All right, so My name's Brandon Zessin. I'm a >> Brandon? >> Brandon Zessin, Z E S U T. I'm a detective with Jupiter. Um I'm following up regarding the the case of the the wallet that you told the officer you found. >> Mhm. >> Um so that case essentially got assigned to me and I investigated some more. >> Thanks. >> Thanks for seeing to it, you know? >> Of course. >> You understand? Um so I would like to speak with you a little further. You can sit down >> I don't know if I can. >> you're comfortable standing or whatever. I'm sorry, it's kind of I don't like awkward here. But can I just get your full name, please? >> It's Maya Bengston. >> Maya what? >> Bengston. With a black um like a black wallet. >> Okay. Like a woman's >> No, it didn't look like a woman's like purse. It looked like a like a mannish black wallet. That's why I didn't know right away what it was. >> But before we continue talking cuz like, you know, we're police here and everything, I I do have to just let you know your constitutional protections, okay? So you have the right to remain silent and not answer any questions. Do you understand those rights? >> Do I Yeah, do I know them? A lawyer? Cuz I've never >> Uh it says if you if you want a lawyer or anything like that. Do you understand those rights? >> do understand them. >> Okay. All right. So can you tell me about the wallet that you found on February 1st? >> I walked to the complex like I told um Officer Gibson I was going to go down there. I pulled a car out and there was a As I pulled it out um to get groceries, and there was a wallet in there. So I didn't know whether it was a wallet. So um as I'm going in and I looked, I was like, oh is is that what I think it is? Like >> What what time was this? >> It was like it was between 8-ish and 9. Cuz I clocked in 9. >> Okay. >> So it was before 9. Because when I got here and I clocked in, I clocked in at 9. So I left public before 9. >> Okay, so between 8 and 9. >> Yeah, around there. That's what I told her. >> Okay. And you found you found a wallet. >> It was in the cart. >> In the cart? >> Yeah. >> What did the wallet look like? >> It's a black wallet. So then I was running late. I always go to public to get ice, whatever I need to grab. So I went in there and then I was about to return it to whoever and everything. And I was like, "Oh, um I'll just come back later to do my laundry." So when I got here it was 2:30. >> So you took So you took the wallet out of the cart. >> in the cart. It was still in the cart. >> inside or outside the store? >> When I grabbed the thing it was before you walk in the door, in the cart. You know when you go inside public. >> like the vestibule in between the two doors that open and close. Okay. >> there. So then that's when I was like, "Okay, when I come here, I'm going to go back and bring it." Because I was running late. I'm supposed to be at 8:45. So I was running late anyway. So when I got here I told my coworkers >> So you took the wallet, got in your car, and drove here. >> Exactly. And drove here. >> With the wallet. >> With the wallet. So then when I told them I was like >> And then did you bring the wallet in here? >> Yeah. I did. That's how we we opened it and then we found her. That's how we were able to find her to call her to pick it up. >> All right. This this case was forwarded up to me. I'm a detective. Okay. Um I'll give you a case card after this. >> Okay. >> But I do need to speak with you further about some things we discovered about that whole incident of the wallet. Okay. So can you raise your right hand for me? >> Yeah. >> Do you swear that everything you're about to tell me is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? >> Yes. >> Okay. So what I'm investigating >> Mhm. >> is what happened with the wallet >> Mhm. >> from the time that it was discovered to the time when it made its way back to the owner. >> Okay. >> Can you tell me what you know about that? So, if I'm here, there's a reason why I'm here, right? >> Of course. Yes. >> Please don't lie to me. Cuz if I'm here, I have >> have the the only one moment I know is that someone walked in here with the story, I found a wallet. They said, "Oh, I found this wallet." I said, "Okay." >> walked in here? >> So, my co-worker. The other person involved. >> Who's that? >> Maya. I did what I had >> the wallet? >> It was I think she told you. When I first walked in, I put it like right there between loose, another girl in the middle, and then myself. But other people do come inside that office. So, we would I was just telling everybody about the wallet that that was found. So, the first person like beside me that went in there, I cannot tell you her name cuz I don't want to give you the wrong names. >> How long between the time you came in, did you open it and start looking through it to see whose it was? >> I clocked in at 9:00 and I I already had a patient specific time, I don't know. Maybe when loose called her cuz loose is the one who searched her and called her. So, from that time, you can check on her phone what time she called. >> So, so you're telling me the wallet that you found, you brought it here and it sat there for 4 hours? >> No, I didn't say sat there for 4 hours. I walked in I clocked in at 9:00 a.m. >> Mhm. >> After that, the time it was sitting from the time we called her, I don't know. The time we were talking about the wallet. Walking in, "Oh, I found You won't believe what happened to me. I was at a public center, I found a wallet in the shopping cart." >> When was that? >> The same day that we returned the wallet. I don't remember. Last week. >> Did she bring it in here? >> Yes. >> She brought the wallet in here? >> Yes. >> What did the wallet look like? >> It was like uh, something like a little black pouch with a zipper. >> Okay. >> It's just a small >> And was that in the morning at the beginning of the shift? >> Um Yes. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> To bring it here to work. And now your story is you don't remember when you even checked to see who it belonged to. You're telling me it could have sat there for hours. You don't know who looked in it first. That's not adding up. >> The employees that looked into it first, I don't know. I cannot tell you who it belongs to. So-and-so, so-and-so. >> thought it was more it was more responsible to take a wallet that you just found, bring it to work, leave it inside of an office for hours, and then just leave it there like you don't know who's going to go through it. >> I wanted to call the person who it belongs to to come pick it up themself, and that's what we did. This is what we did. >> hours later. >> It wasn't They checked her phone. See what time she called. >> Yeah, I I know what time she called. >> So that's the whole thing. So the whole time we were here, the wallet was here. And I told her I said, "I let's call her." And then she says, "Oh, we can Google search to find out who it belongs to." And that's how we found her. That and she came in like around 5:00. I even felt bad cuz she said she was in a wheelchair. Luzo said, "Oh my god, she said she's in a wheelchair. Like we have to help her." And I said, "Oh, okay, no problem." And when she came in like around 5:00 something to pick it up, no wheelchair or anything. And I just give it to her. And she's like, "Oh my god, thank you so much." And she left, and that was it. I just wanted to hand it to her. >> Okay. >> Please raise your right hand. Please swear the testimony you're about to write is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. You can go Go ahead and put your hand down, and then just go ahead and explain to me what we talked about and what was taken. >> Okay. Um I went to Publix. Got some stuff. >> Yesterday, correct? >> Yes. Yesterday, prob- it was I left around 7:30 this around Excuse me, ma'am. You know, around last night. And um I didn't notice that my wallet was gone until 10:00 this morning. Um but then I got a phone call that it was found. And so >> She came with the wallet and I was like, "Oh, okay." So, she's telling us the story how she found the the wallet and that she was going to give it back, but um but it was busy and that she just brought the wallet with her and I was like, "You shouldn't have just left the wallet there and give it to whomever, but don't walk out with the wallet." >> So, you have no idea what time you actually opened the wallet to try to find out whose it was. >> When I got here right away I called >> if they find a wallet, their concern would be to return it to the person. >> And that's what I did. >> immediately. When did you do it? You're telling me you don't know. You don't remember. >> I Not when I first got here, but I did. But I was I was telling them about the whole wallet and Lou says, "Let's go ahead and search her and call her." We called her in the morning. She got here >> Did you You guys didn't call till 1:00 p.m. >> No, it was before that. >> It was 1:00 p.m. Did you call her from your phone? >> No, my I don't have a phone. >> We was called at 1:00 p.m. >> Yeah, I didn't have a phone. That's why I didn't call her. >> Okay. >> Three credit cards were missing and a debit card and the cash. >> Excuse me, ma'am. And how much cash was missing out of the wallet? >> I had $1,600 right in here. >> Okay. Excuse me, ma'am. >> And I had $200 for groceries. And that's how I got it. >> Got you. >> And I got a $20 back from the register. >> Okay. So, it's >> took the So, I spent about $180. >> So, you had $1,620 total in there. Okay. Excuse me, ma'am. And that was all missing from the wallet, correct? Yes, me, And um was there any other transactions on the cards? >> So far, um the only one that I know of is leftovers on the Chase debit card, which we think canceled already. >> Somebody used Deborah's credit cards, two of them. At Leftovers. Do you know Leftovers? >> Leftovers where is that? >> Yeah, the restaurant right down the road. >> Super long, whatever. >> It's a little further University. >> Okay. >> Yeah, Leftovers. So, somebody used two of her credit cards at lunchtime. Like just after 12. Do you know anything about that? >> No, I'm I'm missing what you're talking about. >> I want to hear from you. Do you Do you want to know what the name on the order was? Your name. >> My name? >> Maya. Mhm. >> My name? >> Yes. Yes, you. Maya. See? I'll show it to you. This is the order. Using Deborah's credit cards. See? Deborah. >> Mhm. >> That was the name for the order, Maya. And that's the time of the order. That's before you guys called Deborah. So, I mean, you can play the whole I don't remember I don't remember game. >> But I I'm telling you >> I think you're lying to me. >> If that's what you think, sir, that's fine. But me grabbing the wallet, they can always doing the right thing of calling her to pick up her stuff. Like I didn't I would have just like just leave it there. Like I thought like me coming here doing the interest steps like >> found no credit cards in there. >> I didn't see no credit cards. >> see no credit cards. Okay, then why were her credit cards being used at the restaurant down the street under the name Maya? >> You You asking a question? >> Yes. Does that make any sense to you? >> That makes no sense at all. So So that was me trying to do something nice and >> Okay. I think there was a little more going on. So at this point, stand up, please. You're under arrest. >> I'm under arrest? >> You're under arrest. Stand up. Put your hands behind your back. I'll take this. >> Can I >> Put your hands together like you're clapping. >> Okay, can I put my stuff away? Well, he's putting me in handcuffs, so I have to like >> Put your hand behind your back. Yeah, we'll get it. >> What? So you say I don't need to call a lawyer. Like I said, I don't know how that works, so >> You can get a lawyer, absolutely. >> Totally confused. I don't know. >> Face me. >> How? >> Can you just have a female officer? >> Yes. >> Maya was arrested and charged with theft and fraudulent use of a debit card.