Meet Sarah. She's a single mother of two, working two days a week as a server, and she's currently on the verge of being evicted. But today, she isn't at her restaurant. She's at a bank dressed in medical scrubs and wearing a stethoscope. Why? Because a friend told her it would help her pay the rent. I'm about to be evicted with my two kids and he told me he would help me with my rent. And that basically I just have to go in, cash this check, and that would help me with my rent. How long you know? I've known him for a couple months. Is your only job serving? No, but we're not getting enough hours. I'm working two days a week. It's not enough. You knew this was a fraudulent check? I just knew that they were writing me a check. That you knew was fraudulent? I don't know. I don't know where they got it from. >> You showed up, you're in scrubs with a stethoscope, and your only job is a server. You knew what you were doing. >> No, I just did what they told me to do. Okay. All I did was get in the car. I was dressed as like a nursing student. >> you up from work? From my apartment. What? >> From my apartment. >> you up from your apartment? >> Yes, I'm sorry. And y'all drove all the way into land? I just got in Well, I will tell you that this is the third check that has been cashed against this account today. In his account? In this account off of this account. That's why it it triggered an alert, too. He hit so many other so he probably hit another two of you. >> TD Bank he hit, too. >> Third TD Bank. All right. It's not me. Am I going to be arrested? Most likely. You can't come in here and cash a fraudulent check. >> I know, but it's not me. And then you admitted to it. I mean, I'm just trying to tell the truth. That way I'm not counted in fraud. >> honey, you walked in here and told me that you did work as a nurse for these people. You know that this is a fraudulent check. There has been a ring of these fraudulent checks going around of these savings bonds. Drop I think I'm going I'm sorry, I didn't Oh, no, you're good. Um so, and we actually just got some the other day. So, everyone knew the feel of the check, the writing on the check. So, the teller told me right away um Did you get the beehive over here? Come look at these checks. That's when I called you. Mhm. We had him sit down. He went to go leave. He drove away with him standing out there. I guess he drove past him. Okay. And then when I came back in, the teller called me up and asked me to come look at the check that she just had. And then she's saying that the person that dropped her off here left her. Was it the same person? And what car was he driving? A Buick? It was a I think it was a Buick. That's what >> What color? it looked like. It was like a burnt orange kind of car, like Burnt orange car? Was it like a SUV, sedan, or was it like a like a hatchback? Definitely Okay. Do you know like did it look new or old? Old. Sorry. She said SUV. Yeah, SUV. >> Newer or older? >> Newer or older? >> Probably newer cuz the screen was all like touchscreen inside. Okay. So, you I don't know. Was it a sedan or an SUV? >> being truthful and giving you the information from the source is not going to help me at all? Like I'm still going to like I Me cooperating might help you. But I can't correct him. Won't help you now. And she's confident it's an SUV. This is the most heartbreaking part. While Sarah's being detained, Maris, the man who got her into this, is long gone. She calls him pleading for him to come back and take the blame, but he's already miles away giving her excuses about GPS and not knowing she was arrested. Call him. >> No matter what, my boyfriend? No, not your boyfriend. So, no matter what, I'm going to be arrested today? Most likely. Call him. She's telling us who the person is and what Yeah, it's it's a guy that she met a couple months ago and was giving her a ride. Hello. Hello. Are you doing like you're not detained, the police aren't there, everything is good? I'll tell you right now, frauds are not my strong suit, so I am doing my best. So, because you guys had me come in here and do this fraudulent [ __ ] now I'm going to jail. So, you can leave? I cannot leave. So, who are you an officer with right now? The officer. So, if something you didn't have knowledge of happened, you didn't do it. And this guy that you put me in with the check with my name and told them the story that y'all told me to tell them. And now I'm being arrested. I can't just call him. I can't just call him near myself. It doesn't matter. [laughter] Yes, [snorts] I need you to come. I don't know how I'm supposed to do that. I'm not even over there. Oh. That's her boyfriend. What am I supposed to do? Tell him you're going to jail if he don't show up cuz of his fraudulent check. >> I'm going either way. Yeah, both y'all can go. You want to go for all of it? No. Okay then. If you don't come here, I'm going to jail for you. I'm coming back for her. Ask him how far out he is. How far are you? I'm literally nowhere near that [ __ ] You're right there. I don't know All right, well, how far? I don't know everything you were saying or whether you were arrested or not. So, I just need you to tell me whether you were detained or not cuz I don't let me know whether you stayed or go. If you told me you were detained, I would have stayed and we would have just switched places, but you didn't tell me you were detained or arrested, so I didn't do anything about that because you told me you weren't detained or arrested. If you told me you were detained or arrested, it would have made more sense. I have no knowledge of what's going on right now. This is on. Tell him tell him you're going to jail, so he's got to come back. Well, I'm going to jail for your your check, so can you please come back? How far are you? How far are you? I don't have GPS right now. I just got out of there. So, how an estimate or something? Reality sets in. Sarah realizes she is facing felony charges of uttering a forged document. She has to call her mother to pick up her two sons because she won't be coming home tonight. Hey Grandma. I'm being arrested right now. I need you to pick the boys up for me today. I'm being arrested. I need you to pick the boys up for me. Because he's stupid. Because of the check. I'm [laughter] trusting I'm trying to get the money to pay my rent and I went to the bank with the check that wasn't that wasn't good. And >> [laughter] >> I'm really trying I didn't steal anybody's money. I was given a check by this guy that I know and it's not a real check. So, I'm being arrested for fraud for fraud. I'm all the way into land and I need you to get the boys today from school for me. All right. Can you look at me for a second? I'm going to read you I'm going to read you your rights, all right? >> [crying] [gasps] >> ALL RIGHT, YOU GOT >> [snorts] >> ALL RIGHT. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO remain silent. Anything you Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right [snorts] to talk to a lawyer or have him or her present with you while you are being questioned. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer or will one will be appointed to represent you before any questioning if you wish. If you If you can decide at any time to exercise these rights and not answer any questions or make any statements. Do you understand each of these rights that have been read to you and are you still willing to talk to us? Yes, I need I need a confirmation. Yes. All right. So, walk me through the beginning. Walk from when they picked you up all the way until now. How we get here. He picked me up and When they picked you up? Okay. So, was this planned before they picked you up or they He said, "Hey, I'm outside"? I mean, I knew they were coming to get me, but >> You didn't know what for? I knew that it had something to do with um going to the bank, but they just >> I don't know. So, you knew they were picking you up and you knew you guys were going to the bank. I didn't know that I was going to be calling in trying to cash a check. >> Okay. But, you knew they were picking you up and you knew you guys were coming to the bank. What else did they tell you before you got in the car? That's pretty much it. That they were picking you up so you can go to the bank and help out with your rent? Yeah. All right. And when did they make you put the uniform on? We were I live in Apopka. We were almost to the I-4 to get off I-4 in um Altamonte um when they started talking about scrubs, going to the store and getting my scrubs, asking me what size I was. And I'm like, "What are you talking about?" Like, I didn't Mhm. know anything about that. And they were like, um um that it just looks more official. And I'm like, "What?" "What are you talking about?" I was kind of just going with whatever they were telling me that they were doing. Okay. Um because I'm desperate. I need to keep this job to make ends meet. All right. Um but yeah, we went and we got the scrubs. Um he paid for them. Hello, I'm on patrol. Yeah, it's 15. Are you going to be here for a minute? I'm about to walk in now. All right, copy. Only reason I'm asking is um we got a hold of the uh guy driving the burnt orange vehicle. Um he wouldn't explain exactly where he was at, but he said he was going to come back. So, just in case if he does, I was just trying to see if someone could be in the parking lot to spot him. The plan was simple, but sloppy. Sarah was picked up from her house by a man named Marquis and his friend. They didn't just give her a check, they gave her an entire costume. They bought her the scrubs and the stethoscope mid-drive because according to them, it made the transaction look more official. Okay. So, Marquis was the passenger and Marquis' friend was driving? Mhm. All right. And then what else happened? When they get Okay. So, they said, "We're going to buy the scrubs. It looks more official. Put them on." Yeah. >> And you put them on? I mean, I didn't put them on right away, but yeah, when we got to the bank. >> When you got here to the bank? >> Well, he pulled up like across the street and like across the right there was like a Little Caesars. Right there was He pulled up pulled up by a Fairwinds, the Landstar. Okay. And then um wrote the check and basically told me to put those on cuz that's what you're doing. And that's not at all what I left my like Okay. So, he pulled in to the Landstar Plaza and that's when he told you to change to the uniform cuz it looks more official and he handed it. And then he handed me this. Okay. And he handed you the check? The one driving. The one driving handed it. Okay. Catch you later. Hey, did you guys do a really good job letting her know we're here for something to help? No, he's aware that she is uh detained and possibly going 10-15, so she convinced him to come back to talk to us. How long am I going to have to stay here? Will I be able to get bailed out today? Or do I got to wait for court to be bailed out? You can get bailed out today, but I don't think he's a true friend cuz if he told you to come out and do this and he said he's going to take the rap for it, I would've been back ASAP. Especially with you having two kids. Yeah, I don't know. All right. So, but I'm I'm so sorry. I'm just joining this I'm halfway. Yeah, yeah. I'm halfway I'm joining in this halfway through, okay? So, from what I understand, this check is fake. Mhm. You knew this check was fake. I didn't know anything about You didn't know anything. No. I just knew that this was someone trying to help me get my rent paid so I'm not evicted with my children. And I'm at the point where I'll do almost anything to make sure that my kids don't feel that everything that I'm going through to keep this stuff going. So, when he told you to get dressed in the scrubs and he wrote the and he wrote the check for you. I mean, at that point I obviously figured What did he say to you when he wrote the check and gave it to you? He just said to go in and tell them this. This is what he wrote. This is what it is. >> What did he tell you to tell them? That I'm a living assistant, that I take care of someone's mom or something. And that >> Which is not true, obviously. No. No, you should be all right for right now. I'm not even entirely sure she's coming back. You didn't sound too convincing. The check was written for exactly $3,390, but the bank tellers weren't fooled. They had just seen two other fraudulent checks from the exact same account earlier that day. Sarah wasn't just a scammer, she was the fall girl for an organized fraud ring out of Orlando. All right. So, he told you to come in and act like you were taking care of somebody uh taking care of a living Okay. And at that point, did you know the check was fake when he gave it to you before you walked into this bank? I figured. So, he wrote it for $3,390. And then obviously, did he have the scrubs or did you? He got me. I was in my clothes. He picked me up and I'm just riding with them thinking, I don't know. I'm just going with the flow. And then he said he got to stop and get me scrubs. And I'm like, "What do we need to stop and get me scrubs for?" Right. And that was when he I mean, he didn't even fully explain it. He was on the He was had like two phones on the phone with different people. Like, I was just sitting in the back just riding. Like whatever y'all tell me I need to do so I can pay my rent. I know Marquis for a couple months, but the guy driving is Marquis' friend. I don't know him. And they're in a burnt >> time seeing him today. And they're in a burnt orange SUV? >> I got you. Burnt orange SUV? Yeah. What about this white Mercedes? I don't know anything about that auto like this auto. Okay, but he did say to you on the phone that was the crackhead. I'm still waiting. Well, because he almost told me anything and so I got my No, this is important. You're looking at felony charges right now. I'll be honest with you, okay? It's called uttering a forged document, okay? So, this is probably more important than what grandma's got to say. I mean, I was just asking to pick up my kids from school so that's why I was rushing. Okay. Tell her to pick up your kids. Tell her you're probably going to jail. >> would I told her I was probably I was getting arrested. So, I mean Okay. Then answer only because it has to do with your kids. Hello. I got kids, so Can I see that? So, that's what I'm The check? I'm working on getting you a copy of a third check. >> almost $2,400. >> that's another check that was cashed. >> What TD bank did he cash this one? Then I'm talking to the cops right now. So, he cashed I have what? a couple cashed like two before this. At this bank? No, he cashed two at other TD banks. In Orlando or somewhere else? I don't know. It was like they were here. I believe the other two were in Orlando. Okay. And that one has his name on it. This one has her name on it. Cuz they sent her in here to act like >> the same same check numbers and all that? >> This is University Boulevard. 133. Obviously, you know that Orlando PD that has to go through them cuz that's our jurisdiction and all that. So, um Well, I'm just more or less giving this to you as far as information >> to let you know that there was three checks that were done. >> Yeah, but for the for like reporting purposes and we can give you a case number and we can even fax this over there as far as like a a case linkage um because obviously it's the same people, so it's going to be a case linkage. It might even be a statewide prosecutor cuz it's mostly uh through multi-jurisdictions, multiple multiple uh uh >> if the two are connected No, that was like in the This is from the white Mercedes. Yeah. >> I Let me just be perfectly clear with you right now. There is no way that I believe that these two incidences are not linked. They're not. I I mean, I promise on everything I know. >> was on the phone talking to people, right? >> Not to the So, He had multiple phones, he's talking to people. Two people don't walk into a bank at the same time with I mean, that would just No, it had That would just have to be like very ironic. Lightning striking twice. >> Both with a fake check. They walk in and they just leave you sitting in here. I get that, but that whoever that was, I never see I You didn't have to see him though. >> but he wasn't It might not be something you're knowledgeable about. You may not know. These guys may know, but you probably don't. >> Cuz they just left you sitting in here. >> right away as soon as you said that they're dealing with somebody else and he he said to you, "Oh, they're dealing with that crackhead." Well, he said that. I don't know. >> So, he knew. How how how would he supposed to know what what we're dealing with? >> and they both left at the same um when cops showed up, everybody leaves you sitting in here. The They went to a TD with me in the car right before we came to this one. And he was walking out of that TD, too. And then we I told them when I got here that I seen the same guy that walked out of that one here. And you think that these two things are completely by accident? >> I don't know. What? You don't I'm just I'm not I'm just asking you to think logically. I'm not saying that you know, right? I'm not saying that you have some master plan in this. I'm just asking you to speak logically think logically, right? I don't know. Two different people might be the core. Okay. Two different people committing similar frauds over multiple jurisdictions who just so happen to be leaving at the same time and you think that's an accident. I get how it looks, but I like I said, I have no knowledge of anything The only thing I'm asking you for is if you have any names of these people, which I know you already gave one of them, Marquis. >> Marquis. And he's supposedly coming back here? That's what he said. I got you. That's not true. It was a Family Dollar for Uber. I don't know who the guy is the car. He was a passenger. Exactly what he said. You knew he was going to say walk over the family dollars. That That That's what happened. They've been texting, so Um did he say he's coming back when I walked out? Did he say He was going to come back, but he was trying to figure out a way back. He ain't coming back. Cuz he said he had to see he had to switch cars. All I can imagine is that he's not trying to have whoever's driving the burnt orange SUV, the one that's his friend, come back. He's trying to get out of that car and find a way here so that whoever that is I I guess I don't know his name. I got you. What? Let me ask you this. Would you The officers to her situation offer her a chance to help herself. They ask for a sworn statement against Mary and the driver. Let me ask you this. Would you be willing to write a sworn written statement about what happened? About this is this guy that you met 2 months ago, that he picked you up today, that he took you to the scrub shop, that he took you to these banks, that he told you to put the scrubs on, told you you know everything that you're telling us, would you be willing to put it in writing on paper? I'm absolutely in trouble. Well, yes. I I don't have the ability to make felonies go away, okay? But what I can tell you is is that This will help you in court. It cooperating suspects That's what I've been trying to do the whole time. I know, and I appreciate that. So, that's all I'm asking if you'll put it in writing. That's all I'm asking. I'm not making you any promises that it'll lessen You're not You're not lessening any trouble you're in today, okay? It's just for the future, right? For when this goes to trial, do you look like a accomplice to a master scheme, or do you look like a girl who's trying to pay her bills so her kids don't be homeless? You know what I'm saying? That's What do you want to look like? What picture do you want painted of you for the jury? The truth. The truth, right? So, will you write the truth for us and swear to it? Yeah. Thank you. Let me go get a statement form. Sarah agrees to tell the truth, but cooperation doesn't erase the crime. She is led out in handcuffs to face a statewide prosecutor. She was looking for a way to save her home, but instead, she found a way to a felony record. Huh? Can I call my people again? See if he'll come back, but other than that, we ain't going to be waiting here all day. This is a organized fraud scheme out of Orlando. I'll be honest, it'll probably go to like a statewide prosecutor. Um we're taking I would I say we take the phone. Yeah. The idea probably want to do a search warrant on that. Carol reality. I'm good with it. I'm sorry, but the person I think his name is Fernandez, if I'm not mistaken. Oh. My advice to you, once you get through all this, you don't need to talk to him. You know, I don't plan on it. You need to put this in your past and not not ever do this again. I How old are you, darling? 24. I'm not going to say I know how you feel, cuz I don't have kids right now, but I do have one on the way, and I'm not in your shoes, but I have to do it. I'm feeding my kids alone. I don't get any help, and I've just been stuck for the last 2 months. I just paid May's rent. I was just about to be evicted in May. I just paid May's rent June 7th, and I'm going to get I already got an eviction notice for June. So, they got you on a month-to-month? Okay, that's what it seemed like. Her rent is $1,750. She's already been served an eviction notice, and she's receiving no help from the children's father. She was so desperate that she ignored every red flag, including putting on a nurse's uniform for a bank trip. I I mean, I have my lease or whatever, but they give you 30 days from the day that it's late, and then after the 30 days if you haven't paid it, then they'll put in the note then they'll put in for the court to evict. And then once you pay it that once you pay it, it'll go away, and then you were late again for the month of June, so they put that in. >> another 30-day notice. So, I have until July 7th >> How much is your rent? Right now with the late fee, it's almost $2,000. Okay, how much is it before the $1,750. $1,750? It's a two-bedroom, one-bathroom, but like everything's included, so Do you like my lights. Yeah. Do you uh you don't get help from the children's father? Are both of your kids from the same They're both from the same guy, and I don't get help from him. I don't know. Each time you I got you. They were never in the car. All right. I got you. Ready. So, what I want you to do is fill out all this information up here, um and then here you're going to start your statement with everything that you told us, okay? Um and then this is the second page for you to write on, uh whenever you need to be done in here. And then, you know, mention you know where y'all went, where the vehicle that you were in, the fact that you saw that white Mercedes at the other team's place. >> see the white Mercedes. I just saw the guy. I didn't know what car Okay, so So, you but you saw the guy. Mhm. Okay, yeah. Mention that in there. Um all of the everything that we've discussed today, okay? It might be a lot, and if you might you might if you need another one after that, just let us know, we can get you another one. Uh the local is not local. Is the man's address? Yeah. What Yeah, your your local address. Connect them, or do you want two separate? One case number. This is all one incident. Um can I get a copy before you take them? And may I get the two of you to put your information down here? I Thank you. I apologize for that, but we have to do our own reports. We don't have the name for the other guy. That's fine. Oh, no. Wait. I know. Okay. Oh, his name is on That's his real name. Oh, he has an account Can I get all his information in I I I didn't know. I thought he put his fake name I thought he put like somebody else's name on it. And then the sergeant and the others were telling me outside, he was like, "Don't put 100% his real name." He Fernandez looked verified that it's actually him, cuz it's the guy that obviously he saw, so he verified it's him, and it's the same name that's on the the bonds. Go ahead. I'm going to put We can get you more water at the police department. Okay. All right. I'm going to put the I'm putting them in front, cuz we're going to be sitting in the car for a while, all right? Okay. And you're being cool with this, so Yeah, you have. I don't do this to most people. I'm just trying to be honest. I'm I'm not lying about anything. I'm just trying to be honest. And we understand that, and we and we appreciate it. You just got caught up in an unfortunate situation, okay? That they left you in. I know. All right, just Here. Turn your wrists to face kind of There you go. >> [snorts] >> All right. We're going to walk you out and try to get you in there quickly so that way it's not embarrassing, okay? You don't have anything in your pockets, right? Okay, we're going to have someone check whenever we get back to the police station, but we're just going to get you in the car real quick, okay? Hello. Thank you. You feeling all right? I think so. Is Sarah a victim of her own desperation or a willing participant in the crime? Tell us what you think in the comments. Subscribe for more.