On November 16th, 2024, LASD economic units busted a waitress for a $57,000 scam, canceling cash orders to pocket the money over 3 years. She faced three heavy charges, but the real legal shocker isn't her theft, it's the detective's massive mistake during minute 13 of her interrogation. >> Why am I being arrested? >> You have no license for driving. >> Can you say it again? >> So, is that what's is that what's happening? >> Um I need a lawyer. I don't know. >> Just walk over there. >> All right. >> That's okay. >> All right, sir. >> Morning. >> Hi. >> Hello. >> Hi. >> Yeah. Who just What What employee just got here? Who Who just walked through the door? >> I did. >> Really? Are you in? >> Yes. >> Come with me outside. >> I don't Oh. >> Nice suit. Do you have your ID on you? And your driver's license? Do you have a license? >> I don't. >> How did you get to work? >> I drove. >> All right. Hold on. Don't go anywhere. Sorry, people are talking on my radio, so >> Okay. >> It's 10-13. Can you put me on a 10-50 at 234 Douglas Ave? Let's go to your car. Do you have any weapons on you or anything? No guns, knives, bombs, anything crazy? We're going to Yeah, it's going to be 40 tag. Alpha X-ray 43 uniform kilo, uh, white Explorer. It even tells you. Why don't you have a license? >> Uh, it's been sus- uh, suspended. >> I'll go look it up, but just tell me. >> Yeah. From Jersey. >> Your car's secured? >> No, I'm going to go back. Can you trade with me? >> What happened? >> I don't know. I'm in work. He came in to get me at work. What? I don't I don't know. >> You have no license. >> Oh, is that why y'all stopping me? I was inside already. Please. >> Well, I watched you pull up driving, you know, it doesn't matter if you're inside. >> were a victim the other day where I'm an Airbnb. I need to work. >> You a victim from the storm? >> No. >> Oh. >> My own personal stuff. >> Okay. >> It was my job. >> Okay. Well, I mean, we can see if you had any, uh, tickets recently. >> Uh, no. >> How long's your license been no good? >> Uh >> Have you ever had a license? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I mean, my daughter has her license. >> Yeah. Is that Is this her car? >> Yeah. >> Okay. What's your license suspended for? >> I don't even remember now. It's from Jersey. >> Okay. Is it like just like speeding tickets or is it DUI or >> Uh I can't even remember right now. No, no DUI. >> So, Florida won't give you a license cuz you're in Jersey you're suspended. All right. Well, let my partner get back and he'll do some research and could just, uh, give a citation, but I can't promise anything. So. >> Okay. I'll have my daughter come and get the car, please. >> Yeah, I'm I'm not going to tow it or anything. Uh, you're cooperative, so. You work here? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Can I know what's going on? >> Yeah, we're just waiting for >> Can you take your bag off? >> Why am I being arrested? >> Cuz you no license and you're driving. >> Please, I can't. >> Put your knuckles together. >> Oh my god. >> You said you have a family member that can come get the car. >> Yeah. >> Do you know their number or you need it out of your phone? >> Uh I need it. >> Uh No knives, or weapons, or anything, right? >> [snorts] >> No. >> I'm going to use the back of my hand to pat your pockets down. Put your hands behind Just in case it is. Yep. Okay. We're going to put it in the back of the car. Okay. She's got another little uh purse on the passenger seat. It's got a lot of cash in it, too, so. But I left it there for now. Did you read her her rights? >> I can. >> Hello. Good. Um I'm just going to take your information with [clears throat] the Nassau County Sheriff's Office. Um I work in the Economic Crimes Unit of the Sheriff's Office, okay? Um so, I have some things that I need to talk to you about. But before I do that, I'm going to read you your rights, okay? Have you ever been arrested before? >> No. >> Nothing major. The major Well, it's just like the movies. Um you know, here are the Miranda rights we're going to read, okay? >> 1960 >> All right. Do you understand that you have a right to remain silent? >> Yes. >> Do you understand that anything you say can and in mind that it will be used against you in a court of >> Yes. Do you understand that you have a right to speak to a lawyer and have him or her present with you while you're being questioned? Do you understand that if you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, one will be appointed to represent you before any questioning if you wish? Do you understand that 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 as I've explained them to you? And then having these rights in mind, do you wish to speak with me? So, I'm here to talk to you about your employment here with Uh how long have you been working here? >> About 5 years. >> Was it something else before? Was it a different restaurant before? The name? >> Uh I don't know. >> Okay. Do you have any idea why I would be speaking with you? Okay. What What days do you typically work? >> Uh Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. >> Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday? >> Yeah. >> Are those full 8-hour shifts? And what is your Do you waitress or bartender? And how much do you make being a waitress here? >> Uh it depends. >> Okay. >> Uh between 1 150 a day. >> Is that including tips and stuff? Um now Anna, I I I want you to be completely honest with me, okay? It's It's certainly not the end of the world, um but there's obviously some serious stuff that we got to talk about. Um but I'll be honest with you if you're honest with me. >> Okay. Which will go a long way with me. Help you out a lot more then. >> Okay. Um now when you have you ever taken any cash out of the register? So >> You know, I I did. >> Okay. >> And then we took we took it out. >> Okay. Have you ever changed any orders or canceled any out and taken cash out of the register? >> No. >> Okay. So remember when I said be honest with me. Okay? That's That's what we need to verify, Anna. Okay? Cuz there's going to be some things that you're going to have to explain. And if you're not going to be honest with me, So my next question, how do you explain the number of canceled items that you have just in the last year compared to your coworkers? >> I don't know. >> Which are very significant. So your coworkers have only had about $1,200 in canceled items. Yours are in $15,000. What's that explanation? How do you explain that? Honesty is important now, okay? >> I I >> I've already I've already talked to everyone I need to. I know the answers to a lot of the questions I'm asking, which is why I'm asking you to be honest with me. Okay? There's documentation. Okay? There's There's evidence that supports what we're seeing. Okay? So explain to me that difference. I'm thinking Is it a financial crime? Is it something that can be explained? I mean, I would just >> I know, I put mine in and then, you know, canceled and stuff, but over the last year. I don't know. >> And if it's Listen, just just be honest with me and and explain if it's >> I don't know if I'm allowed to talk about it. >> You're in a financial bind, right? And you saw an opportunity and then But but listen, but you saw an opportunity that maybe Okay, this will this will help us do it once. Okay, and then, you know what? It did help, but now I have this going on. Let me do it twice. And then it just gets out of hand and gets away from us. We all make mistakes. We're all human. Right? The big part is owning up to it so that we can move beyond it and learn past it. >> I don't know if I'm allowed to say that. >> Mhm. Well, try. Give it a try. I'm totally on base. That's not what it is. I I'd rather know the truth. I'd rather know what's really going on. I certainly don't think you're a bad person. I think times are tough for a lot of people right now and sometimes opportunities present themselves and when we're desperate, you know, we we do what we have what we think we have to do. Especially in hard times. I don't know if you were affected by the storm. Storms? I don't know. I don't know if there's other stuff going on. Yeah, yeah. I don't know. I don't trust him. >> I don't know. I don't know what to say. >> So, is that kind of what's that happening now? Cuz it sounds like it is. >> I don't know. I don't know if it uh I don't know if that's happening again. >> Uh I did. Uh where is this going? Uh I just want to I just wanted to ask someone. So, if that's what's happening, then we can move to the next step and move move forward and move past it. >> Yeah, it's a whole thing cuz >> So, is that what's Is that what's happening? >> Um, I need a lawyer. I don't >> All right. It was a relationship. >> Got you. Um, so you said earlier that your your license was suspended up in Jersey. >> Yeah. >> What for do you remember? >> I'm sorry. >> What for do you remember? >> I don't. I'm sorry. >> Was it like tickets, DUI? >> Uh, no DUI. >> Was it like child support or something like that? >> was I >> It's got to be something that you did or something happened like that. Just give me an idea. >> I think that not going to court. >> So, you missed a court date and they suspended it. Okay. Um, and then you try Have you tried to get one down in Florida? >> Uh, yeah. >> And they say what? >> I got to uh, fix that one from Jersey. >> Interesting. All right. So, you know you can't be driving without a license on you, right? It's criminal. Um How often do you drive? >> I'm sorry? >> How often are you driving? Cuz that's bad news if you get in a crash and like if you hit someone and they get hurt. >> I just That's bad then. Just to work. >> Whose car is it? >> Uh, my daughter's. >> Why didn't you just get her to drop you off? Clearly she doesn't need the car right now. She could have just driven and dropped you off. >> Right. Um, and she had plans and we we've just been going through a lot. >> Oh, so she >> I just tried to make it easier. >> You got mommy duties right now at home, is that why? Okay. Is there Are there baby baby seats in the back? >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. Just hang out for a little bit. We're going to do some paperwork and then we'll send you on your way. The uh going to come and get you. Um as long as you're still cooperative and relaxed, they'll put the cuffs in the front and bring you down. You'll see a judge by the end of the day. And then they'll tell you the details of what they're going to do regarding bond and all that. Any questions for me? Okay. Are you from Poland? When did you move here? >> Uh 2006. >> So you've been here for a little minute. >> Yeah. >> What brought you here? This is my own curiosity. You don't have to answer that. >> Yeah. I I I was adopted. >> Okay. Did you ever want to go back there? >> Yeah, I've been there once since I've been adopted, but I mean since I've been here, but >> Are you bilingual? >> No, not anymore. >> You feel like you lost it all? >> Yeah. >> Okay. You've been in there for quite a bit. What is it? >> Um a pill. >> I know that, but like what kind of pill? >> Um I don't know. My friend gave it to me for my knee. >> All right. Give me a second. I just found something in your front left pocket, so >> It's Adderall. Do you have a prescription for it? >> No. >> Why was she giving you Adderall for knee pain? >> Uh I don't know if that was the right one or not. >> That's So you think she gave you the wrong one? >> Yeah. Well, I asked for the uh last time she gave me a white one. I think it was uh I I don't know. >> All right. All right. This is all the stuff we're putting in your property and then it's going to the jail. >> Okay. >> There we go. Let's do it. It's going to be a couple of us or a couple of them. One, two, and so we do have some big bills. >> This is like in the old days. Count them for me again. >> 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. What's the deal? >> I can't keep track of it. >> All right, there's one. There's double stacks we got to go through. I don't know. Cuz I know I'll lose them if I mix them up. 20, 40, 60, 80, 100. 20, 40, 60, 80, 200, 20, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 300. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. 315. Want to count it? >> I'm good. >> All right. 25. 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 36, 37, 38. 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45. 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58. 29 260 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 I would say that. Good [ __ ] 98 No, that's fine. What? My bad. You have the car? >> 42 All right, yeah. >> OOPS. >> WELL, I GOT TO GO DOUBLE CHECK CUZ I WAS TRYING TO FILL in the envelope, so that's why. Oh yeah, let me go. She had a sneaky link. This [ __ ] is so tasty. What's that? >> The traffic in the pill. >> Yeah, the possession and then she's got a couple like uh fraud charges from the detective. Yeah, thanks. >> She faced charges for driving on a suspended license, paraphernalia possession, and pending embezzlement. Detective Raymond delivered a proper Miranda warning and her waiver seemed valid. But then, she uttered four game-changing words, "I need a lawyer." Under Edwards versus Arizona, all questioning must halt immediately. Instead, the detective brushed it off and pivoted to her driver's license. A different topic, but the exact same constitutional violation under Edwards, police cannot redirect an interrogation after counsel is invoked. Making every following statement subject to pre-trial suppression. Prosecutors will desperately cite Berghuis versus Tompkins, arguing her continued talking showed ambiguity. A weak claim as I need a lawyer is an unmistakable clear request. Before that moment, the detective used [music] standard minimization, assuring her that people make mistakes. Under Colorado [music] versus Connelly, that tactic alone doesn't render a confession involuntary. It's what happened after that breaks the case. While digital records show a staggering $15,000 deficit compared to her peers, economic fraud cases almost always rely heavily on valid testimony. If those post-invocation statements get suppressed, prosecutors lose their most critical testimonial evidence before the first witness even steps up. Yet, her patrol arrest holds firm independently. She drove to work on a suspended New Jersey license, which Florida refuses to honor under statute 322.34, [music] keeping that criminal charge completely intact. Furthermore, officers discovered unprescribed Adderall during a routine property inventory. A valid search under Illinois versus Lafayette upholding statute 893.13. Officer J earns a solid [music] B. Legally grounded, great de-escalation, with only a minor delay before applying the handcuffs. This chaos was entirely avoidable. Detective Raymond gets a C+. Thorough setup and flawless Miranda, but ignoring I need a lawyer is a textbook Edwards violation that threatens their best proof. The suspect earns a B-. Non-resistant and eventually making the correct invocation, though waving her rights initially proved costly. Three crucial takeaways. >> [music] >> First, for police, invoking counsel terminates questioning immediately. No pivots allowed. Crossing that boundary hands defense attorneys an easy suppression win every time. Second, for suspects, demand counsel right away. Halting halfway after partial admissions creates a mess. Third, operating on a suspended license gave officers a bulletproof legal reason to detain her. Completely separate from fraud. While financial records might still support the theft charges, this interrogation blunder gifted the defense its strongest argument. Procedural accuracy costs nothing. Stopping upon request takes discipline, a step this investigation paid heavily to ignore. Let us know what you think about this case in the comments below. Did the detective ruin a bulletproof case, or will the financial evidence be enough to convict her? Drop your thoughts, and don't forget to subscribe to Texas Body Cam for more legal breakdowns and raw law enforcement footage.