They thought they were masterminds. Turns out they weren't even good at being criminals. Here are five cases when young and dumb scammers get caught. Number five, Wendy's manager's robbery scheme was over before it began. Dante Wilson, a young Wendy's manager, staged a fake robbery to steal nearly $1,000. He claimed the robbery occurred while depositing cash, insisting he made two 911 calls. Yet, records show only one. When questioned, he insists he's telling the truth, but his timeline keeps shifting. Twice. All right. I just talked to our dispatch. She's only got one call recorded from you. Okay. Well, I know for a fact that their system's not going to They're [ __ ] They're They're They're system's not going to lie. So, I want you to think about it. It We've got it documented that you only called 911 once. We got it documented that there's only been one report of this call. Okay? Is there something that you want to If there's something else you want to talk about or is there something else you want to say about this? No, there really isn't. Okay. And this happened about 10:00. Yes, sir. Okay. And where did you go? You came straight back here? I came straight back here. You came straight back here. So, you drove to the at the bank. You were at the bank at 10:00 when this happened. And once it happened, you followed the guy and came straight back here. You didn't stop anywhere else. followed him. We were sitting and tussling with the money. And then after that you didn't go anywhere else. You didn't stop anywhere else. I didn't stop anywhere else. I came directly straight here. And then as I came Are you sure about that? I'm 100% certain. And I came in straight and they were sitting right there and I told them, "This is like this is what happened." Dante, I'm going to tell you right now, I've got guys reviewing the video from 9:30 to 10:30. Okay. Okay? If something did indeed happen, it's going to show it. If something didn't happen, it's also going to show that. All right? You need to be honest with me, 100%. honest. Exactly how I things are not adding I'm going to tell you right now, I haven't even looked at the video, but things are not adding up. I am telling you this. I'm looking straight you in the eye and telling you things are not adding up. That's crazy. Cuz I I don't have no reason to lie, honestly. I'm not saying you do. I'm just saying that had Not once. Have I had a issue. And then on top of that, I'm a new manager. So, it's like I'm so tiny that I have to do everything. And then it's rare that I even take the deposits to the bank myself. Dante, now realizing they might see everything, doubles down on his version. Will you do me a favor for me real quick? You've given me a video statement. I just need you to raise your right hand for me. I swear to God. You swear the video statement you've given me is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? State your full name. Dante Wilson. And state your date of birth for me. September Okay, very good. What I need you to do is just fill out this top part. Starting here, I just want you to write exactly what transpired, okay? So, you didn't You didn't call nobody and you didn't go nowhere else. No text messages, no nothing. Nothing. Okay. You doing all right, bud? You need some water or anything? No, I'm okay. Okay, you done with your statement? Yeah. Okay. Well, you signed it before I could swear you to it, but do me a favor. Raise your right hand for me. You swear the statement is the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God? Yes. Okay. Put your hand down. Now, listen. You understand what perjury is, right? Yes. What's perjury? Um false accusations or claims that something happened when it really didn't. Well, perjury's lying in court, but yeah. Okay. This Now, you've sworn to this. It's the same thing as if you've misled any way on this, it's perjury. Okay? I am giving you one golden opportunity. If there's anything else that you want to add or if something happened a different way, I'm I'm I'm trying to Nothing happened a different way. Nothing happened a different way. talked to anybody. You didn't talk to anybody. Nobody. Okay. I wouldn't even talk to You didn't send no text messages. Nothing. I could even show you guys my phone. Okay. Okay. And then they said it has to be on my shift when this happens, because now I'm the one who held responsible for the $900 Well, technically almost $1,000. And then on top of that, I could lose my job for that, being that I was responsible for that consequence. Right. Okay. And that You didn't tell your manager your superiors a little bit of a different story? Did I tell them about a little different story? No. Okay. Despite giving him a chance to come clean and be honest about what really happened, Dante insists on his version of events, where he was attacked and is a mere victim in the whole scenario. I'm trying now. Okay, you understand that I'm trying. Yes. We're going to have a detective come out. He's going to help us try to solve this. Okay. Okay? Like I said, I've got a I've got a deputy pulling video from 9:30 to 10:30. Okay. Now, my understanding is that the process of drop process is to do do it through the drive-thru. Why would you get out and go into your bank? When I Before I became a manager, when I was in training, the manager that was on duty that day, she normally says that she goes into the bank to do her change orders. And as well as drop the deposits sometimes in case the drive-thru is too busy, so we can she can get back to work. So, you're saying at 10:00 this morning it was too busy? No, it was packed in there. I even went to Bank of America, too, to do a change order and they were packed in So, you went to Bank of America, too? Yes. When did you do that? I did that before I left cuz I had to get gas as well. And I told my boss Before you left where? When I left here, I went straight there cuz I had to get gas before I broke down on the road. And then while I was right there, I just did the change order at Bank of America. What time was that at? It was roughly 9:45, 9:30-ish. It was around that area when I left. It was like 9:40-something when I left. Okay. While trying to explain himself, he changes details about where he parked and what time he left. The inconsistencies keep piling up. Put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Listen to everything that you've said. Yes. How would it sound to you? How How would your story sound to you? If I was giving If I was telling you the same story, how how would you How would it sound to you? Honestly, it would sound pretty crazy, being that fact is you weren't there. So, as much as I'm trying to explain it to you, you have to get everything in detail. And plus, I'm still shaking up by it, so I'm doing the best of my ability to give you everything in detail that I know. And that's exactly what I'm doing. From every single movement that I did, every sound that I made. What What I'm having a hard time with is that you you said that you gave you willingly gave up the money cuz you didn't want After a while, yes. Cuz at first, I was like, "Wait a minute, what are you doing?" Okay. And if the bank was so packed, nobody came to your aid? Nobody was outside. Everybody was inside. There was a lot of cars outside. And there was cars still coming in and out of that plaza period. Nobody was there outside. It was just him sitting in front. But you said the drive-thru was packed. Would lead me to believe that No, I didn't say the drive-thru was packed. So, why didn't you go through the drive-thru? I would just go in inside. It's that It was easier. But I thought your I thought your SOP was to go through the drive-thru. Yeah, but then like I said, too, when my manager that was on duty that one day when she told me how to do it, she said she normally goes in sometimes. So, I just just decided to go in. what if you go in or not? Well, no, it was just up to me, honestly. If I go in or just go through the drive-thru. So, you So, I chose to go inside. But what is the SOP? Well, now I know you have to do it through the drive-thru. I never knew that was mandatory to do it through the drive-thru in particular when it's the same process on the inside. saying that this was a short This was a short-sided He claims he drove straight to Wells Fargo, was attacked, and rushed back to work. But when asked why he skipped the drive-thru, standard policy, he stumbles, insisting the lobby was faster despite no never really do deposits cuz I like I said, I'm a new manager, so a lot of things I still haven't done yet or haven't done enough of. Okay. And this happened right in front of the store? Right in front of the bank? Just about. It was like at the corner. Cuz he was sitting on the side close to drive-thru. And my car was parked at the corner. Towards the front. So, if you see this gentleman and he he catches your eye, Well, I didn't pay him no mind at first until I saw him when I got to the front and he started walking towards me. That's when I looked at him and then I didn't pay him no mind. I thought he was going to walk right past me. And then as I'm walking towards the bank, then we start tussling. He starts grabbing at me. And I have an exact I wish I could have took a picture of him. Okay. Okay. So, I I still can't I still don't understand why if the drive-thru wasn't busy, that you wouldn't just go through the drive-thru for safety safety reasons, considering the fact that you have to be back here. Well, I just normally do it all the time going inside. I never really went through drive-thru period. So, you don't ever go through the drive-thru. Yeah, and at the same time, I never really do deposits either. How many deposits have you done? Um since I've been a manager, maybe three. Maybe three. Okay. Cuz normally, I'm a night manager, so normally in the morning, managers normally takes the deposits from the night before, being that the banks are closed at night time. Okay. All right. Officers take him to the bank for verification. Then comes the real problem. Security footage doesn't back him up. Why you didn't park over in those other parking spots? Yeah. Those other two spots empty? Yeah. This all three of these spots were empty. Well, the one in the middle wasn't. Like you said before, you actually said you were saying that you parked in that far right spot. Okay. You were 100% positive you parked right there. All right. Is that the entrance you normally use when you come to this bank? Okay. The video shows no robbery. He walks in, does a regular transaction, and leaves without a single sign of trouble. Dante is arrested for grand theft, perjury, and filing a false report. Unable to pay his $4,000 bond, he pleads no contest, serving 120 days in jail and 3 years of probation. He also repays the $992 he stole, but he doesn't learn. In 2023, he's caught stealing $70 from a Taco Bell register, arrested again, and fired on the spot. His second chance ending just as badly as the first. Number four, how a luxury vacation turned into a criminal nightmare. Police board a cruise ship after security reports that a passenger used stolen credit cards to book a vacation. By the time they arrive, ship security has already detained her, and it's clear that her trip isn't ending the way she expected. ask you to come on the cruise ship and do something? Uh No, she just No. Uh No. She just what? She just what? Go ahead. Nothing. What did she tell you to do? Whoever she is. Listen, this But it should be my name, though. Why did the person tell you to come on the cruise ship today? You've never been on a cruise before. You booked your cruise recently. Who told you to come on the cruise? Someone booked the cruise, and they told us to You know, they asked about the excursions and Basically, it was something to do to get away. So, someone told you to book the cruise, they booked it for you. Mhm. Who is that someone? I don't know her. How did you find out about her? So, some stranger just No, they would No, it was on the internet. It was on the internet. Mhm. So, some stranger on the internet that you don't know Basically, saying they say, "I'll pay for your cruise." If you do what? If you do what? No, you have to pay You have to pay them. You have to cash out money and everything. I never asked no questions, how much, or none of that. She told me I need to get out of seeing one of your friend. I asked her, "What?" So, it's a cash app, so you have the invoice on the cash app app? Uh no, not No, not cash app. Uh she stay in the city, so I can actually go up, you know, meet up. So, did that same person tell you to get this? Huh? Did that same person, the cash app? Same person you What are they We're talking about the lady. Uh-huh. Did she tell you to get this? No No, that was for some That was for something totally different. Yeah, that wasn't for the cruise. But what did she tell you to do on the cruise? Nothing. She asked if we want to go and, you know, to pay her. That's it, that's all. So, what did you pay her? How much? Yeah. How much did you pay her? Huh? How much did you pay her? Uh just a couple hundred. You paid her a couple hundred dollars to go on a cruise? Yes. Give me a number. 500. $500 Uh-huh. to go on this The woman claims she found a deal online, paid $500 via cash app, and just went along with it. But the numbers don't add up. The cruise costs well over $1,200, and someone covered the rest. What did that $500 give you? Um her answer go on the excursions. Excursions? Yeah. But we never did the excursions, though. How much did it cost to book a cruise today? How much did it cost? I don't know. He told me I owe 1,200. So, who's the lady? What's her name? I don't know her name. Then how did you pay her? Cuz I went through I don't know the lady name. I don't I barely even know the lady like that. So, you paid $500 to be on this ship today. Yes, we did. But it would have cost you over $1,200 to actually be on this ship. So, who paid for the difference? Uh she said all I had to do was just pay for my flight. So, you only paid for your flight. Yes, and paid her my money. What did she ask you to do on the ship? Nothing. Huh? Yeah, but what did she ask you to do on the ship? Nothing right now. No one in their right mind is going to let you pay zero like $500 for a voyage that's well over $1,200 for you to do absolutely nothing, and you don't even know this person. So, I thought it was a scam. You thought it was Yeah, I thought it was, but she I just I did. Why did you think that? Because she was saying she could do whatever they gave me, so Did she say what? Can you repeat that? Mhm. I'm not sure what you said. Can you repeat this all? I thought I wasn't going to be able to do it. Like she plane ticket, and then she was like, you know, you got to leave. You got to leave, and then what? Uh come here. And then what? Be on the cruise. Mhm. And do what? Uh she said we do the drinking. Mhm. Um She I didn't even get it. Come on, y'all. Do the drinking Yeah, do the drinking, get off the boat get off the boat, do what we need to do. Other than that, that's it. Before you said that the the lady wanted you to take ex Authorities suspect it's part of a scam where stolen cards are used to book trips and then cancel excursions for refunds. Mhm. Okay. But you didn't take them. No, not today. Before we ask you any questions, you have to understand your rights. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in court. You have the right to talk to a lawyer for advice before we ask you any questions, and you have a lawyer with you during questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, How long am I going to be Let me finish, please. You have the right to talk to a lawyer for advice before we ask you any questions, and you have a lawyer with you during questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you for any question if you wish. Do you understand these rights as I have read them to you? I just want to ask you some questions, all right? All right. Okay? You want You want the door shut? I'm finna get locked up. We're going to get to that. Fake. Real real. Okay? Yes. All right. Where's the credit cards? I don't have any credit cards. The credit cards you you tried to use. Wait, what you mean I I haven't tried to use any ones credit card on here. Huh? I haven't tried purse? Yeah. They're not my debit cards. I don't know on here. Are these yours? This is your purse, correct? Yeah. So, what were you using to pay for the ship, the drinks, the food? They said it was already paid for, so Well, they have you um trying to make purchases, cuz obviously they charged you back. No, I haven't even made any purchases. Who's Mark Curry? My That's my uncle. I just was telling them that. Mhm. And he should have a uh When was it, Grandpa? He can't hear you. As the officers continue questioning her, her story keeps changing. We can call him. Matter of fact, we can call Daniel Horvey to verify this. What if you have a fake ID? Why you made it for me a long time ago? I forgot they were even in my wallet. Yeah, I'm here. I'm here. I'm here. You can help me with my ID. I'm here. My supervisor works. Okay. So, I can mention Hello. You there? Hello. Hello, how are you? I'm on a cruise ship. How are you? Cuz fraud case, they were using credit cards that were stolen, and I'm here trying to Something like that. What's up? Probably I know. I know. I don't think I'll get there. I got to I got to undo this thing. I already called Haley on this. Haley had a similar case about 2 months ago. Yeah. I'll let you know how it goes. You said the lady that booked the cruise for you with her card? I guess, yeah. You guess? You said that uh she also booked the excursions for you prior to you getting on the ship? Yeah. And then what? You were supposed to come aboard, cancel the excursions, so she got the money back. Mhm. Mhm. Yes, no. Is that what was happening? You do know. Is that Was that what you were told to do? What did she tell you to do? Remember how I said we have facts. Okay? Yeah. Remember how I said I can continue to give the facts along the way, because we know you're not being truthful. So, what did she tell you to do with the excursions? When pressed about the canceled excursions, she struggles to explain. Did she tell you to to cancel them? I just canceled them. Yeah, so You didn't answer my question. Did she tell you to cancel Right, that's what she told you to do. I didn't cancel She told you to go ahead and cancel the excursions, so she gets the money back. Uh The uh But she uh They said we can't get money back anyway. Moments later, cruise security confirms the fraud. Why don't you start from the beginning? Yes. What happened? So, basically we are notified from the ashore side office that it was fraudulent activities on the credit card that it's reported that it's not authorized payment and then it came to us. Was this the card they used to book the trip? So, no, it's different card. Mhm. So, how did you get alerted that the fraud was on That's something that we need to check with the office. So, you went and checked the card, but you went and talked to the people. What happened after that? They They let you know that the card was not used? So, we don't have the contact with the from shore side. You can You can speak with the office. I I just need Yeah. a coherent story. Yeah. So, basically we were notified from the office that fraudulent activity was done on the card. We cannot collect the payments. Okay. And that was for charges on board the ship. And the voyage and the voyage fare as well. So, it was for the voyage. Yeah. It was for the voyage. Of course, I mean it's two different cards are used. One is used for the payment for the voyage. Mhm. And apparently different one is here on board. A different card that was here All right. But you don't know who the card belongs to that was fraudulent. No, they don't give us that. That's from our shore side. Shy Azoulay is our chief security officer for the company. They give us only what we need to follow up here. But the shore So, you don't even know the card name on the person's name on the card. So, I think that could be helpful How do you do that? Because that communication that we received was made by email. So, we don't have all Okay. Can your offshore uh security advisor get that for you guys in order for us to That would be financial department from shore side. Would they be able to So, how do you determine that it was her? They gave us the numbers. Numbers for what? Cabin numbers. All right. But how do we How do we get to this lady? So, by the booking number and by the Is she the only one in the room? Two different credit cards were used. One for the cruise itself and another for purchases on board. When police search her belongings, they find a fake ID which immediately adds a felony charge to her case. All right. And she was the one Do you have video of her trying to make these charges? We don't have that. Shore side It's everything booking are done pre-voyage. Okay. So, you don't have video of her using the card illegally. Okay. So, all we have is a fake ID. Okay. Yes, they're using show you this is the email that we received it. Mhm. Like with the title. Okay. Yeah. All right. Um Okay. What do you guys want done? I mean From our side, we try we will try to charge the credit cards. Well, it's not going to work. Yeah, but But see, for me to make a charge, I have to have a victim. I don't I don't have I have what I have a card that's bad, but I don't have the card. Okay. We follow up with you need to follow up. I She's not She's not She's not carrying either card made with the voyages or uh with with any of the excursions. She's not carrying any So, you don't check cards when they come on? So, there is a system how they put online online payment. If it goes through But you Okay. I I think there's a flaw there. All right. Well, you're going, so let's go. You're being arrested, by the way. And don't touch your phone. Okay. You have anything to say? They're not sailing No. Is she No. Is she Okay. So, we're all getting kicked off. You're getting charged. You're getting charged with a felony for possessing a fake ID. Yes, that's happening. Okay. You got You got involved in this thing and this is how it's ending. You knew that it was a possibility, correct? They probably told you there was no way they could have done it. But I The ID didn't have nothing to I know, but we're still charging you for it. Okay. Do you understand? You got into this. Okay. All right. All right. Get up. With all the evidence stacked against her, police tell her she's under arrest. What? Can charge the charge if the charge is card in her name. Why you want me to search my belongings? Cuz I just told him we could do it and he just took all day just to do it. Where's the card you used? I don't got no cards. I told him he could have used If I could use cash, he said no. Where's the card you used for to buy the purchases? I didn't do it. Somebody else was doing it for me. Is she still not willing to give it up? Can I let her know that I'm No. You're under arrest. All courtesy is gone. Okay. You've been arrested before? No. Never? Traffic ticket. Mhm. Okay. How long am I going to be We're going to provide you We're going to provide you with problem. From the office they will provide you You want to help yourself? Start talking. You don't want to help yourself? I don't really care. You got yourself into this mess. They told you what's going to happen and they told you how to do this whole scam. Do you understand? Do you? Yes. You're a big girl. You understand exactly what happened. You thought it was going to be free ride here, come on board the ship, charge whatever you want, you ain't going to get caught. But guess what? You're caught. No. You want to help yourself? Yes or no? Yes, but you still going to lock me up for the ID. I ain't do nothing. You did something. Listen. I can write this report real easy. Credit card fraud on board the ship. No. Extremely Listen. Extremely unhelpful. Didn't want to help herself. Okay. Charge her with it and then I just dump it in. Or I could write in she was very sorry for what she did. What she understood she got involved in a scam. She had no idea about it. I didn't That's what I was just explaining. She doesn't take the news well. As officers try to get a straight answer, she keeps denying involvement. You know that I didn't I never knew it was a scam, the excursions or You knew that credit card wasn't good and you told them when to do the buyback on that thing. You think that's legal? Say it again. The buyback on the cruise excursions. You think that's legal? No, I never did a buyback. When it canceled. Oh. I just All I did was the cabana thing for tomorrow. That's the only thing that was canceled. Nothing else was canceled for the pre-sail. And who gets the money for that? I don't The man told me that it goes on the The man Who is the man? That I came down here to talk to. He's someone at the front desk. But who Who is the lady? That's the question because you told me it was a lady. Who is Anne? Yes, who is Anne? Someone from that I met through a person. Yeah, but you see how it said someone who I met? Remember we talked about that? That's not helping You're not helping yourself. Who is Anne? Somebody I met through somebody. Come on. Let's go. I ain't got time for this. So, let's report it to Justin if he can charge the charge of the cards for the voyage. Okay. What about the voyage? You can if you want to. Whatever So, if Okay. So, if he was to charge my cards, then what? It doesn't matter. Okay. Well, book my cruise then. Cuz if you if you If you're going to charge my cards, I'm still getting locked up. Yes, because it's a different felony. It doesn't have to do with this one. Okay. Well, no. Then I don't I don't know. Go ahead. I don't need a card. Do you have Do you have any working credit card? Huh? I need to Can I Can you tell her that I'm going to get locked up? You got the same that have one sailor. What? I have another person here that was in possession of I want to ask if I can hand over to Give it to the other guy. Okay. I don't have I have enough problems with this thing already. Lord, man. Dumping everything on me. Yeah, I know. They keep dumping stuff on me like I'm a personal She thought she got a cheap vacation, but instead she's leaving with criminal charges and a permanent ban from the cruise line. What's up? That was That was my my What? That was my little bit Uh-huh. That's like a That's a problem? Yeah. I didn't I didn't know that. I'm from Massachusetts. Yeah, it's a problem. Yeah. Okay. Um anything else that you need from them? For sure we'll be Okay. All this background information about the payment system and everything. From what department? Our shore side can give you All right. Let's go. Cuz if we if we have a name that's associated They They will have over there. We don't have here because of the future. I call you also for Hold on. Hold on. Back up. You know him also? You don't go until I say so. You understand? Okay. Okay. We have another situation with another sailor that we found him in possession of Okay. It's small quantity. You can handle that. Listen. Clear your hallway out here. So, she doesn't talk around. So, what Hit them with on me? This one. Yeah. Take it to the side. Small Okay. Come on, man. I was just trying to save someone who I came with. No, you You don't get that luxury. I didn't do nothing. Yeah, you did. You're using illegal credit cards on board the ship and you booked the ship with IT. NOTHING. NO, I DIDN'T I DIDN'T I AND YOU BOOKED YOUR CRUISE ILLEGALLY. NO, I DID NOT. I never would have booked anything. I got the card that she booked there for the last four digits. I got it. Okay, then. All right. So, you you were on board with your cards and none of them worked. I told him So, how do you explain that? Thank you. Thank you. I asked him if he used Apple I mean, did they have Apple Pay or tap? I asked him. He said no. You came on board a cruise ship with a ton of credit cards, none of them worked except the one. It's no surprise how that backfired spectacularly. My name? Okay. It has to be in your name. Yeah, the tap is in my name. Apple Pay. Hold them up and out. What's that? Okay. Thank you. Do you want to go take anything else? Phone? Anything? No. I'm asking you. No, no. Yeah, let's go through this. I don't need to check it. Can I get that to someone? Huh? Can I Would I be able to get that to someone? You're asking me to be help you out when you've been so helpful to me? Is that what you're asking? That's what you're asking me to be. You need me to extend a courtesy to you after you've been so forthcoming. I was leaving. Okay. So, we understand each other now? Your purse is coming with us with your phone. All right? Would I be able to give I'm pretty sure you're She's banned for life for cruising. Yeah, I can get out. Uh I hope so. 27, I'm going to have one 10-15 female. Coming. Hold on. Same ship every time. They get hit and they wonder why. It's not a Carnival. It's it's Virgin. They get hit all the time. Cuz they don't have simple basic security in place. Like check the name to the card. You know, she didn't have that fake ID. Aside from being kicked out of the ship, she's also banned from cruising for life and charged with felony possession of a fake ID. Number three, elderly woman scammed out of thousands by her own caregiver. Donna Welch, an older woman living alone, noticed over $5,000 missing from her accounts. Suspicious, she contacts the police and the investigation quickly points to Spencer, the guy who frequently helps her with tech issues. What's going on? I have this kid that comes to my house all the time to help me out with my computer and stuff. And I do not belong to Zelle. And you don't have a Zelle account? No. Okay. He does. Mhm. How did the funds leave your account? Can you just kind of walk me through that? You You never gave him your bank information? He knows a lot about me. Is that his name, Spencer? Spencer Trinkle? How much money did you lose? Uh so far it's coming out to $5,000. Where is Do you know where Spencer lives? No. But how do you know? He used to be my cable guy. You don't know anything about him? Well, I've known him three, four years now. And you gave him your bank account information? No, he used He used to help me because I'm not What do you mean used to help you? Um set things up. Answer. Answer it? Yep. Hey. Hey, Spencer. Hello. Hey, this is Deputy Harrison, Clark County Sheriff's Office. How are you? Hello. Is that a net? Yeah, this is Deputy Harrison. I'm talking to you right now. You keep breaking up. Hello. I looked at my thing. I think I know exactly what happened. So, like now I got to fix it for her. Okay. Where are you at? Let's fix it. I'm in the market. Okay. Do you want to come out to Bank of America down here on Pine Forest? Sure. I was Can I talk to Donna real quick? Sure. Hey. What happened? What do you mean what happened? I seen I seen it in there and now that you're showing it, like oh god. So, you're right, it's all in my credit account. And now I'm going to pay you all that back. You went into my savings account, my credit card account. Hey, Spencer. Spencer. I'm doing a home equity loan, so you're you're going to get all that back. How far are you about 20, 30 minutes from there? 40? Yeah. Give me one sec. Yeah, I'll call you right back. When deputies call Spencer, he acts confused but admits the money is in his account. Who's that? It's Spencer. Well, answer it. Let me talk to him. Hey, Spencer, this is Deputy Harrison. Hey, I'm coming. Can I talk to Donna real quick though? No, no, cuz I got to ask you a couple questions too. Like I got calls here, so you don't need to I just want to I just want to ask you to get your side, get her side, and do my thing. I'm not trying to waste my time. No, right now nobody's in trouble. Can I Can I talk to Donna real quick too? No, no. When you get here, you can talk to her. That way we can handle it in person. All right. If he keeps calling, we're not answering. I tell you where he works, you're not going to believe it. Yep. Now he keeps calling me. So, where do you work for? DCF? Yeah, so I work with you guys all the time. So, like I don't know what I'm not in trouble, right? Like obviously No, not at all. Dude, I have to ask I have to dot my I's and cross my T's. Hey, what's going on, man? All right. Can I talk to you over here real quick? All right, cool. I haven't met you before, huh? Yeah, yeah. What's good? Good to see you. So, can you tell me a little bit about Donna? Yeah, so I've known her for about four years now. Yeah. Um basically, she has no family. So, I kind of like base with her. She'll base sometimes she'll But if she like you'll find her, she'll be passed out on the floor, hit her head, she's bleeding, she has all these cuts. I always check up on her. I'll help her pick her up, pick her up from the floor. So, I just feel bad cuz she has no family. Mhm. So, how would the money go from her account to yours though? That's why I'm confused on, but I see it. I see it in there cuz I didn't look but now I see it. it. I see it right on there. See, it shows me in there. So, I'm like That's all there. I'm like I don't know. Like if I wanted to do that, I'd be doing it this whole time. It'd be great. I'd be a rich. Like I've been helping her this whole time. I don't want to screw her over. Yeah, yeah. Okay. All right. It's $5,000, right? It's $5,000. Here has my name. Right. I see it now. I didn't I didn't check my credit account. But it's in there. And how much funds were deposited from her to your Zelle? That's what we're adding up right now. It's like $3,000. And is that money still in your bank account? It's not in there at all. It goes through it The medical bills went through credit. Whatever it is, it's showing up on mine. So, I'm going to have to pay her that. Okay. It's just His excuses keep coming in, but police aren't buying it. All right. I told her I'm going to recommend that she changes out her whole network to change all her stuff out. Let me just read you your rights. Just so we can keep asking you questions. Yeah. All right. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or can or will be used against you in What? That's scary. I don't like that. You know I Well, this is how we have law works. We can't ask you questions and stuff without it. You have the right to remain silent. Do you want to say your rights? Yes. All right. We can ask you a couple questions. Yeah. Okay. So, you're receiving these funds You're receiving these funds from Donna's account, right? Yeah, but we just found out. And you have Zelle? Yes. Okay. And how long have you been with DCF? Two years. Two years. This is my calling. Is it helping kids and stuff? That's what I like about my job. All right. And then uh Like this looks horrible. Like I think You were telling Deputy Katansky earlier that, you know, you you guys are on the same network. What do you mean by that? Like you know when you go into somebody's home, there's a home network. You got to log into their Wi-Fi. Like a Wi-Fi. Their Wi-Fi. So, like if I'm at her house, my phone connects to her Wi-Fi automatically. That's what gets me nervous though. Like if somebody can get in there Is she familiar with like how electronics work? Like Kind of sort of. Have you been teaching her? Yeah, I've been trying to help her like install stuff and do all that stuff for All right. So, you're you're free to go right now. But I'll be in touch with you. But I probably have to get a search warrant for both of your stuff, I'll be honest with you. So, A search warrant? Yeah, we got to figure out who took your money. What if we just drop it and I'll just bite the bullet and just have to pay her back if we have to do all that. Bite the bullet, what do you mean? Like I'll just take the blame for it and just got to pay her back. No, no. Did you do it? No, but it's in my account, so obviously I mean, just because it's in your account, that doesn't make you a That doesn't make you a That doesn't mean you committed a crime. All right? I know, but it's in my account, so I didn't it's the money's not there, so I'm getting I mean, you Did you do the Did you do it or not? No, but I feel bad for her. We'll do a thorough investigation. All right? If that means we got to get a search warrant and search you guys' bank records and your all your transaction history, we got to do that. All right? I mean, that's just the that's the bottom line. Do you want to press charges or not? No. Okay. So, we probably won't have to We're not going to do a search warrant if you don't want to press charges. The officers give Donna a choice, press charges or let him pay it back. She decides to let it slide if he repays her. Spencer agrees saying he will bite the bullet and return the money, even though he still won't admit he stole it. Okay. Here's your statement. Just write down I don't feel like I should. I'm going to pay you back so you don't have to. Fine. Well, you're as that your evidence. Yeah, he's a witness. Witness to what? That he said he'll pay me back. You know, I would I'm not attesting anything. Yeah, that's civil. If he If he pays you back and you don't want to press charges, that's on you. And what if I If I don't sign this and you don't pay me back? You know my whole family, man. We live right there. he doesn't pay you back right now and we're not, you know, whatever, then it's a civil matter. I would never. I've all the time to help you, but I would I just had to screw Donna now. I'm telling you, I mean, it would it would help the case if you do a statement and it would help the case if you uh want to press to write something down. I want to keep it on file. Okay. And you don't want to press charges, correct? I don't want to press charges now. Listen, Spencer, I'm Detective Castner with the Clark County Sheriff's Office. Go ahead. Bank of America has obviously provided Donna with some statements that clearly show a bunch of Zelle transactions that were made to you. And you've never seen this before, you're saying? The only one I saw was the other day she brought it to my attention. And then I was like, "I don't have the money." So I gave her $200 cash. But I thought it was only $540. But then I'm like, there's obviously a lot of them in there now. So I'm like, "I got to buy the food and I'll just pay you that money back." So you've seen money in there before. What happened to the money? So my money I could tell right from the get-go that there's some going on. Yeah, there's nobody Spencer, this isn't a happy ending. Yeah. This is I it it really appears that you were able to get her information and you sent to yourself money into your account. Like I told her, I was like, I'll honestly I'll It's not about that. No, it's fine. Okay? It's not about that. It's about that. Obviously you have some issues going on with your your family matters. Yeah, absolutely. With with your brother or with your son. Having mental health issues. And maybe you're having a financial hardship. So I'm giving you this opportunity. Did you go into her account and take money out of her account for any reason? Nothing intentional. Have you ever done that? No, my wife. Can you go to your Zelle transactions? Yeah. This don't look good, I'm going to tell you. No, I know. The transactions are tied directly to his Zelle account, yet he refuses to take responsibility. I'm like, I'm not going to I'm like, "Dude, I'll literally whatever you got to do, I'll I'll pay you whatever." I mean, if if it's an accident, then why would I mean, there's really no need to pay pay her back Well, it went through my account. That's how I got the money. Well, then you saw it yesterday. And I paid her for some of that. Right. Yeah. But all those transactions happened before yesterday. That's the only one that we saw on her bank account for Zelle transactions. Yeah, but you got money influxed into your account on multiple previous dates. Yeah, that's that's the one she showed me. Right, but you there's multiple, not just one. Yeah, I know. multiple. And you if you saw it yesterday, you would have had to see all the other ones. What's the account with the $20,000? Mine? Yeah. That's my account. I only have $25. I'm like, if I need money, that's why we do a fundraiser. I don't need to This is what we're doing now. Yeah. Let me ask you this. When we subpoena these records, Mhm. nothing's ever going to come back to you where your IP addresses are used to transfer her money into your account? That's what I'm saying. It could be because I'm on her network. That's why I'm like, I don't know how to Oh, no. IP addresses are uh by device. device. Yeah, I'm not sure how that yet. That's what I'll take like I said, I'll pay her back that money. It's It's not about paying back. We're We're talking about a criminal aspect. Yeah. Not just a Yeah. uh we'll pay you back kind of thing. Yeah. Cuz that money's gone. No, I have it. She's going to get it back. Spencer, and really like we're out here in the sun and we just we kind of like Yeah, I want to watch you be as honest as possible. Absolutely. I've never gotten trouble in my life. Based on the paperwork that we have, Yeah. I'm saying you might overwhelmingly show Yeah. Right. You said that your your child needs health care. Did you take the money from her? Not intentional. What do you mean not intentional? Tell me how you would have done it unintentionally. I wouldn't want to do that. Yeah, if I wanted I would I didn't say you wouldn't want to do it. How would you have done it unintentionally? I would have asked her. I mean, I didn't ask. Yeah, obviously if I had been in the position I would have done that. Officers, sensing foul play, press him further, but Spencer denies everything. I understand what you're saying. Mhm. But that's not what happened. Money came out from her account to your account. Okay? That happened not unintentionally. That was very intentional. Okay. When hackers hack into things, they just don't put her money into your account. How are you going to be able to make it right? Well, we have a fundraiser. So I GOT TO GET IT from the fundraiser and send that to her. So am I going to have like a record and [ __ ] now or am I going to get some charges Yeah, but I mean, what you're looking at is grand theft. I know. That's what I'm saying. I don't want that. Where does the fundraising money go into? Facebook. It's a Facebook thing and it goes to my wife. And it goes to your wife? Yeah. You ever use her credit card? No, I don't even know. But it shows it's on there, too. I'm like, "Thank you." So obviously there's definitely something going on. Yeah. We are probably 100% sure Mhm. that you did all the transactions Okay. on your own. That in itself, you know, you got exploitation. There's a bunch of crimes that we could hit. So, you know, so with that being said, No. she wants an arrest. Yeah, I wouldn't know I wouldn't do that at all. That's why I'm like, now it's I got to do that. Spencer. I'm not going to get myself in trouble for something like that. Well, you're in trouble. You're in trouble. Does that make sense? Yeah. Yeah, you're in trouble. You took over $5,000 from Donna. Where is the money? Whose money is this? Mine. So with the money that you received from Donna's account, you've already paid bills with that. Yeah, medical bills. For your son? Yeah. Did you use her credit card Nothing fraudulent. No. What is Dave's Incorporated? Dave's Incorporated? Well, there's a transaction for Dave's Incorporated. That's money for me. Well, I'm not 100% sure. I don't know what that is. She doesn't know what that is. I mean, did you not think like this would affect her lifestyle based on Yeah, that's why like I said, I hope to get her social security income? Yeah. Lucky for him, Donna decides not to press charges, despite the clear evidence that he took advantage of her. Pretty good admission right there. You said who spent the money. You know who spent the money. We'll give Donna all the information. She doesn't want to see him go to jail because of the whole kid situation and stuff like that. So Spencer, do you have a letter that you wrote? Yeah, I was going to notarize it today. Where is that? That's what I thought we were doing today. So whatever's on there, add it up, it's in my name, and then I'll pay her back. Spencer shows a newly scribbled IOU to the deputies to convince them he meant to pay. So this is the deal. You're a lucky person. Okay, cuz she likes you. I know, I really am a good person. Well, good people don't take $4,000 from their friends or anything without asking. Mhm. That's not a good person. She doesn't want to pursue charges, at least today. She doesn't want to see you right now, but she thinks that you'll communicate with her and then you guys work out some sort of an agreement. Yeah. If that doesn't happen, do you know what is going to happen? Absolutely. What's going to happen? They they come arrest. I'm going to come arrest you. Yeah. We'll get a warrant, then I'm going to come arrest you for for exploitation Yeah. and grand theft. Yeah. That's going to put you in a lot more financial hardship when you don't have a job because you've been arrested for two felonies. I understand. Absolutely. And your child. I know you guys had to come out here. We are, too. We are, too, unfortunately. But when she calls us back in however long you don't pay her back, Yeah, I'm not going to I'm not going to pay her back. then that's where we're at. Okay. All right. I appreciate it. All right, Spencer. Thank you. Yep. All right. Thank you guys. Days later, Donna realizes even more money is missing. She calls the police again, but this time she won't be as kind. I'm thinking of prosecuting. He used my rewards money. He went into my savings account. Went into my checking account. And he went into my credit card. I mean, he was doing this when I was here. So what would you like to do, Donna? I'm thinking of pressing pressing charges. Okay. I feel bad I had You shouldn't. You should not at all feel bad. I I I feel really Someone took advantage of you. What's to feel bad about? There's no point in feeling bad for someone who don't even cares about the money in your bank account. He already lost his job. This is my calling. The repercussions for committing a crime is not losing your job. It's having criminal charges. That's his fault for losing his job. That's something he did to himself. And I I frankly asked him, "Why did you do this?" And he felt and he goes, "Because of vodka." I go, "You could have asked me for some money. You didn't have to steal it." Good afternoon. This is Deputy Windham Flagler County Sheriff's Office trying to reach Donna Welch. Speaking. There is more things that I'm finding that he took. I had $176,000 in my bag and when I went to the dollar store and I opened my wallet, I had a dollar in there. And then he took my Bed Bath & Beyond credit card and I went to Target yesterday. I got a credit card, but it was missing. One month later, Spencer is arrested and charged with felony grand theft and identity theft of a person over 60. At first, he pleads not guilty, but when confronted with evidence, he switches to no contest. The judge gives him eight years probation, a $10,600 repayment order, and bans him from unsupervised elderly care. Less than two years later, he complains about online exposure and somehow gets his probation lifted early. Number two. Shopper tries fraud at Sam's Club, instantly regrets it. Police respond to a call about a suspicious transaction in Sam's Club involving nearly $1,900 in gift cards. Employees notice something off about his purchase and when the transaction fails, they decide to report it. The suspect is stopped by officers and asked to verify his payment method. Here's what happens next. No, nobody stole anything. And then it all goes through. So check out and try to get a gift card. Yes, and you were trying to buy more gift cards that didn't go through. I just want my payment. I had to buy I had That didn't go through. I just cancel the moment I saw So you were buying $1,900 with a gift card. So that's 15 Whenever someone buys over 500 I have to explain. And if someone is buying You're not letting me speak. So your name is Nancy Where's the card you used? I said we need to scan it. You're not letting me scan it anyway. Well, you're obviously not Nancy. So right now I want you to understand this is a criminal investigation for fraud, okay? And we need to verify your form of payment. So you're here for a second? All right. Well, if you do not let them do their process and then we can get you out of here. He insists he did nothing wrong, but he struggles to explain why he's using a membership card that doesn't belong to him. So my question is Is this Is this receipt the purchase of a gift card made? Yes, so he was trying to purchase He was trying to purchase more gift cards. He's trying to purchase another gift card of $311. It didn't go through cuz he's avoided that actually. So he just left here. Put your hands behind your back, man. I don't want you to drop the phone. So let's walk him to the office so we can get this figured out. He had He's in possession of Sam's card that to a female. Tried to purchase like over $1,800 worth of gift cards. Right here, man. Right here. Stand up. Stand up. Turn around. Did you see her what that man said? It didn't actually my name. Nobody knows my name nothing, bro. Nobody did nothing. You got your ID on you somewhere? No, I don't have a ID on me, bro. Okay. I didn't do nothing, bro. You got to get it together, bro. Listen, listen, listen. Listen to me, okay? If I knew that I did absolutely nothing wrong Listen to me. Listen to me cuz you've been cutting him off and you're not letting me speak. I'm going to give you the floor to say whatever it is you got to say, but let me say what I got to say, all right? If I knew that I came to Sam's Club and I did absolutely nothing wrong and I was just coming here and shopping and I was in possession of a card that was a family member or whatever and I had the information, I would not be acting like you. I would not be doing these things, right? Correct? As the officers continue questioning him, his frustration grows. Yeah, you're detained. You're not officially under arrest. I have a I have an investigation I'm conducting. I wasn't arrested till I under handcuffs, sir. What's your last name? I don't know what the hell is going on. What's your last name, Jamie? Yeah, from what it sound like. Sound like what? Then what? I don't know, man. We're still trying to get to the bottom of it. They asked you for the security information to the account and you couldn't give it to them. Whatever they asked you. They asked you for the address and you didn't give it to them. That wasn't on there. Who is Nancy Wooten? Nancy Wooten is my mother, Mike. That's what I call her, sir. So I just said my mother. Maybe I don't I call her my mother. How long have you known Nancy Wooten? That's How long have I known her? You said you call her mother, so she's got to obviously be close to you, right? Okay. I don't understand nobody, bro. So why have you known Miss Nancy Wooten your whole entire life you couldn't get the security password right? And they told you it wasn't correct. Prior to you even dealing with me The address is on that fire, you It is. I know he's trying his hardest. Well, I'm not arguing I'm here with you. I was just trying to ask you if you knew who Nancy Wooten is and why you couldn't answer the security question to the What I do want you to understand is I I just didn't start doing this job yesterday. So I already know this is a fraud case. And I'm just asking you general basic questions. I want that to be very clear to you. Like Nancy Wooten like You know? I haven't asked you about what you purchased, how you I haven't asked you any of that, okay? I don't know, man. I just want to make that clear with you. He keeps cutting them off, refusing to cooperate, and insists that he's being treated unfairly. First thing he tried to do this. He started He tried to buy more. He tried to do this. He tried to take $1,800. He tried I said that What the receipt you had is not That doesn't make $1,800. What You said $1,900. Bro, he's just so He's trying his hardest and you let him Oh, yeah, go ahead and detain him. What? HE JUST TOLD ME HE MADE UP He just said three different lies to you. Like that and I still didn't talk. I didn't say I'm like, bro, what is what's going on? What did I do? Oh, he tried to steal What? I didn't steal nothing. I stopped at the front. I told the lady whatever. I said, "Sorry." Here. even try to I was going to run to the ram or something. Come on, man. I don't know what I Let me sprint it out. I was scared. I'm literally sitting there talking to everyone. I don't like I'm in handcuffs. I don't feel comfortable, bro. Of course I feel Of course I'm going to feel It is going to be a grocery store in handcuffs. All right. So my partner I gave him all of the information that you gave me and it didn't come back. He ran the name every possible way that he could think of. Listen. Let me speak. Let me speak. So he ran your name every way possible that he could think of on top of what I gave him and it didn't come back, okay? So in the event if you are arrested and we cannot figure who you are, you will be going down to the Palm Beach County Jail, you will be booked under John Doe, and you will not have a You will not be able to post bail, and they will hold you. Don't matter to me, bro. Paperwork simple. Put you in John Doe, put the charges in, boot you boot, and send you off, and I'm done. Hands down with it. So I'm going to give you one more opportunity. What is your name? You are You are detained. This is a criminal investigation for fraud, okay? So I have every right legally to ask you for your name. So I'm going to ask you one more time. What is your name? First name first. Jamie. Jamie. Officers hit him with the facts, but he refuses to budge. J A M I E. Last name. If you give me doesn't come back, I'm going to just put you under John Doe. So I'm arrested? Huh? So I'm arrested? At the very least you'll be arrested for giving me a fake name. You should know your name, bro. I just told my name. It's not what your mother has. You're 20 years old. If you ask me my name, whether I changed it, whether I kept it the same, I give you my name, date of birth, phone number, social, driver's license, I give you all that information. I'm just telling you what I can do. That I just know my basic information. That's all I'm saying. Okay. So let's just go let's just let's just go let's just go over a few things, all right? So they I work for this store right now, okay? That's my police car partner out front, okay? I am the detail officer for this venue, all right? They contacted me on the radio because you were in possession of a membership card that did not belong to you and they asked you for verification, which you have yet to still verify, okay? And they said that this is possible fraud going on because of a high amount of gift cards purchased and then you did you verify it. So with that being said, I have every right to detain you for a fraud investigation, okay? And they asked you to verify the information of the card holder, which you couldn't. If you did we At first, he isn't technically under arrest, but his behavior isn't helping his case. The card is registered to a woman named Nancy Wooten, but when asked security questions, he can't provide the correct answers. They would have let They would have let you go. So, and that was done right in front of me on body camera. Okay. So, I want you to understand that. Regardless of what you gave, this camera footage is rolling. The camera footage is rolling. Okay. All right. So, this is Mr. Angel for the record, for the body camera. He's a manager here at Sam's Club. On his tablet, he's able to identify all of the security account information for Nancy Wooten. Okay. Instead of coming clean, he keeps digging himself deeper, denying everything. All right. Hey, I'm going to be out in the car with him. Once I get everything squared away, I'll be back to get that information from you for the account, and then I'll finish working everything, okay? I know you're not trying to run away, man. I have a certain way I do things, okay? Thank you. Yeah, I got to take everything out of this pocket, okay? Okay, bet. Jamie Ashley Simon? Huh? Go ahead and stay right here, though. Appreciate you, bro. Yeah, I got a brown bag? Yeah, I got one of those, yeah. I don't know what you got in your pockets, man. At the end of the day, I want to go home safe, all right? Can you respect that? A pocket search uncovers more surprises, making officers even more suspicious. A lot of phones, man. All right. As reality sinks in, he grows emotional, realizing he's in serious trouble. All right. And I want you to be able to see me. All right. 2 4 6 8 10 100. I want to know I'm being 2 4 6 8 10 200. 2 4 6 8 10 300. $340. Is that correct, sir? Is that how much money you you had before you came in contact with us? Hey, man, talk up. You was talking You whispering to your man. I didn't whisper nothing. I said I don't I can't answer that And you say this is the key fob to the rental? Is the rental paperwork inside of the rental? I got something I want to read to you, okay? You have the right to remain silent and not answer any questions. Do you understand what that means? I need a yes or a no, not a head nod. Okay. You have the right to the presence of a lawyer of your choice before you make any statements and during any questioning. Do you understand what that means? All right. If you cannot afford a lawyer, you're entitled to the presence of a court-appointed lawyer before you make any statement and during any questioning. Do you understand what that means? Okay. Any statement can and may be used against you in a court of law. Do you understand what that means? Okay. Any statement you make must be freely and voluntarily given. Do you understand what that means? Okay. If at any time during the interview you do not wish to answer any questions, you are privileged to remain silent. In the end, he's in the back of a patrol car, facing even more questions. So, Mr. Jamie, tell me what happened today. Tell me how you how you got here. You got to speak up, man. This you wanted me to give you an opportunity to speak and tell your side of the story. So, hold on. I need you to speak loud. Here's the camera. I understand that you got a mask over your face. So, this is your opportunity to speak and say what you got to say. The receipt says 1,800. Which is total She's accurate. It's coming from the machine. Okay. That being said, that being said, I came up. I started talking to you. Sam's Club asked you, okay, can you confirm the member? Cuz it's okay. Members let people borrow their cards all the time. But, you should be able to confirm You said Nancy. I know. I said you said Nancy. But, they asked you They asked you the security question, which if somebody borrow lets you borrow their card, it's only common sense for them to give you the security information just in case there's any issues. You didn't correctly answer that information. You didn't give the correct address. You didn't give the correct date of birth. You didn't give anything correct in in the form of the security questions they asked you. And you had told me that Nancy, you consider her your mom. So, if you consider like Nancy your mom, like she's going to have you know, you're going to have the utmost love or respect and know everything about her, cuz that's your mom. I know how old old my mom is. I know my mom's birthday. Eventually, officers place him under official arrest for fraud and providing false information. Number one, a banking scam reveals a love triangle, and it's messy. Police respond to Seacoast Bank after employees report a woman trying to cash a fake check. Outside, officers find a white sedan with two people inside. They claim they're not involved, but bank staff confirmed the woman arrived with them. All right, we need to send someone over. Two individuals in the parking lot in a white four-door sedan. Yeah, we were just parking here to pick up a passport and instead I'm going to get a hold of my mom. She has my ID. You're not waiting for anybody inside the bank, are you? No, sir. No? Is there anything going on over there? Uh well, there's somebody inside who might be doing some illegal activity is what the bank's telling us. So 12:15, you can make contact. I'm already wet. I'll stay out here with these two. See if they're related. Is the lady inside going to say that she arrived here with you all? No, no. I don't I don't know what's going on. Okay. I hope not. No, sir. I don't know. All right, no worries. Hello. How do you do? How are you? Me? Yeah. What's going on? Can you find out what vehicle she came here in? Yeah, 10 people. Okay, 10 people. So, she did come here with you guys? Yeah, but I have no idea like Well, that's a lie. See, you guys are lying to me. She said she had a code red. Y'all saw I just gave her a ride. Like I I don't have any Yeah. All right. Well, I want to talk to me out there. Yeah. Well, I don't want to go out there. We don't want to go outside cuz it's pouring rain. Right here? You don't want to go out in there? No, yes, sir. Do you know her name? No. Um You got to tell me. You gave a stranger a ride? Hitchhiker? No. Yeah, well Okay. I know her through Yeah, Facebook, and she came to us saying, you know, she needed a ride and she'll give us, you know, $15 for gas. $15 from Palm Bay? Yes. Okay. That's expensive, man. I would have asked for like 30 round trip. When you use mega rate like on the highways it's Okay. Supposedly it's supposed to last time. Inside the bank, the woman admits she was trying to cash the check for someone else. What are you doing here? I'm cashing a check for someone. For who? What? For him. For him? Yeah, it was Is it a fraudulent check? I don't know. He said he wants me to cash the check. He'll give me some of the money. I can't do nothing. And who is he? Is he your ex-boyfriend? Not even ex-boyfriend. I messed with him twice. Like we were messing around twice. Y'all neighbors or something or No? She reached out to you on Facebook, you said? Yeah. Okay. Facebook Messenger? Yeah, she asked me if I if she I could give her a ride. She was Do you have that message in your phone? No. No? Where'd it go? I I normally like them. Like I normally just leave them on read. So, what? I normally I normally don't like being on Messenger like that, so I normally leave them Where's your phone at? I have my phone. You have it? Yeah. Where's it at? Right here. It was raining, so I've been careful with Do you have Facebook on your phone? Yes, yeah. Can I see it? I mean, legally I don't have to. This is the part where I'm calling you a liar, and I already told you that. I don't trust you. Build trust in me. Yeah, but I'm saying there's nothing in there. He probably deleted it because of me. Okay. Yeah, normally I don't allow him to text females, but when he's, you know, You can put your phone down. That's fine. I said since, you know, it's going to help him out with, you know, gas money or whatever, then you can Okay. What's his name? Can I tell you? I don't know it. I do not I know him You don't know his name? Sir, let me show you this. This is how I don't know him. Well, y'all did the sergeant out there got his name, so All I know him as Ralph Tariq. I don't even know what his real name is. And that it sounds crazy and it like a whole, but She said she was promised a cut of the money, but insists she barely knows the person who gave it to her. At At that point in time I wasn't really All I know is his Facebook name. That's it. Thank you. You're welcome. So, who's the Oaks Property Restaurant Corporate? Hemingway's Tavern. I told you, sir, I don't know. I don't know. He said, "Can I cash this check for him?" And none of that's my handwriting. None of that's your handwriting? No. You The girl in the car, that's her handwriting. She handed me the check. Who's the girl in the car? I don't know any You think I'm playing with No, I'm not dumb because you've been completely honest with me. I said, "No, I don't." who she is. She said, "He told me my baby mama's going to be in the car." Hold on. Yeah, right. Hold on. Yeah. You're hanging out with a dude that you used to screw. She don't know. She's about to. Oh, well. Oh, well, not my fault. Hey, how are you? Hey, how are you doing? All right. I don't Nope. This gentleman's going to talk to you. Okay, that's perfectly fine. Where are you from? I am from Well, I'm from West Palm Beach, but where I stay is Palm Bay? Yes. Okay. Um so, what's going on today? The boy called me, said can I Who Who Who's the boy? Like I told him, I don't know his real name. So, you only know him So, how do you know him? Go ahead. Because I messed with him a couple times. We met on Facebook. And that's how that is. Messed around a couple times. How long How long ago was that? Do I have to tell you? Like recently. Me? Like okay, just a like a couple days ago. Let me get a breath. I am. Meanwhile, the two in the car tell officers they only gave her a ride in exchange for gas money. However, their stories don't match. So, you met him on Facebook, messed around a couple of days ago. No, no. I've been met him like last year. So, you you know you know I've known him for a couple months, but we just mess around. So, what is his What is his name? I don't Come on, let's stop lying. I don't know his name. I told him that. She's making me feel like a [ __ ] because I don't know his name. I don't know his name. Ain't nobody judging you on that. It's Ralph Tariq or whatever it is on Facebook. I don't know his name. Okay. I don't know his name at all. Nice and dry? Yes, I am. Yeah. It's all part of my master plan to go home and eat lunch so I can change. Check's made out to her. Things take a turn when officers reveal a shocking secret about the woman's past with the man, leaving his girlfriend stunned. Y'all just messed around a couple days ago, right? What? I don't see it. No, I didn't I didn't cash anything. No, no, no. I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about y'all you and uh Aura messing around. What do you mean? No, I don't know her. No, this is No, this is my Yeah, this is my Oops. What did the text say? "I'm bringing my baby mama." The baby mama not y'all involved? I don't know. I don't know. So, when y'all were driving up here, like what was the vibe like? I literally was asleep. I don't feel good. I've been sick for the past 2 days. Aw, that was very cute what you just said. That's what she said. No. That's what she said. No, sir. No, sir. No, sir. Same to same. No, we have kids together. No, she We're good. Yeah. He said, "Go in there, try to cash this." He didn't tell me it was for this cuz He said, "Try to cash this check." "Try to cash this check here." How long have you known the girl inside? Don't know her. Not long. Like I don't really know her like that. I don't Like I've never hung with her person And as we like we he was trying So, what like So, okay. So, where where do you like know her from? We don't know her. That's the thing. It was a Facebook message and she was offering gas money to take her somewhere. As we said to the other officer, but we he deleted the message because me knowing me, I wouldn't I don't like him to text females, so I told him, you know, since it's about gas, you know, or anything that could help with that profit of the $15, then you could go for it. Go ahead, give her a ride, and I came home. How long have you worked there now? On and off, like 15 years. It's a seasonal job. I work there. I work from home. And then I started playing this damn game, and that's where I like quit my second job and started just playing the bingo game. That's it. It's clear this scam is causing more than just legal trouble. I don't understand why would you cash this check knowing that Be I'm going to say because like I told him, I wanted some money to put on my game. No lie. Your game? Yes, he said it was $500 if $500 What game is it? The bingo game you're saying? Post bingo. Post bingo? Yes. What is that? Like this game it just it's really like I like it's addictive. You want to see? So you like to gamble? Yes, I do like to gamble and this is that's basically what So you're going to do this to get some of the money Yes, but let me tell you if if I show you the text this wasn't supposed to be the amount. He told me under $500. Under $500. I don't know who get paid that much. But so it feels regardless it feels under $500 but you knew you was doing something wrong though. I mean, I could say yes. Yeah, I was I was Say that yes. Yes. Because I can't go around that. Yes. Yeah. No, no, I was just saying you're above him cuz you're sergeant he's deputy. I'm below him cuz I'm 5'9. Are you? Yep. But he's deputy. That was a height joke when Oh, I was going to say okay cuz I know yeah, I know Yeah, we were like 6'2. Sarcastic. You got kids? I have five. You have five kids? Yes. What's the age range? I have a three a four-year-old. She's with my mom and then I have 14, 13, two 11s and a nine. What school they go to? I can't even tell you about my oldest ones because they're with their dad. Well, they're not even with their dad. Their dad just went to jail. So they're with their little stepmom or whatever. Meanwhile, inside the bank, the woman scrambles to defend herself desperate to clear her name. Um but I guess tomorrow my other kid is going up there to see like my kids share a relationship with my my last baby is she don't got the same daddy as my other kids. So he'll come and pick her up and keep her but they're in Rockledge she's in Melbourne with me. But my other kids is in Rockledge. Okay. And then you said this the first time you've done this? This is the first time I've ever did this. I don't do this. I don't like I don't like to be put in situations like this. I don't. So why would you put yourself in a situation like this? I'm telling you because my bingo game is addictive and I so I you got to when you Right, right, right. You have Do you mind seeing if you can get one of the deputies come back in here? What about him like he's not He's he's going to get arrested too most likely. Um I got to go talk to him. Okay, I can hear him. Um she said you want me in here? I just need somebody I need I want to go talk to them outside real quick. Okay. Um Did they say anything? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Um Not a whole lot. Yeah. They were going to leave you. That's crazy. Yeah, when I walked up they were backing out of the parking lot. That's what they usually do. They they you're a set up guy. Once they see law enforcement they take off and leave you behind. All right, we'll talk to them. Um do you know about yesterday? No, um I had one of them call um one of them call uh the the loss prevention to give me the information that they got. All right, the passenger in the car is on video from yesterday at 12th Street and one. You see? I told you. Okay. Officers also discover that the woman trying to cash the check was doing it to fund her online bingo addiction. She was expecting $500 but now realizes she's in serious trouble. So we can get her for that too. I can't even get it What she What's the other way? He said that they could take they got to do I can't do that. So what now? He said that there's they are if he takes the rap for it, I don't have to be arrested. The thing is you knew you knew what you were doing though. He's on probation for uttering a forged instrument. See, I'm not No, especially Her purse is in the backseat behind the driver's seat. And they haven't been Mirandized. They haven't? Nope. That was a shooting small talk trying to piece together their timeline of things. See this? No investigative questioning. So do you want to bring them in here? Um And um I'm just saying I mean you want to do it with them together or something like that. Well, I I have them separately. How do you want to do it? Sure. I can put her in the car in my car and Can I call my mom? You can bring one in here and speak them. I can hang out with her in the car and We can do that. Yeah. You want to call your mom? Yes. Yeah, I'll let you do that. You've been cooperative. Oh, they also said that uh she needed to go to the bank. Um from Palm Bay she asked them for a ride giving $15 in gas money. Ain't doing thing like that. Well, they were out there they were supposed to be trying to call um their kids grandma or something like that. Um They said that you just you needed to go to the bank and She showed them text messages so So I'm sorry yes and they communicated they said through Facebook Messenger. No, I showed him text messages. So I asked the driver the the guy I'm like I straight up called him a liar. I said prove to me that you're not a liar. He's like well I don't have to show you my messages. I said well you don't but I'm calling you a liar. Prove me you're not. He opened his messages and then he said that he deleted the Facebook messages. And then from there I didn't let him use his phone so Facebook Messenger? I have it all. I showed you. Was that was that Facebook Messenger or that was regular text? That was Messenger and that was text. Officers tell the girlfriend the man's story. He claims he deleted their messages to avoid fights with her only making himself look guiltier. I used both. Oh my god. I did not let them use their phones. Their phones are out there. So I need you to stand up real quick. Turn around. Um do you know how long this is going to take because he said once a deputy anything like that yes. So once the detective is probably going to come talk to you. Going to go to the the side of my truck this first one here, okay? This right here. Hey, I want to read y'all your Miranda rights, all right? You have a right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. Are you guys willing to talk to me? Yes, sir. All right, now if you step out of the vehicle real quick. I'm going to talk to y'all if you stand by. Yeah, yeah. You know why I'm here? I'm going to tell you what the sheriff's office All right, so what's going on with this female here? How did y'all how did y'all meet up with her? Um that's the thing we don't know her. She had my Well, he's a child of my father like child of mine. I call her. Right. She didn't say why she needed the ride. She didn't tell us anything and typically I don't allow him to text females but since he said you know he was helping him out with the $15 I said okay. She was willing to help her out with $15? No, she was going to give him $15 for giving her a ride. To where? I guess here. I don't know Vero. She didn't specify where. So you just took $15 guys not knowing where you were going? Well, that's the That's the thing is Vero and like he we have three kids so we kind of needed the money so we did it. For $15 so he would have went to Miami for $15? As the girlfriend is questioned it becomes increasingly clear that she shares a completely different narrative than what the woman told the officers. I'm all right so you probably his car is real good but it's good on gas especially if you you know use it. It's like $15 is like $20 worth of gas. And then you know I was asleep. He woke me up saying hey we're going to give this girl a ride and I said all right along with you. He was like okay. The reason I did come is cuz one female previously did text him and she was supposed to give him $20 of gas to go to Cocoa and she never gave him that. So yeah, so So he does Uber or Lyft what? Yeah, yeah he gives yeah he it's not just females. He gives people you know co-workers you know he has people that helps him with his dad that come along if the work is too much. And he deleted those messages too? Mhm. I don't know. I don't be looking at his phone like that. I don't want him to look at mine like that. I I No, but other than that I don't really know much about this like I we really don't know her. So where y'all picked her up at? We picked her up in Melbourne. So you just You were in the front seat with your dude and she in the backseat. Y'all know this person. We weren't really speaking the car ride at all. It was just quiet. Yeah, it was just could have been a whole serial killer. Y'all y'all don't know. Y'all don't know her like that and yet she in the backseat. That's the type of risk you guys take? No, yeah we should have been more cautious you know. Well, what if So what if I tell you she said she know him for a while? That's the the other the other guy said that too but he doesn't I I How do you know that? Because I I know him like this. We met in 2020. So, listen listen listen listen. The blue is her, right? This is your dude, right? The white. So, this is a text message of him and the girl having a back and forth. Is guys you alone? No. Can we still there? Let me see. Hold on, let me see. Okay, cuz if anything tomorrow link up. Okay, one sec. What's the number? Let me see. No, let me see. Sit down. Sit down. When this was? Sit down. By now, we all know for sure that man is in serious trouble. So, again, you said you know him, right? When this was? I I don't know, man. I knew he was a horn dog, but damn. So, was your Was your boyfriend in Vero Beach yesterday? No. We were nowhere in Vero Beach yesterday. You were nowhere in Vero Beach yesterday? No, sir. So, you going to say you're lying to me? No, sir. I I'm not lying to you. So, who's this? I don't Who is that? That does not look like me. I'm That doesn't look like you? No, what? That don't look like you? All right, we going to play stupid or what? All right. Yeah, that don't look like me no way. Huh? Oop. So, you not in Vero yesterday? No, but no. I don't What? So, I'm just wanting your side of the story, really. All right, and if you don't want to give it to me, it's cool. We can end this. If you want to tell me your side, we can go ahead and go forward. The state can hear it. See you cooperating or whatever. Wait, state attorney? What do you mean by that? State State attorney office. Yeah, what do you mean by that? Oh, I'm right. Are you what? So, am I going to jail for something? I mean, I don't know what you You not telling me nothing. I got enough to put you in jail right now, but I didn't do anything. All right. So, I just I'm going to answer your question and then I'm going The man faces more questioning, not just about the crime, but also his secret affair, now exposed in front of his pregnant girlfriend. So, honestly, now that your baby mama's not here, did you mess around with that girl or not? That's what I just asked him. I said that's scandalous, man. Side piece in the back, baby mama in the passenger seat pregnant. Come on. She definitely made it a point to say that. Good. You want him? You want him? Yeah. Go on, man. Is she going to go in the in the car? Yeah. You need more cuffs? Right. Two or one? Just kidding. This is what we got to work with. Have a seat. Yes, sir. All right, man. Where did your friend arrive? All right. He said he want I can ask you some questions. All right. All right. And who is Aura Aura? I don't know her person. She just asked me for a ride. So, I'm going to ask you some questions I already know the answer to them. So, you be honest with me, we'll go forward with this, all right? Now, you tell You starting off by telling me you don't know her. The BS. She showed me text messages. Yes, sir. All right. You can't show me text messages of this. I think you deleted it or whatever. Your phone was dead. So, I got text messages showing me that she communicated with you previously to today and yesterday. All right? So, now I messed with her one time, but I don't personally know her. I don't know anything. I ain't saying you personally know her. Like, I ain't saying you you kick it with her like that, but you know of her. So, how long has it been since you know of her? That's a full-blown avalanche of lies. Yeah, but A couple of months. I knew of her, but like I've never like this like Well, I smoked with her. That was like my second time. Second time meeting her? Yeah. Do you want to uh Start running her over and take her on a header? I'll wait here with Saint since he's got the other guy inside. You good? Well, you got to. I guess you don't want to. You saying you can't or you don't want to? I don't want you to fall. I want you to like hit your belly or hit your pregnant. So, turn around towards me. You go the other way, sir. Life's about making choices. I didn't do anything. You got to breathe. Okay, slow down. It's cool back here. Step up with one foot, okay? Look, look. Well, other foot. Use your other foot. There you go. All right, good. One more slide. There you go. So, You need not give her this check. No. I didn't come here to cash no check. I didn't go to the My man. Yeah. I already know the answers to my question, you feel me? You telling me all this is not making sense, number one. All right? Cuz she was also your baby mom. Mhm. Was also in my county yesterday. So, you don't know nothing about it. No, I didn't give nobody no check. You spoke to her. I showed her some stuff that she had to tell me the truth. Was your baby mama in my county yesterday? I gave her my I gave her You drove her right. You drove her right to where? To the bank. There's another branch. Will he finally come clean or double down on deception? Where did she get this check? So, your baby mama the one that got got this check. So, you don't know nothing about this check. I don't know where they got it from. So, the the chick that you messing with that don't know your baby mom they both got two different checks. And you have nothing to do nothing about it. And this is what you sticking with. Yes, sir. Okay. All right, man. Ain't nothing else you want to tell me? No. Step right up for me. All right, hands out of your pockets. Turn around for Put your stuff down right there. Put your hands in back behind your back like you're praying. So, I have a question about the call. Cuz it called in my dad's name. What's your name? What day did he get the call? You want to talk? You good? No, it's something I don't understand. And also, I'm going to let you know what I'm going to tell you. That the detective will tell you. Slide over a little bit. You going to second. Have a seat, man. Step up and then step down. There you go. Good? Yeah. In the end, this scam fails in every possible way. The fake check doesn't go through. The suspects fail to cover their tracks, and the relationship completely falls apart. I don't know that person. I don't know. Saying I don't know that person. The woman faces charges for uttering a false check and bank fraud. He's charged with bank fraud, while his baby mama faces charges for check alteration, fraud, and grand theft. And just like that, their genius plan ends exactly how you'd expect, behind bars. Drop your thoughts about these scammers in the comments.