On May 22nd, 2024, in Vero Beach, Florida, deputies responded to a Seacoast Bank after a branch manager reported that a woman was attempting to withdraw funds using a fraudulent check. >> I appreciate you coming in. >> Hello. >> Hi. >> This is Deputy Gruber. >> Mhm. >> Just want to talk a little bit about the checks you've been cashing. So, you told me there were two checks, right? >> Mhm. >> Okay. Do you want to change that at all? How many checks you want to cash? And where you got them funds? And they said where you got them from? And they trying to confuse you. >> So, real quick, I I have a question for you as well before we go down any road. How did you get here? >> I was dropped off. >> By a white van? >> No. >> Okay. All right. >> And then, it's whatever. And then, it's not anything fraud like, but I understand where y'all coming from. >> Mhm. >> Cool. Cool. >> So, she said y'all got you trying to cash them checks for $1,500. I got a couple different branches. One was here this morning. So, I have that one right now. We did give it to you cuz you're a consistent client of ours. >> Mhm. >> You've never had any issues. But then, I also had to go into multiple other branches cashing the same checks from the same person for $1,500. It just kind of felt suspicious. So, we were looking at it more. >> I understand. >> Yeah. You said >> I know I did the two. I did give my card to somebody for a while. >> Okay. >> But I won't tell y'all who cuz you know. I mean, at the end of the day, you did it on me. So, I'm not stealing nobody's money from the bank. >> Okay. >> So, yeah. But, I know I am trying to get my car. >> Okay. Do you want to change your statement about how many checks you tried to cash, or are you just sticking to two? Just keep in mind, if you went to a branch, I'll I'll have you on film. >> You're okay. Just yeah, sure. It was me. >> Okay. You said that was your aunt, right? That wrote you those checks? >> Mhm. >> Was it your aunt? >> Yeah. >> All right. How old are you? >> 18. >> Okay. So, here, before we go much further, I'm going to read you your rights. Have you ever had your rights read to you? You have? Okay. That's fine. I just I'm going to read them to you, and all you got to do is just give me a verbal acknowledgement that you understand or don't understand something, and then I'll further elaborate for you, okay? So, you have the right to remain silent. Do you understand that? Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. Do you understand that? >> Mhm. >> You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have a lawyer present with you while you're being questioned. Do you understand that? >> Mhm. >> Okay. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, one will be appointed to represent you before questioning. Do you understand that? >> Mhm. >> If you decide to talk to a lawyer now, or I'm sorry, let me restart. If you decide to answer any questions now without a lawyer present, you still have the right to stop answering at any time and speak with a lawyer. Do you understand that? So, after having your rights read to you, do you wish to speak to me? You don't want to You don't want to speak to me? Okay. All right. So, can you stand up for me? >> Can I put my headphones on real quick? >> Yep, that's fine. And actually, real quick, since you're being compliant, I'm going to definitely need you to take your cell phone out of your pocket. Is there anything else in your shorts at all? >> Uh-uh. >> Okay. All right. Can you turn around for me? All right. Can you turn it kind of backwards like you Yeah, just like that. And like that'll be probably the most comfortable for you. All right? Okay. Is that I mean, that's pretty loose. You should You okay? >> Yep. >> All right, just making sure. Um >> Can I make a copy of that and >> 100%. Um I think we would be fine with the copy, correct? >> No, we should take the original. >> We should take the original? Okay, so yes, please. If you can make a copy of that. And this is her card as well? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> the original for me to process it. >> Yep, no, that's Oh, you need the original? >> I need the original. >> Well, you don't >> I'm sure you'll get it back at the >> No, I mean like I need it today. Like I could give it to you guys. I think I could give it to you guys tomorrow. But after we get all the photos >> It's part of evidence as of right now. So, do you need it to cash it for >> I need it to scan it for um the evidence. >> Yeah, I mean, you guys can make a copy. >> I'll make a copy. >> Cuz you'll get it back once the case is cleared. >> Yeah, that's that's fine. Yeah. And before you guys go, I know that my whole team's going to want to talk to one of you guys. I've got their call and everything. >> Okay. Cool. >> Good night. >> Yes, sir. Have you been arrested before? No. This is your first time ever getting in trouble? Okay. >> No one gave you permission to use this, right? Just curious. I don't want to get you jammed up and they actually gave you permission to use it. That's all. >> Yes, I have permission. But it's whatever. >> Do you have the number of that person real quick so we can call them? >> No, no, I don't have the number. >> So, did they sign it over to you or >> Yes. >> Okay. So, right now you're just being detained, okay? >> Mhm. Damn. I need to call my job, too. I can't be late for work. >> Where do you work at? >> Royal Beach Care Center. >> Okay. We'll get to the bottom of that, all right? I'm not here to try to jam you up, okay? >> Okay. >> All right, Shanae, your putting my body cam on. I'm reading your Miranda rights again. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have a lawyer present with you while you are being questioned. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, one will be appointed to represent you before questioning. If you decide to answer questions now without a lawyer present, you still have the right to stop answering at any time and speak with a lawyer. You may use any of these rights at any time during the interview. Do you understand the rights I just read to you? All right. Ma'am, are you willing to answer a few questions? >> Sure. >> All right. So, first question is how did you come in possession of that check? >> It was given to me. >> It was given to you by who? >> I can't tell you the name. >> Can't tell me the name? >> I don't know it. >> So, how do you make contact with these people or this person? >> Excuse me? >> How y'all met? >> I was outside. >> You just met him outside? >> Yes. He's my boyfriend. >> He's your boyfriend? Is your boyfriend one of the guys? >> No. >> No. So, your boyfriend know you're doing all this, too? >> No. >> So, how how did you get here? >> He told me pretty much first thing when he gave it to me, the check, it was like, "It's from me. It's legit. It's got me." >> He told you it was his? >> Yeah. >> So, he told you it was his, so and you believe him? >> Sort of kind of. Cuz I knew he had money. >> What? >> He let me get this. >> So, what what He got money, what does he do? Is he a hustler, scammer? >> No, he works. >> Where he works at? Where he works at? >> I can't tell you. >> So, but you're going to get yourself caught up for some shenanigans, ma'am. For some dude that don't really care. You say you ain't know him, but where he works at though? >> He's just a coach. I mean, he's a coach. >> He's a coach? >> But I don't know where >> Football team? >> I don't know. Yeah, we didn't talk that much. >> So, how long you know How long you know this dude? >> Not long. >> What's not long? A week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, a month, 2 months? >> A week. That's all. >> A week? >> Yeah. >> But so, how y'all plugged up? How y'all connect? >> Just met. >> You were walking down the street and you're like, "Hey, what's up?" >> Yeah, like met at the store. >> So, he dropped you He dropped you here? >> Yeah. >> Who else Who else was in the vehicle with you with him? Or just him? So, when you cash your check, this check got your name on there. Check was blank? So, it already had your name on there? >> Yeah. >> So, you wrote your name on the check? >> No, I didn't write my name. >> So, when it When was that check written out? Before he handed it to you written out? Or did you write it when you got the cash up to the front? He wrote it. You You signed the back? >> the back. >> When you signed the back? When you got here? >> Mhm. >> So, is the first check you cashed for this dude? >> Mhm. >> So, if I subpoena this account I'm going to see multiple checks with your name on there? >> From here? >> Yeah. From here? From No, from this check. Did you Did you go to any other bank and cash this lady personal check at any other bank beside here? >> Like that check in general? No. I didn't take anywhere else to cash it. But >> So, if I pull up your If I pull up your account >> You ain't going to see >> different checks with my They don't have your name on there. >> Yeah. >> Checks Checks with your name with different names on them. >> My name? >> Yeah, it's going to have your name, but do you know the people that gave you the check, though? I still got call this person here. She said she don't know you. >> I just know the person that gave it to me. >> So, once I get a subpoena get your account information, I'm not going to There's going to be other fraudulent checks. >> Okay. >> So, so why are you protecting this person if he's doing all this and you're risking your name for the sake of what? So, $1,500, how much he he cut you? >> I don't know his name. >> Just But I'm saying, though, if he >> trying to go to jail. I just turned 18. I don't even have a record. >> All right. >> I don't want to be in this situation. If I knew old boy name, I would have told you about it. Cuz I don't really give a [ __ ] about nobody right now, honestly. >> Yeah. >> Cuz this is [ __ ] >> It's sad that you These scammers, this is what they do. They get and they send people and do this type of stuff and you get caught up. Old boy probably didn't give you his real name or whatever. He probably gave you a nickname to go along with it. >> Cuz I don't know him. >> Or you Or you could You could know him, you just don't want to give information. What kind of car you drove in? >> A car. >> See? >> It was the white van. >> It was the white van? >> I can't do this, y'all. I'm not trying to go to jail for that. >> So, I'm who was in the car? >> Two, but he was the only one that You feel me? >> Who? He was the only one what? He was driving? >> Yeah. >> So, who was in the passenger? Your boyfriend? >> No. It was my cousin, but he's not involved in this, though. >> He hasn't been involved in some type of work. >> He was just there for a ride. He is not involved. >> So, why he Why he ain't tell buddy just stay for you or go see what's going on? I mean, if my cousin My cousin went inside, somebody just took off with me. I'm like, "What the hell? Why y'all left Why you left my cousin? Let me out." >> He already got his own little things going on. >> So, he knew what was going on there? >> No. >> And he don't want to give me old boy's name? >> I don't know his name. >> He's got a nickname, something. You can't tell me you met somebody Y'all Y'all didn't exchange no name or nothing like that. You going to do this type of work for him? You know he's a coach, but you don't know his name. You don't know a nickname. You don't know nothing about him. >> Yeah. >> So, a whole week I just "Hey, what's up?" "Hey, what's up?" Y'all don't know each other's name. So, he be texting you? >> No. I just see him when I >> So, there got to be a There got to be a middleman, man. That don't make sense at all. >> If I find out his name, I'll be the first one to let you know. >> Like I said, you're not giving me nothing really work with. >> You just got to give me a chance to figure out who he is. >> I mean, right now you're looking at four felony charges. >> How many? >> Four. >> Four? >> Four. >> And that's what, like >> Well, you got to see a judge tomorrow morning. And he's going to set a bond for you. And you can choose to pay the whole amount or pay 10% of that. And bond going to be in a couple of thousand, just to let you know. And I say, if you say he got money like that, he should bond you out. You guys got some organized thing going on, right? And you are the least person talking to us. So, you are basically like the the bottom of the barrel, all right? No disrespect or whatever. So, you're like the bottom fish. You're not the person that we I really want. I want to know who's the mastermind, who's organizing and all that, who's doing all that. You just just the lower end that's going to get caught. Cuz that person know eventually this chicken come back to haunt you. You going inside the pen. You think they got surveillance in here? I mean, I would think you know that, too, right? You would have know You know that, too, also. So, that's a That's a risk you took, also. >> But these checks he told me like Like these are not fake checks. These These are not checks. Got you. >> But you got to understand if it's if it's his check, if it's legit, why is he why is he not cashing it in his account? Why did he have to get somebody to do it for him? >> Juwanna, that's true. I would have been done. I should have paid more attention. >> All right, then. Um You don't want to tell me nothing else? >> I don't know anything else. >> I'm just asking I'm just asking if you if you want to tell me whatever information you got. So so far I have nothing. I can't I can do my investigation to figure it out, but >> I understand. >> I got nothing. Is Is Muni coming? >> Hey, how you doing? What's up? >> Is Muni coming or >> Muni? Yeah, he's coming back. This is Mom. >> Hello. How you doing? >> Hello. >> This is the detective. Yeah, I'm not working this, but I I just came to try to talk to her. >> She going to jail? >> Possibly. You know who she hanging with? >> I He just told me about some dudes. I don't even know who the [ __ ] that could be. >> She said one of them was a She said one of them was her cousin. >> That girl go to school and go to work. She's I'm to be at work right now. It's 3:00. >> She did mention something earlier about her needing to be at work. >> lose my job. You work at a nursing home. >> Which makes me nervous where she's getting these checks cuz this is I hate to say it, this is typically how it happens. >> Wait, what the [ __ ] I don't even understand. I ain't getting no damn trouble like that. I waited so I got like 30 something getting my little trouble. But I play with guns. I don't I don't know trying to shoot something. >> Yeah, he'll do it. It's this new generation. These kids glad >> to pass money. >> Huh? >> So you don't know nobody in in the back of the van? >> No, I don't. He was just describing that to me. I was like I don't I don't even know who that is. >> She's a legend. She said >> you this girl go to school and she go to work. When I call her and check on her, she's at home cuz I work a lot, too. I'm at home I FaceTime her so I see where she's at. This [ __ ] is driving me crazy. I just don't understand. >> So her story is she met someone at a random store or whatever. But don't want to give me information about personal name. They've known each other about a week. He gave her the check with her name on there. Telling her the check was legit. So she can go ahead and cash the check. Then this morning she attempted to cash the check this morning. Just came back counterfeit went out of her account or whatever. And the victim reported it causing that to go out of her account. >> Right. >> I would call the police. So Like I said, she know more but she don't want to talk and and I don't understand what happened but she's not trying to give me too much detail. She's looking at four felony charges there. >> Four felony charges? >> Yes, ma'am. >> And so then >> Stealing the fraud, uttering a counterfeit check, um grand theft, and >> I told you some other identification. >> Grand theft of what? What car she drive? >> The money that she took. >> Oh. I'm going to say. >> Not not grand theft auto. >> Oh, [ __ ] >> So, yeah. Um She going to see a judge tomorrow. >> Um, so she won't get no bond today? >> No. >> Her ass got to stay the night. >> Yeah. >> What I think about that? >> Pending more charges. Cuz she said she cashed another check. She ain't told me when She ain't told me when or how much. Like I said, she's taking the fall for everybody. She She ain't trying to leave no names out or whatever. So, this other person is the bigger fish, like I told her. That's why we let her go. And she's just a little little guy fall guy cuz like I said, what she explained to me as far as person telling her >> just stupid because you smarter than this. Like where the [ __ ] >> What address is it? >> Uh, 11. Like you smarter than this [ __ ] bro. You smarter than this. Your mama book smart ass street smart. I done showed you how the game go out here. Like this [ __ ] dumb as You should have known not to fall for no [ __ ] [ __ ] like that. [ __ ] [ __ ] that don't give a [ __ ] But you just met him one week ago. And now you sitting here telling me you ain't going to tell. The [ __ ] I'll be saying like a bird. I don't know that [ __ ] [ __ ] This his name da da da da da da whatever the [ __ ] I know. >> How you knew she was here? >> Huh? >> How you knew she was here? >> I got a phone call. She text me and said, "Mommy, I'm going to go to jail." She text me on her phone. I'm like, "What the >> So, you don't know who that cousin was in that car with? >> I don't know. If I knew, I could I could say something, but I don't know who it is. So, I'm I'm like, "What the >> Detective? >> Sir? >> How you doing? >> Man. Don't even ask. >> Okay. We'll talk later. >> It's been non-stop. >> This person standing out front, are they with you? >> That's That's her mom. >> Okay. How old are you? >> 18. >> Okay. Are you pregnant or have any health issues? You don't have anything on you? No contacts, no cell phone, nothing? Mom has it all? Okay. All right, you be careful getting in. >> Don't say [ __ ] to nobody. Keep your mouth closed. >> Are those um river's >> I'mma call you. >> The phone when she's in booking is free. It's free in booking, but I don't know. I think so. >> I had a good rapport with her. Uh I don't know. Did you get a hug or any of that? I I told her >> She didn't want a hug. >> She didn't want a hug, okay. I just want to make sure. >> Yeah, do I want to? You finna get It's finna be cold, baby. You finna get a taste of this [ __ ] You got to have to learn, sweetheart. I love you. >> I love you. >> Don't cry. Don't cry. >> Thank you. All right. >> See you later. >> The suspect was formally charged with uttering a forged bill, draft, or check, and depositing with intent to defraud. Court records indicate that on October 22nd, 2024, the suspect entered a plea of nolo contendere to both counts. The court ordered adjudication withheld and sentenced the suspect to 2 years of probation. As conditions of the sentence, the suspect was ordered to complete a minimum of 75 hours of community service, provide a DNA swab, and maintain no contact with the victim. An additional charge of issuing a worthless check for $150 or more was dropped by the state earlier in the proceedings. The case is currently listed as closed.