On December 9th, 2025, officers were dispatched to a Verizon Wireless store after receiving reports of a fraud in progress. >> Don't you move. >> Me? >> You move. The gun's on your back. >> I ain't doing nothing. >> If you do anything stupid, I'm going to taze you. >> The gun's on your back. >> Grab another pair of cuffs. You're not under arrest for tonight. You're being detained. We'll explain it to you when we get out in the car. You have any weapons on you? >> No, sir. >> We'll be right back then. >> Do you have anything sharp on you that's going to poke me or hurt me? >> No, sir. Sharp? >> Mhm. You good? >> Mhm. >> Can you just keep an eye on him for a second while we go in the store? >> Yeah, the ID he was using? >> He's got it in his arm. He's got his personal stuff. I gave it back to him. >> Where was it at when you >> It was probably in the wallet. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah, I gave it back to him after he was >> So, who actually dealt with him in the store? >> I did. >> What did he What did he say he was >> So, the first thing he came in, he said I lost my phone when he was like he just got off a plane and he lost his phone and he just wanted to buy a flip phone. You know, that's a little weird when somebody has a smartphone, so that was like my first thing. But, he had an iPhone on him as well, which was odd. So, that was my second thing. Then, when I asked him for the phone number, he didn't know his own number. So, he had to look at his phone when he was reading off the number to me. That was suspicion number three. And then, when I pulled up the account, the account had two Android devices on it. So, I was like, that's weird. Somebody >> up the account by his name that he presented you with the ID. >> Correct. So, we can bypass if we have the ID. So, because he presented a physical ID with the name and photo ID, so we bypassed it. I saw there was two Android phones on there. That usually brings up like now it's even more weird. >> His Android is a smartphone, so why is he buying a flip phone? >> Exactly. And he's got an iPhone in his pocket. So, then I called the account owner We called the account owner like the number he gave me. We didn't get an answer, so I called the secondary number and the son picked up the phone and he was like, "No, my dad's sitting in front of me in a hospital bed in Illinois." Like he was telling us that his dad is like people have been like fishing and trying to get a social and basically trying to do account take overs on their bank accounts and stuff like that. So, yeah, he was like, "Please get I'm sure the cops are getting the rest of it." >> Do you have your ID, anybody? So, my >> Yes, yeah, absolutely. >> And then we'll get all the contact info from you for the card holder when we call. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. This is the ID that he presented you. >> Yes. And it's a good it's a good Illinois fake. It's got like the the like holograms and stuff. >> Guaranteed this isn't going back there and then we'll go there. All right. And you said the guy when he came in he didn't even know his phone number. >> He didn't know his phone number. He literally pulled it up. And he you had the shakes going and everything, so. >> Do you have your work phone? >> It's in the car, yeah. >> All right. So, write his stuff down. Let's call the account holder. >> Uh so, you're going to have to call the son cuz the account holder is like they said is in a hospital. >> next to each other, right? >> Yeah, they're right next to each other, so. Yeah, this is the number the secondary number. >> Go grab while when you're done with that go grab your work phone. >> Okay. >> And we'll call him from the work phone and then we'll photograph those right. >> Okay. >> Hey John, it's Aaron from Verizon again. I have the cops here with me, so they just want to they want to talk to you. >> Does your father um know any Does he have a brother Does he know anyone else with that name that would have a driver's license in his name? >> Absolutely not. And we've been having issues with people trying to steal his information. We had somebody just buy some stuff on our on our PayPal account. So, we were talking about fraud stuff just as as recent as like yesterday. Probably this same guy. >> Okay. >> We've been aware that somebody has his information and been trying to buy stuff, and steal stuff, being posing as him for like the last week. And we [clears throat] we were like, "Well, how are we going to catch this guy? And how how is this going to end?" And then, luckily, Aaron called us from the Verizon store, who went above and beyond, and >> You guys You guys live in Illinois. You don't even live in Florida, right? >> No, Steve did go through Fort Lauderdale, though, because he just came home from a cruise >> Okay. >> that he went on with a buddy. So, he went through Fort Lauderdale when he went on that cruise. >> Got it. >> If this person works for the uh what was it? Viking Cruise Lines, then Holland. He went on a Holland cruise, and they ended in Fort Lauderdale, and then him and his buddy drove from Fort Lauderdale back to Cross Florida. Where did Brian live? >> Okay. Can you do me a favor? I know your father's in the hospital, and I don't want to take up a ton of his time, but I just need to ask him if he wants to prosecute. I have to hear it from him. Does he want to press charges? >> He's right here, and he's absolutely coherent. The police are asking him, "Do you want to press charges for the guy stealing >> Yes. >> And you And what's your name, sir? >> Steven Cunningham. >> Okay. And I just want to confirm with you you've given no one else permission to use your personal identification information. >> That's correct. >> Okay, perfect. Awesome. Thank you, sir. Hey, man. I'm going to record while we talk, okay? Just kind of do me a favor and speak loudly if you can, so it picks up on my recording. Before we talk to you, I'm going to read you your rights, okay? >> Mhm. >> First of all, my name's Officer Bohorquez. You can call me Steve if you'd like. You have the right to remain silent and to refuse to answer any questions. Do you understand? >> Yes. >> Okay. Anything you say can be used against you in the court of law. Do you understand? >> Yes. >> You have the right to speak with an attorney before speaking to the police and have an attorney present during questioning now or in the future. Do you understand? >> Yes. >> If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to represent you before any questioning if you wish. Do you understand? >> Yes. >> If you decide to answer questions now without an attorney present, you will still have the right to stop answering at any time and speak with an attorney. Do you understand? >> Yes. >> In regards to this investigation, have you asked myself or any of the other police officers present for an attorney? >> No. >> All right, you said you wanted to talk to me, right? >> Correct. >> What brought you to Verizon Wireless today? >> I was brought here to get a phone. >> Okay. What kind of phone? >> A flip phone. >> Okay, but why did you buy a Yeah, an iPhone in your pocket, so why do you need a flip phone? >> So, I needed another phone. >> A flip phone in particular? >> I broke it. >> Okay, and what did they ask you for when you uh went to purchase the phone? Did they ask you for your phone number, your ID? >> [music] >> What did What did they ask you for? >> Phone number. >> Okay, and did you know the phone number on the account? >> Yeah. >> You did? >> I gave them the phone number on the account. >> Are you sure? Because I just watched the surveillance video and I spoke with the associate you worked with and they said you didn't know the phone number on the account. >> So, no, I gave them the phone number on the account. >> Okay, and then what else did you give the sales associate? >> ID. >> ID? What ID What state is the driver's license from that you gave them? >> Illinois. >> And what's the name on that ID? >> Steven Graham. >> What is it? >> Steven Cunningham. >> And who is Steven Cunningham? Cuz I know it's not you. Who is it? >> Um I was given this ID to come get a phone. >> You were given this ID with your picture on it. >> Mhm. >> Right? Who gave it to you? >> I don't know the guy's name. I was paid to come get a phone. >> You got the guy's phone number? >> No, I don't have his phone number. >> Do you have messages between you and the guy s- saying he's going to meet up with you somewhere and you're going to give him He's going to give you this ID and pay you? >> Uh yeah, I don't know. I don't have any messages saying that. I don't have any messages saying that. >> Saying So, do you have any idea who Steven Cu- Cunningham is from Barrington, Illinois. >> No. >> No? Then why would you take his ID to come to Verizon to come use his cell phone? >> Well, I was paid to come get a phone from from Stephen Cunningham. I was I was paid to do >> physically met with Stephen Cunningham? >> No, no, no, no, no, no. I was paid >> Listen to me. >> Okay. >> What's your real name? >> My name is Mark. >> What? >> Mark. >> You have an ID on you in your wallet that I didn't see? >> None in my wallet, no. >> Okay. I've been doing this job for a very, very, very long time, okay? I'm going to be completely honest with you. The back and forth You already know what you were doing was wrong. I already know what you were doing is wrong. So, instead of just saying that someone paid you to come here and give you $100 with an ID why don't we be real with each other in terms of what actually happened here? Cuz I don't think someone made you a fake ID to go buy a flip phone. That's what you were trying to buy, a flip phone. >> Mhm. >> So, you want to be honest and forthcoming with me about this whole issue? >> That that is honestly >> But, you don't know the person's name? >> No, I don't. They call him Skinny. >> Skinny? Where did you meet Skinny at? >> Pompano. >> Pompano? What's the What address? >> It's Pompano I got to I got to look at it. >> Okay. How do you communicate with Skinny? >> Through Telegram. >> Through Telegram? Do you have Telegram on your phone? Yes? >> Mhm. >> You said yes, right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um Did he tell you to do anything else with this ID? >> No. >> No? >> Just get a phone. >> Just go get a phone, and then do what with the phone? >> Give him the phone. >> Give him the phone? >> Mhm. >> You didn't question that it had your photo with another person's name on it? You didn't think that was weird? >> No. >> Yes? Why didn't you use your own ID to go buy a phone? >> Cuz they wanted they wanted that particular number. >> This particular number. Okay, but you don't know Steven Cunningham, right? Did he give you Did Mr. Steven Cunningham give you permission at all to use his personal information to go obtain a phone? No? Okay. You're under arrest. Hey, just so you know as well, I'm seizing your phone for a search warrant. >> Oh, quick question. Quick question. >> What's up? >> Quick question, right? I Well, I'm I'm I'm the small fish in this. Like, don't y'all wouldn't y'all want to get the bigger >> Of course, but you just said all you know him as a skinny. >> But get me getting the phone, then y'all can get the bigger fish. >> Okay. Well, you're still going to jail, though. But then you can work with detectives possibly after the fact, but you got to go to jail. Okay, and we're taking the phone. You didn't want to have tell You told me skinny and somewhere in Pompano. >> I'm not supposed to That's what I know. I can I >> All right. Hey, will you show me the messages in Telegram? >> Without a search warrant? Without a search warrant? >> Without a search warrant? We're already going to jail, like See, look, I'm moving up that phone. >> Okay. So, you don't want to show me the messages in your phone without a search warrant? Can you tell me your password so I can put it in airplane mode and you'll look at it that I'm not going to look through anything and then we'll turn it off? No? Hey, so that's So, I have to turn it off. >> He was charged with fraudulent use of another person's identification without consent and possession of a counterfeit driver's license or identification card. Share your thoughts in the comments below and don't forget to like and subscribe.