Stop what you're doing. Stop it. Stop. Hey, touch me one touch me one more time I will smack you. This is all on camera. You're not getting in the car. You're not getting in the car. Not all scammers are criminal geniuses. In fact, most of their modus operandi are as dumb as they are. And it's that stupidity that makes it easy for the cops to expose the dumbest fraudsters. I know you're the little fish here and I'm trying to give you an opportunity to talk to me about what's going on. Okay? But if you're not willing to talk to me, not willing to be truthful with me, there's not much more that I can do for you. On the 9th of May, 2024, the cops were dispatched to a bank due to a fraud in progress. When the officers arrived there, they were just in time as the suspect was exiting the bank. Officer, can I have the phone as I'm stepping out? Hello. Hi. Alaina, police. So, right now you're temporarily being detained, okay? So, I'll let you know what's going on, but if you could just walk over here with me. Just sit down for me. Sit down. You're good. Did you come in a car or no? I did. You did? I did. You did? I took a Uber. You took a Uber? Can I know who is going on? What's going on? Yeah, I told Once the unit gets here, I'll I'll let you know. So, right now we're going to put you in separately in handcuffs, all right? So, just put your hands behind your back. You're not under arrest or anything, okay? Right now I just have to separately detain you. Can you want to lean forward? The cop told the suspect to sit tight a bit till they got more details from the bank. As they were waiting, the suspect assured the officer she'd done nothing wrong. And the reason why she was in handcuffs must have had something to do with her appearance. Did they tell a caller call you guys? Mhm. For what? That's what we're trying to figure out. I don't because I'm black. I'm sure it's not because you're black. No, I'm not because I'm black. I don't think so. This officer is going to stand by with you and I'm going to go inside and check on what's going on, okay? Who today? She came in wanting access to the account and when To this account here? Yes. And anytime we pull up an account, if there's warnings or anything on like it immediately starts flashing at us. And I and my teller needed overrides to get in. And once we started reading the notes, it says please call local Call y'all that she's committed identity theft, she's tried to open multiple accounts with different IDs. That's just an example of one of the other ones that she's But that was stuff that's already been done. What did she do today? She's trying to get into this fraudulent She just tried to get in this account. >> Mhm. So, So, first she's like I need my online banking. Now I need to put money in. She kept saying like all these different things. Um, but I couldn't do any of this. To sum things up, she was using a fake ID to get money from an account that wasn't hers. Back outside, one of the cops called the actual owner of the account who the suspect was trying to steal from. Uh, the reason I'm reaching out to you is cuz we're we're out here with a female at a bank, uh, Additions Financial, who, uh, who opened an account here at Additions Financial and has been making withdrawals and deposits into this account. Um, and she presented a Texas driver's license. And on the Texas driver's license, I believe it has your information. Uh, So, yeah, so pretty [music] much I guess this chick, from what I'm understanding cuz I just got called out for this. Um, and she she opened an account at Additions Financial in Orlando, actually in Poinciana, um, back like in December of 2023. Um, since then she's been doing like a couple little transactions. She really hasn't done anything major yet like deposit some crazy ridiculous, uh, amount of, uh, like a fraudulent check or anything yet. Um, but [music] that's usually what they don't do that usually till the after the account has groomed a little bit. It seemed like they were they were ready to do it now. So, I guess my question to you is did you give anyone permission to have any of your information on the Texas driver's license cuz that's not your photo? At all. No, I do not. No, okay. Um, and then with that being said, are do you want this person to, you know, do you want to press charges against this person for for having an ID with your information on it? I sure will. Okay. Um, and you didn't give anyone permission to have your information, right? Like you didn't give anyone at all permission to put your information on a Texas driver's license. At all. Okay. I don't know anybody in Florida. Yeah, she's right now we're in Orlando, Florida, but I guess she's been around cuz she opened the account in Poinciana according to the bank. The cops placed the woman in the back of a squad car and they read her her rights. While she agreed to answer their questions, it quickly became clear that she was struggling to keep her story straight. And when you opened the account, was this the ID that you presented? Yes. >> Okay. So, is your first name Jessica? Jessica Miller. Okay, what's your date of birth? Uh, October 1st. What year? 1988. Okay. How tall are you? I'm 5'6". 5'6"? Okay. How long have you had this driver's license? Um, about 2 years. 2 years? Okay. Uh, since you've opened the account here at Additions, uh, have you been having money going in and out? Have you been making any deposits? >> that's exactly what I was trying to talk to them about. The account has been has been acting weird like when I logged in, it said that uh, it was too much uh, too many times I've been trying to log into the account. So, when I Like online? Yes. >> Okay. That's why I came up here to talk to them about. Okay. The suspect told the officers she was trying to deposit $100 into an account. The strange thing was she'd opened another account earlier using a different ID. That's what prompted the bank staff to call police. Do you recognize that ID? No. With your photo on it? No. You don't recognize that? So, according to Additions Financial, they said you tried to open another account with that same ID. With your photo on it? With a different ID, different name? You don't know anything about that? I mean, it's here, you know, the same photo. There's that photo, all right? And which is why we're here, right? Now, if I told you that I talked to Miss Jess on the phone before I coming in and talking to you, would you believe me? Or do you think I'd be lying to you? I don't know. What do you think? I've been truthful with you this whole time. I don't think you've been very truthful with me. She was caught red-handed in a lie. The officer informed the woman that he was experienced in fraud cases and that's why he'd been summoned to the bank. He also told her that it was in her best interest to come clean. There's two other guys out here that are waiting for you in your car, right? >> in her car. It's not your car? Okay. Well, two guys out here waiting in a car for you that are stopped around the corner that you can't see right now. No. Okay. So, at this point, I think your story would have worked for someone who works at Additions Financial, but I think you and I both know law enforcement has a little bit more information than what Additions Financial is going to Okay? The officer then told the suspect that he had a good idea of what was happening, but she'd have to fill him in on the finer details. If she cooperated, the judge might take it easy on her. So, that's when the woman decided to come clean. So, what brought what brought you down here? Um, this. This? Okay. I figured that, but I wanted to hear it from you. Uh, is someone employing you? Are you getting paid to do this? I'm getting paid, all right. Okay, how much are you getting paid? 5 100? 1,000. 5,000? After what though? You're not getting 5,000 just for opening an account. What has to be done before you get the 5,000? Just this. Huh? Just this. Just open it? And then eventually they'll hit the account for whatever they hit it for and then they'll break you off the five? Or they usually break you off the five up front? Uh, break it off up front. They break it off up front? Okay. She let the officer know that the people who dropped her off had nothing to do with it. They were just friends who'd given her a ride. She claimed she was hired by a man named Jay, but she didn't know where he lived or even if that was his real name. Now, you lied to me once. I'mma go over there and I'mma talk to them. Are they really not a part of this? They're not a part of this. Okay. And the only thing that's in the car is just your debit cards. Two debit cards. Okay. Um, do you have any questions for me before I go over there? No. All right, let me see what I can find out. Uh, no that. What? They already locked the door there. And once this guy starts moving, um, he's going to go directly to the jail. Now, if if he goes directly to the jail, you can use the bathroom when you get to the jail. He can't from here with the traffic, maybe 15, 20 minutes, but it's better than sitting in the car waiting, right? One and two, when you get to the jail, you can use the bathroom. He can't stop at like a Wendy's and pull over let you use the bathroom. It's against our policy, so we couldn't do it even if we wanted to. And I can't use the bathroom somewhere else? No, we can't allow you to do that. Maybe let me let me get with him so we can get you out of here so you can use the bathroom at the jail. Okay? You got any questions? No. All right, I appreciate you being up front with the information after the fact. But I knew you was I just wanted to see how far you were going to take it. You were going to take it all the way to the end. I give you that. I give you that. You were going to try. And I give you that, but it wasn't going to work with me. All right? Thanks, Lieutenant. You need anything? After authorities determined that the people who drove her weren't the cops let them go. They charged the woman with fraudulent use of personal information, unauthorized possession of a fictitious Florida driver's license, fraud by impersonation with intent, and unlawful possession of four or fewer IDs. On March 18th, 2025, the cops were dispatched to a car dealership. Reportedly, a customer was trying to buy a car with a fraudulent ID. She done this before. I'm sorry, what? She's done this before. The past person? Yeah, just tell me what you were working on the last case. Okay. Okay, we'll talk with her and see what's going on here. She's trying to buy a car then? She just filled that out. So we really credit cards? Yeah, she just filled that out. Okay. So apparently she bought a car a while ago on one driver's license. And that was her real driver's license. That's the real one on the left? No, there's no real one. Current worth 23. This is the first name. This was fraud. This was fraud. This is the name that she's trying to This is the previous time she did This is yeah. We can put her in custody and put her in jail till we figure it out. 17. [music] That one's fine. I'm actually good. Oh, sounds good. It wasn't the first time she'd bought a car with a fake ID. The last time around, she used a different ID. After a chat with the staff, the cops confronted the suspect. So, [music] you uh looks like you just robbed here to them trying to buy a car under a fake identity. So, that would be forgery. Uh so, we're going to have you just we're going to have you ask some questions here. Um but uh if you can just stand up and put your stuff down for a second here and then we're going to have a Put your stuff down. Yeah, put your stuff down. Put your hands behind your back. Put them down. Okay. All right. Something like this uh Miss ma'am, it typically we can give summons for, so we'll see what we can do, okay? They handcuffed the woman, took her out to the parking lot, and put her in the back of a squad car. After they read her Miranda rights, she agreed to answer their questions. So, uh what's going on here? This is you just explain if you want to do you said you want to talk to us. We can I just explain what's going on. We try to figure it out and see if get you out of here real quick. So, >> [music] >> what's going on? Nothing. Nothing? Hm? Just wanted a car? Okay. Have you been here before? A long time ago. A long time ago? Okay. You tried to buy a buy a car then, too? Yes. Okay. And and what name did you use then? Clarice. Clarice? Not your own? Okay. Who's Clarice? I'm Clarice. Oh, you said whose name? Clarice. Oh, Clar- Clarice. Okay. Uh who's Clarice? Is that your mom or something? Or is that is that just another name you have? Family friend? Okay. The suspect said she chose to use her best friend's name because they had a business together. It was a pretty strange answer because typically you're supposed to look out for your friend's interests, not use their name to commit fraud. So, we're detaining her. Apparently she came in and bought a car >> [music] >> under a false ID and she's back again trying to buy another car. So, they have the paperwork over here. This is one of And these are she's using the same ID different addresses. different names. Um So, we just put her in the cruiser until we can Okay, so you're saying you are in a uh company with you're in a business with your friend Clarice and you guys have been doing stuff for 5 years together for transportation? Mhm. Okay, cool. Um just That doesn't sound illegal at all, so let's uh Um You want to just explain that a little bit more and you have any like I don't know. Anything that you can show that that that you work with her or uh phone number for her that I can call? Her phone number? Or I don't know. Something I can use to try to confirm confirm what you're saying right now. I have her phone number right here. You have a phone number for her? Okay. Back inside, the cops were busy trying to identify the woman. As she was trying to buy the vehicle, she gave a photocopy of an ID, and that's when they got a hunch that she wasn't who she said she was. Were you buying the car for yourself or for the company? Or was For the company. Okay. Um Why why'd you use her name and not yours? Just because her credit is better. Her credit's better, okay. Was she here with you at the time of the purchase? No. No? Okay. So, you used her name instead of You you so used her name as your as you though. So, you said you were Clarice when you were here. Mhm. Okay. You said you did. Okay. She eventually told the cops that her name was Shanai, but there were still some things that weren't adding up. It was obvious she was lying, but to get to the bottom of things, the cops still had a few more questions. Okay, so you're leasing the they're leasing the car to you and you're doing that under Clarice's name and you're saying you you used her driver's license number. Okay, cuz you you wanted to use her credit cuz it was better than yours. That was my understanding. Okay. So, if that's the case, you need to you need to have her come out and do that, okay? She needs to come out and purchase her own car because if you're using someone else's identity and someone else's driver's license number, that that's forgery and falsification right there. Uh These are legal documents that you're signing here under someone else's name and making purchases and you can't can't be doing that. Okay, it was starting to look more innocent than things initially appeared. According to Shanai, she was trying to lease the car in her friend's name because her friend had better credit. However, that wasn't the only crime she committed that day. Do you know what this is? You don't know what that is? Got it out your purse. You going to be charged with it. What is it? Honestly don't. You don't? You going to be charged with it, whatever it is. So, just might as well tell me what it is. I don't know. You know it was you had it. No, it wasn't. It was in your purse. Like I said, it's not mine. Yeah, okay. Got drugs, too. Drugs in your purse. It's some meth. Yeah, and two more identi- identification cards. Yeah, we already I already did it before I put her in the cruiser. Did she admit what that was? No, she wouldn't admit it. It was in her purse. With all this stuff in it. >> Okay. I bet meth. It looks like meth. Shanai's day just kept getting worse and worse. She not only committed fraud, but the cops found meth in her possession and two more fake IDs. And on top of everything, she also had an active warrant. I You already have a felony warrant. Do you know about that? No, it's out of Parma for theft. Oh, yeah, they told me to come to open court. Well, here's the issue. It sounds like you got a lot on your plate and I don't know what's going on with you, but something's got to change or give or something. Do we not agree on that? Okay. Um Are you going through a hard time or something? Are you just Okay. So, the more cooperative you are with us, this is all recorded. The prosecutor is going to look at that. If you don't cooperate with us, then we can't say "Hey, this lady may need some help and she's not she's not trying to scam everyone." So, obviously this was in your purse. I know what this is. What do you believe this to be? Meth. Meth? Okay. Did you get it in Akron? Mhm. Are you willing to tell me where you got it? Yeah. Okay. It was sad she was going through tough times, of course, but it happens to the best of us and it's no excuse to commit fraud. All that does is make things harder. Thankfully though, it seemed like Shanai was finally going to cooperate. Am I going to jail? Yeah, I mean you're going to have to go to jail. We don't have a choice. Why? Cuz you got a felony warrant out of another jurisdiction. And then what you got going on here, this is the second time you've done this here. I'm being straight with you. Do you use meth? Is it for somebody else? Okay. Do you know how bad drugs are in Akron right now? Do you have any idea they're like Okay. I just care about not telling somebody their kids not coming home cuz they use that meth. You know what I'm saying? And so, and we have to do that a lot recently just because they're starting to cut those drugs with like horse tranquilizers. So, it's not been fun. All right, I'll pass this along and see what they can do for you. All right? Okay, so you said I'm going to the Farmers Branch jail? They're figuring that out now. Yeah, we don't have any discretion on that. All right? They charged the woman with possession of a controlled substance and also forgery. And unlike our next suspect, at least the woman owned up to her crimes. On the 1st of March, 2024, the cops were dispatched to a bank. According to the branch manager, there was a woman trying to open an account with a fake ID. Okay, how are you? What's up, boss? It's the green. Yes. How's it going? I'm all right. How are you? I have this young lady looking to open up a new account. >> I got it. >> Miss, no, no. Stop. Okay. I'm not sure, maybe. Can you come here for a second? No, no. Stop talking. Just wait with her. Wait with these Where's partner? He's doing something. He said he's waiting with that guy. He made me do it. I don't care. He's waiting on me. Yeah, she came in to open up a deposit relationship. ID is fake. Um He made me do it, that guy out there. Can I show you? >> One second, one second. I'm scared. Please don't take me to jail. Please, I have three kids. >> What guy? Oh, but I'll tell you. >> Is he in a car? Yeah, I'll show you, please. He cuz I wouldn't have sex with them, please. Please, please, I'm scared. So, one of two things was going on here. Either the woman was making a story up to get herself out of trouble, or she was telling the truth and someone coerced the woman to be involved in the scam. Regardless, the cops are going to find the truth out. She came in yesterday to open up an account. Um The system flagged it and told her we needed proof of address. So, she last came back and she brought this. She lives in New Jersey, she says. I googled address, it's a hotel, some area hotel. And she's giving me a Con Ed bill. Is this her actual ID? >> No, that's fake. This is a fake ID. >> That's a fake ID. Okay. >> Terribly fake. Stop going in your bag. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I don't have anything. Just stop putting your I don't know that. Stop going in your bag. So, was she able to every You guys >> in the system, but we didn't open an account. Okay. The suspect told the officer that she met the man who put her up to the scam online. According to the woman, when she refused to have sex with the man, he forced the woman to be involved in the scam like some sort of mule. So, she wasn't successful in opening an account. There's no money. She's just She's trying to open an account with this ID. She's using a fake ID. Okay. Please give me a chance, please. Please. So, tell me more about You met him online and then what? You all wanted to meet? Yesterday. Yesterday, okay. Where? Here. Where's here? He from here. He made for me to come over here and he said if he said if I can't do this with me, you got to go to the bank. And I have a regular job. I work at Auntie Annie's. Okay. I can take you right to him. I'll call him right now. >> Hold on. Please don't take me to jail, please. I didn't do anything. Please. All right. Please, please, please. >> Miss, stop. >> The woman said that right outside the bank, the man was there with his accomplice. She described the man to the officers so they could find them. And who are you to them? I just know They tried to get Can we step right here? He tried to get me in and I wouldn't and he said that I had to come to the bank and he gave me that information. I didn't I don't have any money or anything. He said that I needed to come over to the bank and get an account. And I don't know what they want me to do. I haven't done anything yet. You met I thought it was one guy. So, it's two guys now that you met yesterday? Online? Where on? Reddit. On Reddit? And then you guys met here in Montclair? I just needed him. I needed Can I be honest with you? Please. I'm just embarrassed. Okay, I understand. I understand. I'm just >> [music] >> understanding. I was younger than what Okay. Oh, the people you met. Okay. I told him I told him I was younger than what I was. So, give me money to open an account. That's all he said. Mhm. Told me that to come to the bank and open check an account. So, where'd you get the idea from? They gave it to you or you >> No, I don't know how to do that. Okay. I was just trying to hang out with some guys and get some money like but not like a criminal way, you know what I'm saying? The woman said her name was Monique, but she had no ID to back it up. While the officer ran her name through the system, trying to find a match, they continued interrogating the woman. They gave you a utility bill that's clearly not your address. You thought you were doing something okay. No, they told me I had to do it. Or what? I don't know. And you're scared of these people? Yeah, I'm scared of them. They look like I'm not even from here. I'm from Georgia. I thought you were from Elmhurst. That's where I live, yeah, but originally I'm from Georgia. I don't know anybody here. I was just trying to hang out with some guys. Where'd you meet these guys? >> Online. Where online? >> On Reddit. And there's a whole ring of them. And I'm scared of them. He said I don't care if you tell them. Both? You come with us, they won't get you again. So, How you doing? Am I going to go to jail forever? I doubt forever, but we'll see. The men she accused of manipulating her didn't seem to have any leverage over her, so there was no reason for the woman to feel pressured to be involved in the scam. The cops had a hunch that she wasn't telling the whole truth and was just trying to get out of trouble. I didn't know before and I just wanted and I have money to get out and I just want out of this. I just want out. When you get to public court Huh? Why are you getting to public court? Because She's We're going to look it up, so just tell us the truth. I used to I used to have a problem with addiction. Okay. And I've been clean for a month and 17 16 years. Okay. Okay. And state pick up only in Georgia. All right. So, She's going to accept Georgia now. They're going to accept Georgia now. Okay. Well, she's going to come with us. Okay. >> I'm going to jail for a long time. I don't know how long. You might be in and out today. All right. Give me your bag. Please let me go. I'm scared. >> Phone, drop it. Drop it. Let me take your watch off. Do you think I'm ever going to get out? Probably not. Eventually? Like a long time? I don't A long long time? The officers' patience was running thin. They knew there was more to this story than met the eye. For now though, they'd have to take the woman down to the jailhouse while they continued their investigation. Miss, stop asking us questions. For the last time. The answer's no. You're not going to Georgia. You're being placed under arrest and we're taking you to Montclair Police Department headquarters. You're not going to Georgia. Are they taking me and I am Okay. I'll be under arrest for today. Fraud. You said one of my charges You can have a seat. Watch your head. Slide over to the there. All right. You got it. Just grab that and meet me up there. Yeah, I got you. Monique was taken to the station to be processed further. The jailhouse was the last place she wanted to go, but since she couldn't back her claims up and her story was full of holes, they couldn't let her off the hook just yet. This is like a bad dream. This is like a bad dream. Right in there. To the left. Straight in there. Into the cell. Back of the stairs. They charged the woman with attempted fraud, a felony, for using a fake ID with the intent of committing fraud. She was also charged with forgery, another felony, for trying to open a bank account with a fake ID. On the 10th of July, 2024, the cops were dispatched to a Chase Bank after reports of a possible fraud. When they arrived on scene, they were met by security in the parking lot. The suspect is in an orange shirt, dreadlocks, and shorts. He's sitting down in the lobby there. Okay. I'm 10-12 with the security guard. Hey, sir. >> [crying] >> How you doing, sir? You're being detained. We're going to I figured it out as well. We just got called here. What am I being detained for? Passing a bad check. Passing a bad check? Yes, sir. You could tell that the suspect, Nick, had no idea that the cops had eyes on him. With Nick secured in handcuffs, the officers then talked to the bank employees to get a little more background on what happened before they arrived. I just heard today that there was a new fraud where they're using the Treasury checks. Okay. So, I saw it was recently opened like 5 days ago, so I ran it by my manager, Erica. We thought it was suspicious. Cuz I was in a manager's meeting this morning and they already told us the alerts about Treasury checks that are being fraudulently deposited with new accounts that have been recently opened and then they try to get the money right away because by regulation we have to release the money by the next day. Okay. So, this is a new account he came in to do the withdrawal. >> Yeah, it was like for 5,400 something. Okay. >> So, when he told me about it, I said, "We're not touching anything. We're going to let me, you know, do some more investigation." Um we started doing that and then I I went out there and I said, "Hey, where did you get the check from?" I said, "Who's it You know, what's it for?" And he says, "Oh, it's for my car." And I was like, "Oh, okay." So, then he goes, "Hold on. I The person that gave me the check is outside." So, then he's I'm watching him patrolling all over the whole plaza and trying to figure He's calling them the whole time. 15 minutes later he comes back in and he's like, "Oh, it's a Treasury check." So, now he knows all of a sudden what it is. He didn't know before? >> No. It was for a car. Okay. It seemed like Nick wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. It was a lousy plan and why he thought it would work was unclear. Regardless, he'd have some very tough questions to answer. Um So, what's the deal? So, I had a I had a friend that like knows I'm like was struggling with like getting a job and he was like, Yo, I know someone that can help me make some money. Okay. So, I was like, "Okay, cool. Who?" And he was like, "Yada yada yada, it's this person." Mhm. And Yada yada yada, it's person. It's I call him Unc. I don't I really honestly don't even know his name. Okay. And then who's the person you know that put you in contact with Unc? His name is Jeremy. He's more like I can acquaintance. >> Okay. So, Jer- Jeremy's like your acquaintance. He knows you you're hard on ti- you're hard on money, right? You need some money. >> Yeah. He's like, "Yo, I know a dude who can help you out. His name is Unc." >> Yeah. Okay. Nick said he didn't have Jeremy's number, but he did have his Snapchat ID. He also gave the cops a number for the man he called Unc. He was probably hoping that if he rolled over on his friends, they would lessen his sentence. So, he put you in contact with Unc? Yeah. Okay. Then what happens there? And Unc's like, "I can help you get some money." Mhm. And all you got to do is basically just deposit this check. Okay. >> And if they ask, you say it's for your tax returns. Okay. >> I'm and then Are you expecting your tax returns? I've never done tax returns. Okay. So, you're not expecting a tax return. >> I mean, I I'm I actually know I could be expecting a tax return, but it's it's not >> Nick. Nick. Nick. Yeah. Chill. All right. All right. >> No, I'm saying the tax return is not that. It's not It's not on that It's not the check. >> Yeah, it's probably like a direct deposit. >> Yeah. >> But what Who gets tax returns and actually gets a check anymore, bro? >> Yeah. You know what I mean? We're in 2024, bro. Everything is direct deposit. The officer knew Nick was trying to play ignorant in an attempt to appear innocent, but he was caught red-handed and he eventually admitted that he knew what he was doing was illegal. That being said, as far as the scam went, the cops wanted to know all the inside details. Who were you paying once you got the money out? Who would I Who was I going to pay? Yeah, who was you going to pay? Nobody going to give you a check for 5,900 bucks and not expect to get paid. Oh, yeah. I was going to give it Most of the money was going to go to him, but I was going to give like >> To who? Unc. Okay. You said Unc. Where is Unc? Is Unc out here somewhere? Well, guys say the guys they found him. Yeah, he's in like his car's still out there. Supposedly is what I've heard. Ready? All right. So, again, you've you've been on a long road trip like at least twice now with Unc, right? Back and forth from Rockledge. You know him for 2 weeks. You described him bald, big chain, right? Like gold chain. All right. So, the car that's out there that's his, correct? Or at least what he came in? All right. So, I run the plate and this is what That him? Okay. To go along with the name Unc, the cops now had a face and also an address. Nick told the cops that he didn't know where the crew got the check from, but he said they gave the check to him. If the scam went as planned, they'd pay the man about 1,500 to 2,000 dollars. I'll be honest with you, man. A lot of times they send people like you in here to cash a check. You know how much money you get? How much? Zero. Cuz it doesn't work. Zero. And not only that it doesn't work, sometimes it works, but Unc takes all of it. You're just a pawn, man. To be real with you. That they send in to send in to go ahead and cash these checks. Why you think Unc didn't do it? You know what I mean? Why ain't Unc do it? If it was that easy. Cuz he knew he Cuz he knew >> Unc is bald and he's like Cuz he Cuz he know what time it is, bro. Unc was How old is Unc? Unc looks like he's in his like 30s? 40s? Unc's been around, bro. He He's He essentially set you up. If it's too good to be true, it's too good to be true. Huh. Like what Like what what losses he have now? You know what I mean? Nothing. You guys could literally walk away for 2 seconds. He can hop in the car and slide off. Well, there's people buy the car, bro. I know. Oh, yeah. All right, he ain't just going to walk away, though. I mean, he may walk away today. All right? But unfortunately, you're the one that comes in here to pass this check. Nick told the cops that it was his first time being involved in a scam. And honestly, he seemed like a pretty good kid who just got mixed up with the wrong people. He didn't have a criminal record, but that didn't mean that there wouldn't be consequences. Unfortunately, man, you're going to go to jail today, bro. Period. You know what I mean? I'm just being real with you. You know, I can't We can't We can't overlook this, right? This is almost $6,000. Okay. >> I even supposed to know, though? How were you supposed to know? Let's be real. Let's Let's use our brain here, right? We just spoke about it. >> No, you're right. >> You know what I mean? You knew. Right? You knew. You just didn't know this was going to happen, right? Cuz if this if this wouldn't have happened, it'd have been straight, right? You knew what you were walking into, bro. But you're not a bad guy. You're in a hard spot right now and you're just trying to make a living. I get it, right? I get it. The officer told Nick that he could blame Unc all he wanted, but he also needed to own up and take responsibility for his own actions. Although Nick had been duped, he still knew what he was doing was illegal. Did you see any other checks in there? >> Oh, no. I didn't No, no, no. I didn't see any checks. >> Did you see a printer or anything like that in the car? They They said the car Do you know They said that they didn't see anything in the car that looked like Okay. All right. Um See if he's by the red Yeah. Yeah, we'll go over there. I'm going to tell you you're under arrest, okay? Yeah. Come and sit here. Hey guys. I mean, just cuz you're in handcuffs doesn't always mean you're under arrest, but I know that after what they told me. Huh? After what they told me. Who are you talking to? Sit down. Take a seat. You got this. You remind me of my mom way too much. Well, then you better call her. I know. They charged Nick with scheme to defraud, grand theft, defrauding a financial institution, uttering a forged check, and possessing a counterfeit instrument. On the 19th of April, 2025, the cops were dispatched to a hotel after reportedly a guest had been caught stealing items. Well, I had a guest calling And she's like, "Hold on. I got to unlock my car." Um I said, "Okay, unlock your car." So, she paid. Then I knew it was hers. I also get chips. And I hear the microwave. I'm paying attention, but I hear chips open. So, I called somebody else to come down here to watch with me because I knew I could tell I was going to have a problem. Well, she took my water, Snapple, and chips. I said, "Are you going She ate it all right here. She had been up all night. All right. So, I said, "You going to pay for that?" She's like, "Put it to my room." I said, "I can't put it to your room cuz your card is off." And she's like, "Well, what are you going to do? Fight me about it?" I do, but I can't. So, I need her off the property. According to the clerk, the suspect stole $22 worth of food. The clerk was fed up and wanted to press charges. As a result, the cops went up to the woman's room to confront her. Are you the only one in here? No. Okay, who else is in here? My friend. What's the friend say? What's her name? Abby. Okay. Did you go downstairs and eat some hot pockets earlier? I think I think it was a white female. White female. Is there a white female in here? Okay, and these people, where are they? I'm not my idea. I ate the chips in the lobby. Ma'am, you need to come to the door. If you don't, you'll be resisting and you can go to jail for that. So, please come to the door. If you don't get out of that bed, I'm going to come and arrest you for not following my orders. Do you understand? Get up right now. For resisting. We said that already. Come out of the room, grab your stuff. You're getting trespassed. The suspect, whose name was Abby, was not in the mood to follow orders. She could ignore the cops all she wanted, but if she kept things up, it was not going to end well for her. She was being trespassed from the property and there was nothing she could do about it. Woah! Woah! >> Stop resisting. Put in his room and be back. If she had just come to the door when the cops asked her, she wouldn't be face down on the ground and handcuffed. While she lay there on the ground, the cops searched the woman before helping her up. All right, you got your stuff? No. No, but they dragged me out. Stand over there. Put it in the hallway so you can start walking it down. Okay. I haven't done anything. You're getting trespassed either way. The room's under her name. She's lost her privileges. You you got to go to jail. You can rent the room from her on your own end. You're you're a guest here under her. Trespass. Like I said, just put it in the hallway. Talk to her about renting your own room. Yo, you want to wait? No, I'm good. All right. Stop resisting. Stop it. Stop. If she didn't want to be manhandled by police, maybe she should have followed their orders and peacefully walked with them like a mature adult. After a little bit of back and forth, they eventually managed to get her to walk out of the building. I'm embarrassing, bro. I paid my [ __ ] It's been What? An hour over? I can pay another day. Get the [ __ ] out of here. I'm not even the same city I live in. You know? Arrested, bro, nothing. I didn't do [ __ ] You got to get to your room, right? Shut the Be nice. That's battery. It's felony. Shut up. All right, yeah, I got it. Throw me on the [ __ ] ground. Yeah, I'm here. I'm on the ground. Throw me on the ground. She was trying to play dumb like she had no idea why they arrested her. After reminding the woman about the food she'd stolen, she started begging the officer to let her pay for it. Sadly though, it was way too late. Then you sat there and started throwing yourself around and started resisting as we tried to place you Hang on. Hang on. Hang on. I've never been in jail in my life. I can pay for it. And and again, all that's irrelevant to today because what happened will happen, okay? So those three things at least. >> [snorts] >> Have you ever been arrested in your other state you're from? Okay. Well, then take care of this in court and be done with it. It's that simple. No. No, you're under arrest right now. A female officer arrived to search the woman and she initially resisted. Some people have to learn the hard way that resistance is futile. The woman's endless complaining was not going to make a difference. Come out on your own before we have to take you out. Ma'am, I literally just here so whatever you got going on with them, don't bring it to me. I'm just here to help them. Come out. Grab this. Turn around. No, because we have to search you. Hey, hold on. Put on me. Want to put your hands on me? Hold on. Hold on. You think I GOT SOME DRUGS on me? Hold on. No, it's a birthday weekend and I'm drunk. It's part of our policy, okay? Hold on. Hold on. That's all it is. I can pay for my [ __ ] and I'm being arrested. Hold on. I've never been arrested in my life before. The officer patted the woman down and found no illegal contraband. She was taken to jail, but not before she made one last sad attempt to plead her case. And they took my handcuffs off because two mentally ill officers That's one thing you don't do, all right? I understand, but they're putting me on the ground. That's supposed to be the first place. All right. Just watch your feet and we'll close back the door. Am I going to jail? Let me go ahead and talk to my partner because like I said For sure, yes. It was trespass, theft, and resisting without violence. All they have to do is UNLOCK MY CAR. THAT WAS ASLEEP because I was drunk. AND THEN I'M DRUNK AND YOU GUYS GRAB ME ON MY ROOM and put me on the ground and then you're saying I resisted arrest. What the You don't get the normal circumstance? Okay. I explained to you what it is. The officers >> is the actual charge that you're putting me under TO BE DETAINED? WHY AM I BEING TRESPASSED? I just explained that. >> Please tell me the real reason. Ma'am, he just told you. Am I being charged with anything? The crimes I just explained, yes, ma'am. >> Am I being charged with anything? He said trespass and he said Am I being charged? >> That's what we're telling you. That's what it is. >> I'm asking you, can you please say? That's what I said. >> I am being charged. You are being charged with what? We just told you. Trespass and theft, please. Okay. So say, you are being charged with >> I'm not going to say it the way you want. I'm just telling you Get in the car all the way. >> legal to say that. Okay. Because you know I'm not being Put your seat in the car. Thank you. I won. Thank you. They charged the woman with trespassing, resisting without violence, battery on law enforcement, and defrauding an innkeeper. On August 1st, 2024, the cops were dispatched to a Subway restaurant. Reportedly, there was a woman there trying to pick up an order and the credit card she was using was stolen. Hey. Hey. I got called in the middle of the We live in Detroit, Michigan, okay? For this order and that girl outside right there and we didn't know what to do, so my boss would be calling us. Okay. And and I had told him that I would give him a call back, but I also told him that he needed to contact his bank on top of it. But this is the guy's name. This is his phone number. And she's here to pick it up. This is it. This is the order? Just 13 bucks? Yep. It is a salad, chips, and a bottle of water. Okay, and he just he sent her to pick it up. That's all? No. His his card got hacked. Oh, I got you. Okay. Yeah. He called me right away and was like, "Hey, something just came out of my and I live in Detroit, Michigan." And I was like, "How?" Over the phone, the real owner of the card told the employee that it absolutely wasn't their order. In other words, somebody had his credit card info and was using it to make unauthorized purchases. When the suspect picked up their order, they would definitely have some explaining to do. Can I talk to you, ma'am? Oh, yeah. Yeah. What's up? So you're over here to pick up an order, correct? Subway? Yeah, I'm coming back over there. Okay. What's going on with the >> a sec. I said let me call you right back. So my friend put in a order for me. Um I think I have to pay for it, but other Why is everything okay? Well, yeah, there was an issue with the order, so just trying to find out what was going on with it. I'm not sure. I mean, myself cuz I had asked my friend to get me some Subway and sometimes they do it. Was there like an issue with it? Is it like shady or something? Yeah. It is? So you you have your ID or driver's license on you, please? Um at my spot, I do. What's What's that mean, your spot? >> Like I'm in recovery, so like you know what I'm saying? And Down there in your down there in the hallway? Yeah, I don't want any trouble. Like I I'll pay for it. Like if if that's the case, like I didn't know like >> Well, it was pre it was prepaid, though. With a card or something, I think. Yeah. I mean, I'll I mean, I'll do I don't know. I don't want any issues, you know? I'm really serious about my So I I apologize if there was something wrong with it. >> What What room you staying in? I'm staying in room three. The woman identified herself as Gianna and said her friend had placed the order and she was just there to pick it up. However, if that was the case, there was an easy way to find out if she was telling the truth. All the cop would have to do was contact her friend. So who are you So who placed the order [music] for you? It was my friend. Is he with you or is he down at the room there or No, he lives in Finland. And like I'm just trying to get my stuff together, you know? Like I can pay for it with my own stuff, but he just was like I guess it was just kind of like he could help me out, but if it's like shady or something, like I don't want to be involved with that. Food in someone else's name that someone else ordered, don't you think it's kind of shady right off the get? I mean 15 I guess I could see how that could be shady. Yeah. I guess I could understand it. >> back to a Gianna Honeycutt of Finley. Yeah. While talking to Gianna, the cop was informed by dispatch that the woman had an active warrant. As a result, the officer detained the woman while he continued his investigation. I'm going to check you quick, ma'am. Just make sure you got no bazookas, machine guns, rocket launchers, anything like that on you, okay? No, I don't. >> Okay. And it's going to poke me? No. >> any dope? No, I'm clean. I'm going to look at the warrant. >> [groaning] >> I'm going to hang on to your phone for the time being. If I have a warrant, would you allow me to call someone so I can like We're going to go one step at a time here. Any pockets on your pants there? No. Okay. All right. All right. Just have a seat in the back of the car here. While the order she was picking up was only worth a few bucks, it was still a case of fraud, and with Gianna secured in the back of a squad car, the cop went back inside to talk to the staff. It was paid with a card cuz normally when they come through the online, they're normally paid with a card. Okay. So. Yeah, I mean, I've used the Subway app. I I have a card saved to the account. Yeah. I have to take a picture of this. Okay, so it's just her? It was just her. And she stays out there. She's part of the sober living or whatever down at the halfway house, so. Oh, man. I was just going They come to the pantry and get food. Well, it's better when I can get it for free from here, you know. >> [laughter] >> She said she was going to pay for it. I'm like, "Well, it's pre-paid. You already paid." Yeah. Oh, yeah. Well, I didn't, you know, we you know. Which, you know. I don't think she's necessarily She's not part of the conspiracy that probably stole this guy's car or whatever, but I mean, she had to have known that something was So. I'm not going to charge with any kind of, you know, offense. Um she's going to go to county out of her warrant anyway. Okay. So, she's got enough She's got enough She's got enough problems. Yeah. So, if that makes sense, but but appreciate you guys being having you heads-up and Yeah. Yeah, that he called and so. Though it was highly suspicious, like the officer said, he couldn't prove it yet that she stole the person's credit card info or that she knew the card was stolen, but that wasn't going to get her out of trouble for the warrant. So. Pike County wants you on their warrant. What's it for? Uh trafficking. Like an indictment? I'm assuming trafficking is normally a felony for being an indictment, so. They want you. So, what's going to happen, we're going to run you up to uh the station here quick, our station, just for a little paperwork, but you're going to be transported to the St. Charles County jail in Freeburg. And then eventually Pike County will come pick you up, so. Will you do me a favor? Can you give one number out of my phone? You can have You can have your phone back. So, you're welcome to use it. So. I'm not going to charge you with any theft or anything down here. Certainly not, you know. You know. You said it yourself, your account was hacked or something like that, so it was a fraudulent order. You got two other names involved with the purchase of your food, you should know something's up. >> Honestly, I need to work on my way of thinking, things through, and that's what why I'm in this program, but [music] I do have my warrant. So, but you're going to go to jail on your warrant, so. So, I'm just being crystal clear with you, so. Understood? Okay, this officer's going to run you to our station. So, I appreciate you being cooperative and letting me All right. Yeah. So, you're welcome to use your phone, call whoever you need to call. Okay. All right. They arrested Gianna for the outstanding warrant, and she was taken to the station. On the 21st of June, 2023, the cops were dispatched to Best Buy after reportedly a man tried to purchase merchandise using multiple identities. What's up, boss? Did you guys just try to purchase something in Best Buy? I don't know. Did you and someone else just try to purchase something inside Best Buy? I don't know. I don't know. You don't know what we're talking about? I got you. Where is the driver of the vehicle? I don't know. No? You don't want to talk or nothing? I don't know. I don't know. I don't Best Buy called us something something about someone coming in here trying to use bogus cards or something, so. What's that got to do with me? You're in the vehicle that the person was in. That's all. I don't know. I don't No, you don't know? Do you have an idea on your friend? I don't have to give you my ID. You don't have to give me an ID? No. Okay. The man was playing dumb like he had no idea what the cop was talking about, but you could tell by the man's body language that he knew exactly why the cops were there. He was only upset because he'd been caught. Where you at? I don't know. I don't know. Let's stand by that officer. I'm about to do my Yeah, you are. I'll pay you anyway, man. You got out of the car? All right, step over there. Step over there. No. You could You could You could try and do what you want, but this is not that, bro. We work by the law, okay? Okay. You don't have You came out of that car, you don't know where everybody's at, right? Bro, I don't know what you're talking about, bro. Okay. That's fine. Yeah, he's um You don't want to give us your ID, man? I'm not giving you nothing, bro. I don't know you, you don't know me, and I ain't I'm a police officer, certified with the state of Illinois. You're potentially being involved in a crime, so I'm now demanding you for your license. He'd been given a direct order, but instead of handing over his license, he demanded to talk to a supervisor. While the cops inside talked to employees, a supervisor arrived to question the suspect. So, where did the other guy walk off to? Do you know? No, he's not over there no more. >> Cuz that's not our guy, right? Unless that's the one that came in here and tried to purchase. No. >> No. You need to do more investigation before you start touching people and disobeying my rights, bro. >> Sure. You need to do more investigating. Sure. So, when you do When you do a little bit more of that Well, the sergeant came. You want to talk to her? That's fine. All right, so tell exactly what I just did. Second card he presented said um Christopher Tovar. Okay. Oh, you You ran around the back. They're saying He's They're saying he ran around the back. He's back there now. Uh that's what they're saying. He ran around the back. Merlin units from 80, apparently he's around the back of the business. Somebody wants to check back there. Did you go behind the store? Yeah. Where's someone going to do that? He's inside the store. You guys good here? Yeah. Oh, there he's running. So, he's running in the damn condo back there. That was 30 seconds ago. He literally ran that way 30 seconds ago. Yes. All right. Yes. Pat your pockets. the driver on the run, they were getting nowhere with the passenger out in the parking lot. Shortly after, a Best Buy employee approached and gave the cops a few details on the attempted scam. Was this guy in the store at all? No, he never came in. He sat in the car the whole time. So, he was staying in the car? Yeah. The The guy you're looking for came in once. He tried to use a card that said Rochelle Turner. The card got declined. Then he tried to use a like prepaid American Express card. Okay. So, we just They just got it canceled and locked it and then he just leave. So, then he came back down here and he came back in again. The card was under the name of That card was also declined. Okay. So, he for all intents and purposes really Yeah, I'm sure they're together, you know, but you know. He was in the He was Yeah, he didn't He never He was in this car though? Yeah. Yeah. The passenger claimed that he didn't even know the driver, which was a little bit strange considering they arrived together in the same vehicle. Tired of playing his games, they detained the man and kept searching for the driver. Okay, I'll go around the other way. No, you're not getting in the Bro, don't don't touch me, bro. Don't touch me, bro. Stop resisting, I will tase. Hey, I will Hey, touch me, bro. Touch me one more time, I will smack out of you, bro. >> all on camera. You're not getting >> Touch me one more time, I will smack Okay, now get in the car. You touched me. Did Did I Did I Did I come at you or did you come at me? To keep you from getting in the car. >> Did you touch me or did I touch you? Did I touch you or did you touch me? I didn't touch you. It's all on camera. It's all on camera, dude. I'm not worried about it. I know. But you're not getting You're not getting in the car. You won't identify yourself. >> to get my money, bro. >> getting anything out of the car. How do we know that's your money? You don't know this guy, you don't know it's his car, right? So, you're going to tell yourself >> know what you're talking about. I'm getting my money, bro. All right, then you're going to get handcuffed cuz you're not cooperating. Okay. He's running. He wasn't just desperate to leave the scene, he was also desperate to get in his vehicle. Obviously, there was something in the vehicle that he didn't want the cops to find. They put the man in the back of a squad car, and the other officers kept looking for his accomplice. All right, he's in the bushes. He's by the pond right here on the left side. Get some folks here. He's by the Crosco. Here, let's I'll go this way? Yeah, subject in the bushes by the pond west of Crosco. We'll give you a seat in the back of the station. Bro, give me Stop. I asked you to sit, you're not going to sit. I'm going to put you in the car. Stop. You're going to get tased. You're going to get tased. All right, he's in the bushes. Put your hands up. Hands up. You're going to get bit. The suspect on the run was surrounded and outnumbered, and with a canine on the scene, even if he did try to run, he wouldn't get far. Thankfully, he knew he had nowhere to go, so he surrendered. Put your hands up now. Put your hands above your head. PUT YOUR HANDS UP. PUT YOUR HANDS UP. HANDS UP. SO WE CAN SEE THEM. KEEP YOUR HANDS UP THE WHOLE TIME. HANDS UP. WALK FORWARD. ALL RIGHT. Hands up. Walk in. Put your hands behind your back. Stand by. You're going to get tased. Hands up. Hands Hands up. Stand right where you are. Walk. Let me see your I'm tired of this, bro. All right, come on, man. All right, come on. No, you got your cell phone. Give me your cell phone. On the ground. On the ground. Oh, you didn't have to do all that, get on your chest. You good? Why y'all doing all this? Look over there, look over there by the bridge, look over there by the tree. What y'all doing the most for? >> [sighs] >> You got any weapons on you or anything? No. I was just smoking a little bud back here, what y'all doing? It was a nice try, but the cops knew he wasn't just chilling in the swamp smoking weed. He was captured on surveillance footage getting out of his vehicle, going into Best Buy, trying to make fraudulent purchases, and then running off. He was caught red-handed and he knew it. Let me sit you up, all right? This thing right here? Y'all scared Come on, bro. You could have came and talked to me instead of going in for a dime. Bro, y'all scared the [ __ ] out of me. What? I just drove up and got out and started walking to you. He does have a dog, though. I wasn't lying about that. I believe you. He's about to come out, man, get his paperwork. Yeah, he does bite. I don't got [ __ ] bro. We got to check the car. I do it. Why y'all so Why y'all harassing me? All right. For illegal substances. What y'all talking about? He did not find anything on our person. Too much. Just send him to the police station. I'll take him back to the police station. And they were making jokes all day. I'm not making a joke now, though. Oops. We had another guy that ran from police last night in a stolen car and he actually lost his shoes the same way. And it was awful. All right, we'll let him sit here for a little longer, all right? Just have a seat back. Inside the suspect's car, the cops found 16 stolen credit cards, a handgun magazine, ammunition, and marijuana. The passenger was charged with resisting arrest and also obstruction. The driver was charged with using another person's credit card, two counts, possession of debit or credit cards, 18 counts, and possession of marijuana. Scammers try to bluff, brag, and gaslight their way out of trouble, but the harder they try, the dumber they look, and they'll go down in history as the dumbest pranksters ever.