Man arrested in Iowa City money scam

A man has been charged with money laundering after Iowa City police say he committed a money scam netting over $25,000.

Police said Thomas J. Harris, 23, of an unknown address, was seen on various bank surveillance videos making ATM deposits using closed checking accounts between March and May. He would also withdraw money from several people's accounts who would later report their ATM cards and personal identification number stolen, police said.

Police said another person admitted that Harris recruited others to provide the numbers under the agreement that the account holder would receive half the money gathered during the scam. Money orders totaling over $3,000 were also purchased using the ATM cards. Money orders are difficult to trace, police said.

Harris faces charges of money laundering and first-degree theft charge. He was being held in the Johnson County Jail Tuesday morning on a $45,000 cash or surety bond.