On February 11th, 2025, officers responded to a bank after a woman was attempting to cash a stolen check. >> Hi, come on in. I have a little [clears throat] situation. >> Sure. Sorry, I got my supervisor on the phone. Um, that Okay, that person right there with the >> The black With the wig >> Mhm. >> Um, just confirmed that that's not the person they're pretending to be because they're from Richmond and I just called the son and he's like, "No, my mom's at work." And the notes on the account show that their person ID was stolen and they tried to cash a check for $4,200. There's not even close to that amount in there and the signature doesn't match. None of it is right. >> Hi there, how you doing? >> Fine. >> You doing all right? Um So, I just got a uh a call to check your your identification. >> She has it. >> She has an identification. What's your name? >> Denise. >> Denise? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> she has it. I mean, I don't know what you What do you mean? >> Okay. >> I don't know what's going on. I have a funeral that I'm trying to get money together for, so. >> Okay. >> That's all. >> You said you're Denise? >> Yeah. What's wrong with it? I mean, is this what's going on? I have like all of my identification like, you know what I'm saying? >> Okay. >> Um, no, not Denise. I'm so sorry. Um, like I just Wow. You're just I'm dealing with family member being lost. I mean I don't understand. I was perfectly fine, see? >> Okay. >> Like >> Okay, so you're saying mean you were Denise, but it's actually Deborah. >> Yes, I'm sorry. You had me all discombobulated. I'm talking to my friend Denise on the phone. >> Mhm. Okay. Do you have any other forms of identification? >> She has it right there. That's all I have. I mean I have everything that you need. I don't get it. >> So she has your like driver's license? >> Yeah, she has it right there. >> Okay. What's your date of birth? >> It's I'm a I'm >> This is a question about your identification, okay? >> I know I know that you are and I understand that. >> I think you understand what I'm saying. >> I don't get it though. Why do now and I don't get it though. Like cuz the uh >> Okay, so So let me just start from the beginning. So what's your last name? >> I just I just I just told you. >> Can you spell it for me? >> Yeah, c a I'm a t o n I just told you. >> And your first name? >> Is Deborah. >> And your middle name? >> What do you need my middle name for? I gave you everything. It's Lynn. >> Okay. So you having to check your phone for all that? >> No, I don't. I'm just having a [ __ ] I'm asking I don't understand where this is coming from. I come in here for my account to cash a check and I have all of my identification and I don't don't get it. Like >> So we're not 100% sure that you're who you're claiming to be. >> Well, I know. I mean well obviously now. I mean shoot, I've been trying to get all of this stuff together for this You know what I'm saying? So yeah. I don't get it. >> Okay. >> Cuz I feel like I mean this is craziness. >> Okay. Well, so you you understand that you can't be lying about your information. >> I know. I know that. I just don't know what to I don't know what you guys want me to >> I just want you to tell the truth as far as like who you actually are. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Cuz we understand what's going on. >> I mean >> Okay. I You do too. >> I mean, okay, it is what it is. I mean Yeah. >> So, what's your actual name? >> My name is Stephanie. And I was asked to So, I did cuz I'm in I need money and I didn't realize it was like this, so >> Okay. >> what it is. Like, I don't know what else to say. >> Do you have your actual ID? >> I do have my actual ID. This is crazy. That's crazy. >> Okay. All right, do you mind just having a seat for me over here? So, you said you were doing it because you needed money? >> I know, I went to eviction court today. I have 5 days to get out. I'm on housing and I'm trying to get my college financial aid license. >> Yes, ma'am. >> And I mean, I don't They're trying to tell me I have 5 days to get out and somebody came to me and I was like, "Yeah, I need money." And they're like, "Okay, well, I just need you to do this." And I mean, I know it probably sounds stupid, but I have no car. I have no family here. You know what I'm saying? I needed money and cuz they're trying to give me 5 days to move out. >> Okay, so >> And I can't not let my kids have anywhere to go. >> How many kids do you have? >> I have four. >> So, how much are you What are you asking for? What kind of How much money were you asking for? >> I don't know. The check was just for 45. I mean, I'm not getting all of it. >> 4,500? >> Yeah, I was just supposed to be cashing my check. That was just >> So, how do you know this Deborah? >> I don't. I don't know anything. >> How did you get her information? >> I It was given to me. >> It was given to you? >> Mhm. >> Who gave it to you? >> tell you their names cuz I don't know them. >> You don't know them? >> No, I just know a a name on a phone. That's all. I don't know even what No what to say. Like, I had met them on a dating and it just conversation turned into you know, cuz I was going through all of this and they were just like, well I mean, we just need you to cash a check and I was like, okay. I didn't know the extent of it until, you know what I'm saying, today or anything like that. So, I don't know their I don't know like the name or nothing like that. >> Okay. So, they drove you here? >> Yeah. >> What kind of vehicle was it? >> It was a blue BMW. >> A blue It wasn't a white one? >> Um I Yeah. >> Okay. Were you doing it Were you doing it for him or for you? >> No, I was doing it for them. I was just going to get a little bit of I was just going to get some money, you know what I'm saying? Like I wasn't That wasn't for all That wasn't all for me. You Like I'm not like the mastermind or anything like that. They was just telling me that I would get some money out of it because I have 5 days to move. I was like, okay, cuz I have no income coming in. You know what I mean? My kids are starting school. I'm on housing. >> And what what was his name again? >> I told you I don't know that. I just >> You don't know his name? >> know as Zo and that's it. That's all I know about him. >> Zo? A white male? >> I've never met him, but who I came with was not white. >> Okay. So, the person you came with was the one that gave you all the these credentials? Okay. >> Yes. >> Can you describe that person to me? >> Uh black, short hair, gold teeth. I'll tell you anything you need to know now like okay, they got me these and they were my ear, you know what I'm saying? Like I said, I did not know the extent of it until today. I thought I was just going to go and cash the check and get some money from it, you know what I'm saying? But they went from that to you know what I'm saying? And everything like that. So >> Where are you from? >> I'm from Austin. >> Austin. >> Yes, I moved >> Where did you meet him? What city are you How did you link up with this guy? >> No, he came here to get me. I I live here right now. >> Okay, you're in front. >> Yes, I live here. And um and he came and picked me up, you know what I'm saying? >> Okay. >> And you know what I mean? That's like the extent of what I just told you is exactly what I know. They came and picked me up in the white BMW. It was him and some other guy. The other guy was black, too, but he was like a white skin. And the driver had gold teeth. I don't even know their names. And he gave me the ID, the two checks. They were already filled out. They were signed on the back. Did I make a wrong decision? I most definitely did. I mean but I tried to go through the courts and tell them, "Look, I get my income tax at the end of the month." You know what I'm saying? Like, my kids are my everything and I do everything for my kids. I needed money. >> Are you willing to uh talk to one of our detectives? >> I sure will. As I'm not going to cuz I'm not going to go to jail for this like at all. I again it wasn't I it wasn't anything illegal from what they told me. You know what I'm saying? And then when I got in the vehicle >> He seemed He seemed pretty reasonable. Did you think that putting on a wig, using an ID that's not you, >> No. >> cashing a check that belongs to someone else was okay? >> Once all of this >> I'm just telling you like what what you did here. >> Mhm. >> Did you think that that was illegal? >> No. Yes. Yeah. >> Okay. >> I did. I did. And but again, I was It was like Orange is the new black. You know what I mean? Like, I just got out of court this morning about that. I tried to talk to my landlord to see if and she was like, "I'm sorry, but you have to go." Five days with no people, [snorts] not having a family here or anything like that. Like my landlord just has it out against me for some reason. You know what I'm saying? Like, I'm not behind on like my housing isn't my payments aren't behind or anything like that. It's just shh >> [snorts] >> for some reason >> Butt-head of the landlord? >> Yeah, basically. >> So, we're going to take you up there if you're willing to go with us to speak to the detective and we'll figure out everything here okay? >> Okay. Let me check your jacket, okay? Nothing? You can go and stand up. Nothing concealed on your person at all, anything like that? No? >> No. >> Nothing hidden, nothing in >> No, I'm sorry. I just pulled my pants up. They look tight. >> Okay. Any reason we should put you in handcuffs? >> No. >> Get that other earbud. >> Now, they did touch that. >> Okay. >> That. >> Did she say anything, give y'all details about um how her purse was stolen or where it was stolen? >> she said they stole it at a Walmart. >> Local here or >> somewhere else? >> Um it's up there. >> Okay, was she there or was it >> yeah. And uh she said that they immediately started buying gift cards. They did eventually put the notes on the account and that's one of the things where she saw whenever it pulled up. So, and she tried to cash a check way more than what was in the account. So, yeah. >> The wig I noticed the wig right away and then uh I looked the check up in our system to see if we've had any of those checks go through and we did and it didn't match the other signatures that >> Okay. So, you verify signature? Who called the uh teller or the uh actual person on the account with you or someone else? >> it was my manager. >> Okay, that makes sense. All >> The guy that you've been talking to >> that I met on the dating website. >> What what dating site? >> Uh Facebook. >> Okay. What did the driver look like? >> He was a black male, short, light hair. It wasn't like faded or anything like that. Um he had gold teeth and he had pimples. >> Okay. >> I thought I I was just going to cash check in my name. I didn't know that it was like to that extent. I don't really know the extent of anything except now it went from me cashing a check to now I'm using an ID they're putting a wig on me and all that kind of stuff. So I mean like that's just so messed up like one of the things is Honey, you just can't you just can't trust anybody anymore like people being genuine people like really caring and stuff like that like it's just That's why I don't have no friends. >> I I noticed you had been previously arrested on much of stuff like at Williamson County. What's the what's what's all that about? >> Well, being I stole from a store. >> Okay. >> That's I mean that's really what it was. >> So you you're given these checks it's not in your name and you're given a debit card, you're given a license and a wig and you still go inside the bank. Why? >> I don't I can't I can't answer that. I mean just everything real [ __ ] I mean I'm telling you like I can't I can't answer that cuz all kinds of [ __ ] was going through my head at the time and one of the things is Stephanie, [snorts] we need money. You your landlord isn't she's not working with you whatsoever cuz I have to act the court. Can you give me until the end of month until I get my income tax? I'll leave. Everything packed up. But you don't want me to do all this and I have absolutely nothing. Okay? That is one reason why I went ahead and you know what I mean? Like I went in. I didn't feel comfortable with it and I [snorts] >> But you needed money. >> I basically >> You're in a tight spot. I like you. >> Basically, I mean that that's really what it boils down to. My stupid landlord wants to just make everything just worse for no reason. >> Stephanie, here's what's going to happen today, okay? >> Oh. >> You You are going to go to jail. And you may think you're getting kind of the raw end of the deal cuz you came here to talk to me and you're still going to jail. Because of your cooperation, all right, I could be hitting you with a few more felonies. You're getting charged with one charge, okay? >> I being charged with? >> Fraud. >> You >> Uh for It's called forgery. I could be hitting you with a bunch of It's called possession of ID info, identifying information, which is higher than what we're going to be charging you with, okay? But that's what you're going to be charged with because of your cooperation. >> I can't go to jail. I don't have the money to bail out. My mom does not have the money to bail out bail me out, okay? If I can't bail out, that means I'm stuck in jail. If I'm stuck in jail and I'm supposed to be being evicted in five I mean, I'm supposed to be out of my place in five days. That means that my kids and my stuff and or going to be outside. What [snorts] I'm saying is I would like to please try and figure something out to where I don't go to jail because I am the only thing my kids have. >> Well, here's I already told you this this is this is what's happening, okay? You are going to go to jail. I can't just let you walk out here and now on the back end if you decide that you want to try and figure out who these dudes are and come to me with that information, we can Once you get an attorney, we can get down with the district attorney once you get an attorney cuz you always will get an attorney related to this case today, okay? You want to help us with that investigation, okay, by giving us the information or whatever, okay? Uh then we can work with the district attorney to take care of these charges. But on the front end, today, I can't just let you walk out of here without facing the consequences of your actions. >> Okay. >> Okay? >> Okay. >> You understand that, right? >> You can't Yeah, I have to I have to take responsibility for my actions. Okay, I don't have a problem doing that. I don't have a problem doing that. What I'm saying is if Okay, you guys take me to jail, you book me, and stuff like that, there's not a way that you can get me back out without anybody You know what I'm saying? I don't I don't know what I'm saying. >> No, ma'am. We can't do that. No. >> You can't >> department will not No, we're not going to bail you out or any of that kind of stuff. No. >> You can request what's called for a PR bond when you get magistrated by the judge. It's a purge personal recognizance bond. >> Right. >> Which you don't have to have any money to get out. That's between you and the judge. >> Right, but >> Do you have any other quick questions for Detective Laughlin? >> But we don't have my Well, I mean, I'm just saying like cuz >> Do you have any other questions for her? All right, go and stand up for me. >> You're going to put your other bunny back, okay? Is this yours? >> It was the socking cap I had on. >> Okay. >> I mean, I'm just You know, as I I'm just saying him >> Is that what you want to leave with? >> guys if you guys don't You know what I'm saying? >> The suspect was charged with a felony count of forgery. Due to her cooperation with officers, she received a plea deal which allowed her to avoid prison time. She was sentenced to 2 years of community service and was ordered to pay a $1,900 fine. Thanks for watching the video. Hit the subscribe button and check out another video below.