How you doing? >> The woman you see here rushes out of the bank the moment she realizes police have arrived. She had been trying to cash a fraudulent check alongside her supposed 18-year-old cousin. >> How you doing? >> Good. >> Excuse me. >> But in a panic, she abandoned her to deal with the officers alone. But here's the twist. The fake check is the least of the officers' concerns. The 18-year-old is hiding something far more serious than bank fraud. >> You got your ID on you? >> Um it's right there. I'm sorry, is there a problem? >> Yeah. Where'd your friend go? >> Um my cousin? >> Yeah. >> Um I'm assuming to the car. Is it I'm sorry, is there a problem? >> Yeah. Where'd she go? >> Hey. What's the What's the issue? >> Well, she just left without you. Where'd she go? >> She went back to I'm actually supposed to be leaving now because I have to go pick up um my nephew, but what's going on? >> Okay. Where'd she go to? >> I just said to the car, sir. What is going on again? >> She got in a She got in a car in the middle of the road. >> I'm sorry, in the in the middle of the road? >> Yeah, when she saw me saw me, she ran out of here. >> Okay. So, they left me? >> Yeah. What's your name? Serenity? >> Serenity. >> Okay. >> I just take one of the six subjects planning to be found on bank business department. >> While one officer keeps Serenity occupied with questions, another speaks with the bank manager. Within moments, it becomes clear this isn't just about one suspicious check. The investigation is quickly uncovering something much bigger. >> We get these similar situations all the time where it's kind of like what happens with the fake fraudulent checks. They put enough money in the account and try to cash the check against it um and then they appear fraudulent. So, we had one the other day that came in yesterday. >> Was it the same >> It's a different a different group. I imagine it's like the same process and group. But, I >> At at your branch? >> What's that? >> At your branch? >> Yeah, there was another girl here yesterday and um she went to Gulfgate. >> [clears throat] >> She left here, she went to Gulfgate, and they called the police. So, now >> Okay. >> she's here. We got information from another branch that said that she was there. Um and what's been happening is they have a bunch of different checks. So, I don't know about this one specifically, but it's usually like the same thing. >> According to the bank manager, this isn't the first attempt. Just 1 day earlier, three different people visited separate branches trying to cash fake checks. Each of them used the exact same method, suggesting this could be part of a much larger fraud operation. >> So, explain to me one more time. You were saying they were putting money into the accounts. >> So, what they do is they have an account with us, right? So, they deposit cash in and then they get these one or more checks payable to them. And they They must steal the checks or whatever cuz they get uh have different ones and they go around. So, they put money in Say let's say she deposited $900 today or whatever, right? So, what they do is they come around and they cash these checks because it looks like they have enough to cover the checks. So, they cash the check, they pull out the money, and then they're gone. And they just And they hit all the branches in the area, all of our branches. >> By now, officers are convinced the check wasn't legitimate, but one question remains. What was Serenity's role? To find out, they escort her to a quieter area and inform her that she is no longer considered a witness. She is now the focus of the investigation. >> Let's stand up for a for a Therefore, Okay. So, I'm going to assume you know what's going on. I'm going to read you uh your Miranda rights real quick. >> I'm sorry, say it one more time. >> Having these rights in mind, do you wish to talk to us? >> No. I would like to have like a to call and leave my phone once he moves me. >> How old are you? >> 18. >> Okay, you're an adult. >> I know. >> Okay. >> I have my sister call me once I'm booked into the correctional facility. >> Mhm. >> I would like to talk to the guard back with her. >> Well, here here's what's going to happen. You're going to be going to jail today, okay? >> I'm sorry. >> Re- regarding what's what's going on here, if you'd like to talk, >> Yes, but I'm still going to go to jail. >> Yes, you You're right. >> How am I Like, what's going to happen to me? >> You're going to go to jail. You're going to be booked and >> Like, what if girls ruin it? >> Yes, you're an adult. >> Okay, what if they beat me up or something? >> You'll be protected. >> Protected? >> Were your Were your friends going to come back to get you or were they going to >> I don't know what's happening. >> Hearing this, Serenity doesn't argue that the check is legitimate. Instead, she appears overwhelmed, but everything changes when she suddenly claims someone put a gun in her bag. In an instant, what began as a fraud investigation escalates into a concealed firearm case with far more serious criminal consequences. >> Do you want to explain to her what she's being charged with? >> Uh you're being charged with uttering a forged instrument instrument. So, this check right here does not belong to you and was not written to you, correct? >> Well, obviously. >> Okay, well, that's what you're being charged with. >> And now I'm being charged >> I'm getting charged with a gun because they planted it in my purse. >> For a what? Holy they did. Yep, they did. Do you want to tell us about this? >> I think I was set up. >> You were set up? >> I don't know. Everything is going wrong. >> Okay, I'm going to make a phone call to the attorney. Cuz this is Yep. >> Can we please call somebody for >> Shut Hey, a bullet just fell down there. You want to grab that for me? Yep. Okay, so you wanted a lawyer, you didn't want to speak. So now we're not asking you any questions, okay? >> What questions are you going to ask me? >> We I can't ask them because you already determined you did not want to speak to us. >> No, I don't want this to happen like this. >> Well, this is happening at this point. I can tell you what. >> ask me about anything? >> So at this point so I'll I'll tell you. >> Please don't talk to me like this. I'm not a bad kid. >> Okay. Okay, first of all you're a young woman now. You're not a kid at all. >> Yes, sir. I understand. >> We spoke to We spoke to No, no. Don't ask questions. I'm not Please drive. I I'm I apologize. This just This just escalated. So miss That young woman. >> Yes, sir. >> Never heard of you. >> Okay. >> Never heard of you. Certainly didn't write you a check. >> Okay. >> So you're being charged with that. >> I understand. >> Okay. Do you have a concealed weapons permit? >> I do not. >> Okay. So now you're being charged with carrying a concealed firearm. >> I don't understand. >> Okay. By any chance are you a convicted felon? >> No. >> Okay. Well then you won't be charged with that. But those are the two charges you're looking at. >> How long am I charged with that? This isn't crazy. I've never been to jail. I just got out of foster care. Oh my god. I was just out of work as a corrections officer. >> Every legally manufactured firearm carries a serial number that allows investigators to trace its history. But on this handgun, that number appears to have been deliberately altered. As officers make the discovery, Serenity becomes increasingly emotional. >> Oh. Uh-oh. This just gets worse and worse. >> What happened? >> Possession of a firearm with an altered serial number. >> Oh my god. >> I'm going to have to look it up, but I think that's a charge, too. >> [laughter] >> This is not fair to me. >> What? Uh it's an altered serial number. Possession of a firearm with an altered serial number is a charge [clears throat] also, right? Yeah, it is. What about possession of a firearm during commission of a felony? So you've got CCW firearm. >> So you're trying to add charges on? >> You're going to have like five felonies. >> Why are you trying to make it worse? >> Come on. You've got uttering. >> I don't know. >> Concealed firearm. >> [laughter] >> Altered serial number. >> Please. Bro, how >> I don't know. She didn't have I mean >> We'll look it up. >> I think that's what I merely possessing it while committing cuz she's not using it. It wasn't used. >> [sighs] >> You know, it wasn't part of that. >> So, there's no >> Well, what are we waiting on now? He's calling the CID. I mean, we can probably go ahead and run it up. >> Yeah, I can't I can't run this. I was going to try to run it. Um >> Here, I have a question. >> 61199 >> So, being that I've never been in this situation before, and this since I know I'm doing it, so I take responsibility for doing it for it, but even like the gun is crazy. Like, this is not fair because I have nothing to do with that. And yeah, I'll take responsibility, but not like and there's no way I can get out of it because it was in my purse. >> Listen, at some point someone's going to question you, okay? >> Of course. >> don't want to talk to us right now, that's that's just fine. >> I can talk. Like Like, what do you want me to tell you? >> You didn't want to talk. >> I want to talk. I didn't know like this was going to happen. This is crazy. You like >> Listen. >> I'm only 18. >> That indicates to me you knew what was in that purse. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. I'm not going to ask you questions, but if you want to tell me a story, go ahead. >> No, it's it's not a story. I'm I'm saying it is in my purse. >> Okay. >> I knew it was in my purse. But like I wasn't using it. I wasn't >> You weren't, and I'm not accusing you of using it. >> I know, but like they had just put it in my purse for a second. >> Uh >> [clears throat] >> how did Do you know how they got the check? >> No, sir. They said that it was like a legit legit job. >> A legit job? >> A legit check, but it wasn't. Obviously. >> Obviously. >> But obviously it wasn't legit. You [snorts] didn't know that, right? >> I didn't know it was like this. I should have known it was fraud. >> Can I ask something? Do you know Sharon >> No. >> Did you do any work for Sharon Sharon? >> No. >> Did you sell Sharon an item? >> No. >> So how is it that she came to pay you $605? Is that your gun? >> No, that is absolutely not my gun. >> Did you put the gun in the purse first? >> No, I did not put the gun in the purse. >> Is this your purse? >> Yes, that is my purse. >> When did you think I was in the purse? >> I didn't know the gun was in the purse. >> You said I I I know you're >> She was ultimately charged with forgery, carrying a concealed firearm, and possession of an altered firearm. In the end, she was sentenced to 18 months of probation in order to complete 50 hours of community service.