We were awarded almost the entire amount, PLUS court costs, PLUS fees to collect from him, PLUS finance charges due to nonpayment. We were issued a judgment. That judgment has to be filed with the county clerk (costs $10). After 10 days we can execute the judgment with the sheriff's office for $25). They'll send him a letter. If after 10 days he doesn't pay up, they'll send another letter. After 3 days if he still does not pay, they will go to his place of business and liquidate some assets IF he has them listed in the company's name. Most likely by the time all this goes through he'll get the majority of his expensive stuff transferred out of his business' name, meaning I'll get jack shit. So after months of work/effort, I'll be out not only the service labor we provided for him, but also the time trying to collect on the $700.

So, good luck, you're probably fucked. Next time take better care and don't let some asswipe steal your shit (just like I won't complete work until I get money). Fucking assholes; I hope karma gets them all eventually.

[Ksandra]

Just food for thought. Find out how much your bank charges for cashier's checks. If you really don't want personal, and are making a trip to wal-mart anyways, cashier's checks are a million times safer and a lot easier to make claims on.

[Plow]

Texas? Pretty sure you can hunt them down with a sawed off and shoot em in the back if they try to run away.

[Sepukku]

Similar situation; My ex-gf of ~5 years relationship moved to Florida after we broke up and fell into debt. While on vacation my debit card was canceled by my bank for suspicious activity. When going over each charge with my bank approving all the ones in the state I was in, 2 came up for FL about 20 miles from where I last heard she was staying. We never shared the debit card account or any account, but she was around me enough to have access to my info. It was an in-store transaction at a store she frequented in Pittsburgh by a swiped/manually enterred 16 digit process and not an online order according to the bank's transaction history printout. There is plenty of people in Florida and I want to give her the benefit of the doubt it wasn't her but my bank's manager wrote down her name on the documents they were getting together, and my primary concern is getting dragged down to Florida to testify in a fraud trial / face my ex face-to-face confronting the reality she stole from me.

[Abandon]

Texas? Pretty sure you can hunt them down with a sawed off and shoot em in the back if they try to run away.

[DeathbySnoosnoo]

Texas? Pretty sure you can hunt them down with a sawed off and shoot em in the back if they try to run away.

nah you have to invite em over for ice tea first, then when they are on your property use your guns.(gotta stick within the few laws we have) That way you could say he broke in, you defended yourself and live happily ever after.

[Sevilla]

Ill check into cashier's check, thanks for the tip.

I realize in the eyes of the law, this is pretty much a small thing. I'm not worried about it too much as making rent isnt something I will have problem with. It's just the principle of it and how the theft was done.

From what I know about how the money order was cashed, the person used it for rent him/herself. It has the name of the apartment and the number of the apartment. It can easily be checked with their landlord. And I also found out their rent is not they same amount as mine, so it should have been suspicious anyway. No worries, I did have thoughts of going there and demanding something, but I researched the place and it is basically a ghetto. I would expect a gun fight, and at this time I have something to lose if I do get in trouble. I know this process will take long, but once the cops have proven that it was this person, I plan on doing something about it. Hopefully my status as a veteran will have some bearing lol.

Awesome, thank you so much for the insight, guys.