On December 17th, 2025, officers visited a home to follow up on a string of fraud across multiple banks. With both suspects inside the house, they decided to speak with one first. Um, you want to come with us? I appreciate you meeting with us. We're not going to take long, okay? And then you All right. So, Destiny, you you understand you're not under arrest right now, right? You're free to leave at any time. >> Yeah, I'm just trying to figure out what's like completely going on. >> Yeah, we're going to explain all that. Like I said, I've got to kind of give you this spiel before hand just so you know, like I said, you're So, real quick, first off, do you know why we wanted to speak with you? Not completely, no. Not completely, okay. What do you What do you think we're here about just out of curiosity? We're with the Bartlett Police Department, you know that, right? What What comes to mind when you think of Bartlett? Like what's what's the most recent thing? >> Bartlett? Yeah. Well, the I've I've barely been in Bartlett, but um when I did go to Bartlett, um I did go to a bank, that's it. You went to a bank, okay. You Can you run me through what that was like? Again, I'm not These aren't your questions. I just don't want to put words in your mouth. >> fine. Um so, I just went to open up um a bank account. Okay. Mhm. And that's the only involvement you've had in Bartlett recently? Okay. Did there Was there any issues with that bank account or opening up or anything like that? No. Okay. Um how did you open it up? Did you present like an ID or anything like that? You remember the name of the bank? >> Um Old Second. Old Second, okay. Do you still have like a debit card and stuff from that bank? No. No, no. What What happened to it? Um I lost it. Oh, okay. All right. >> Yes, so basically, um I did go to the bank. I opened up a bank, um showed them my information and things. Um I got one card. It wasn't working, so then I got another card. Where is probably somewhere in my wallet, but I I don't use it. I haven't used it cuz >> Got >> you. You had a problem with the one card though, right? Okay. Had you Had you made any deposits in that account since then? Um The initial one? Um a check. Check. Okay. >> Yeah. All I did was sign a check. Okay. Can you tell me a little bit more about the check a little bit? A little bit more about the check? Um Like where you got it from, who you got it from, all that kind of stuff. Um so I don't know. I sold something like a dirt bike. Okay. Um they wrote me a check. I I signed it. Okay. And So the dirt bike that you sold, it was that was your your dirt bike? >> Yeah. Okay. Where Where did you sell that? It was in the city. In the city? >> I was. I don't know I didn't know his last name though. Do you have like sales paperwork for that for the bike? No. Okay. Where was the Was the bike registered to you? Was the bike registered to me? Yeah. No. What kind of bike was it? It was like a dirt bike. I don't I don't know what kind of dirt bike it was. I understand. Yeah. I don't know what kind of dirt bike it was but it was a dirt bike. Okay. Uh and and you said it was yours. Where did you get that bike from? I got it from somebody else. I got it like from a friend. Okay. I'm just asking It was It wasn't like stolen, was it? No. I just No. No. No. All right. But did you have any paperwork on that bike, anything like that? No. No, I didn't have any paperwork on that bike because I got it from somebody else. What kind All I know is I tried to sell it. I don't know. I like I completely don't know what the like what was the name of the check or where the check was from. All I know is I just signed it. Okay. Can you walk me through like the sale cuz I want to try to piece that together. Like the individual that you spoke with and all that kind of stuff. Is there not like a friend of yours, right? No. That's just somebody I met. Were you like Were you with anybody at the time? Mm. Was I Was I with anybody when I was in the city? Yeah. No. All right. were you driving your dirt bike in the city? No. Okay. Where was the dirt bike then? The dirt bike was I had it in my, you know, position where I was wherever I was at. When I went to the city, I brought it with me. Basically, I got a Uber. I Uber everywhere. So, I got a Uber on my >> How big is this dirt bike? It's not that big. It's like It's It's like like a little kid size. It's not that Oh, okay. And who's the mutual friend that you guys got hooked up with? Um All right, Destiny, can I be completely honest with you? >> Yes. All right, I I don't believe any part of your story cuz I've already heard this part of the story. Unfortunately, a while back and actually hear this and we've already checked it out. You understand what we're here for. Nobody's dying and nobody's been hurt, okay? But I do need you to be honest with me because the reality is is that if we lie about it, it could turn into a potentially very big issue, okay? Like I said, the issue that it's already at, we're just doing our job and following up on, okay? Everything you're telling me, none of it adds up and I know why it doesn't add up cuz it didn't happen that way, okay? I'm being completely honest with you. I'm not going to yell you. I promise. Even if Unless you tell me you killed somebody, you're going back in with your baby today, okay? I promise you that. Am I lying? Not really. Have we Have we had this conversation with multiple people before? >> this a thousand times. >> Okay. I'm not saying we wouldn't have to address something at some point, but I'm telling you we don't want to address it in a lot after a lie. So, why don't you tell me the the real origin of that check, please? Because I I'll be honest with you, Destiny. I don't really think um it ends with you. And I I don't really I I don't get that opinion, okay? And I understand you're probably nervous about getting other people in trouble, but you got to think about yourself, too. And you don't want to get in trouble with something more for more than what you might have done. Because that that that that compounds it, okay? [clears throat] Mhm. All right. Can you tell me what really happened about that check? Mhm. Yeah, I don't know. The check just got wrote. I don't know. The check got wrote. I didn't um know the amount. I just signed the back. I didn't go to the ATM to do that. Um I just signed my name and that was it and it was just my account. No, it was your account. Okay, but don't forget too, there's cameras everywhere, Destiny, okay? You You told me a little bit more of the truth and a little bit more is coming out, okay? But we need to get to the full truth, right? I'm not asking you questions I don't already know the answer to. We didn't find you by accident. I didn't just guess your name out of a out of a hat and come here, okay? So, what was the reason? What's that? >> Like, what was the reason? >> That we came and talked to you? Mhm. It's about that check. Okay. Okay? And I know you know the truth behind the check, okay? But like I said, if you're worried about getting somebody else in trouble, okay? I'm not We're not going to cause to start with everything, but I I I know it, okay? So, where'd you get that check? Who gave it to you? Who gave it to I didn't Nobody gave me a check. I just signed the check. Nobody gave me a check. I just signed it. I just signed the back of it. Like, nobody like, you know, like when you get when you have a check and you sign like the front of it. I didn't do none of that. All I did was sign the check. You endorsed it on the back, okay? So, you're saying that you didn't deposit the check. Um Um Cuz you know where it was deposited. Mhm. All right. And I can tell Can I tell you something? You were dropped off. Who dropped you off? I even know the car that dropped you off, Destiny. I don't make a living out of lying to people, okay? I make a living out of getting the truth out of people, okay? The only way this gets any worse for you is lying about it and making a big deal. That this is not the biggest issue, okay? It's not It's not the crime of the century, okay? Yeah. But, you understand what happens when we lie about it, we make the situation worse, right? Because then when you try to tell the truth, nobody's going to believe you because you lied the first time, okay? So, Well, okay, so like even if I was to say everything like the truth or whatever, I'm trying to figure out what would happen next, like Well, what would happen next is you go back home in your house, okay? Well, first of all, I we'd appreciate you telling the truth to us, all right? You go back in your house, we continue our investigation, we'll be back in touch with you. You ever seen those show Cops where like they go in, they storm the house, they take people out in handcuffs, all this is crazy thing, okay? That's what we do in situations that we have to, okay? A lot of times when we talk to people, we have conversations just like this. And the worst thing is, we we call them back in the station, sometimes we run tickets. We're not here to upset your life. If I were to lie to you right now, okay, it would ruin my credibility. Let me ask you this, if I were to handcuff you right now and arrest you immediately in the station, would you believe anything I said after that? Right, cuz it would be a lie on what I told you before, okay? If it makes other people look bad, okay? Your involvement's your involvement. Their involvement's their involvement, okay? We're not here to blame anybody else, okay? But, we're here to tell the truth, all right? And I think you've kind of understood right now that like we've done our homework on this, we know the truth. We're just giving you the opportunity. All right. Somebody wrote the check. I signed it. >> [music] >> Um somebody wrote the check, I signed it. They took me to the bank. I deposited it. Deposited it into my account, but then on that the old second, um they called my phone Mhm. because they knew that um for um fraud alert, I guess. And they told me um that they knew it was I like I Well, like where I got the check from. Um that's what they told me and they told me they knew it wasn't me. Like that the origin of it. >> Yeah, basically the same thing like you're doing. They were just trying to give me the opportunity to to tell the truth. Um I didn't cooperate cuz I thought I was in trouble and I I was just I was nervous. Well, the only thing that should scare you more, like I said, is is the not cooperating, right? You understand that? >> I'm cooperating though. I know you are. So, what what did they know about the check, okay, that you knew about the check at the time that it was cashed? I Wait, who? The The bank. Yeah. >> did they know about the check? Yeah, and the reason I'm asking this is cuz I don't want to put words in your mouth, but I don't want us to tell your story. >> did they know about the check? Yeah, what was their issue with the check? Um they said it was from like I guess the person who check it was, they called like from their company. Mhm. And they they called the bank. They got in contact with the bank and basically was like they didn't authorize that check to get deposited into my account. So, that's when the check um uh locked my account. But there's nothing about that that was surprising to you. You probably knew that call was coming, right? No, I didn't. >> Maybe not from the bank, okay. Yeah. No, I No, I actually didn't. Okay. So, as far as >> know, sorry. I didn't know nothing was wrong with the check. Like I said, it got signed. All I did was sign the back. I didn't think like I didn't think that it was nothing like anything wrong with the check. So, we know obviously you didn't get the from that random guy in the city. Mhm. Who actually gave you the check? This is very important, okay? And if we're going to be able to believe anything that you tell us, this is going to be the most important thing you tell us. My Yeah, but I didn't know what I don't know where she got the check from. She just wrote it and I just signed it. What did What did when she gave it to you? Um >> This is also very important. I know. I know. But you can tell us. No. If I'm being honest, she didn't tell me nothing like specific about the check or like where she got it from or she didn't tell me none of that. She just I'm telling you she just signed it. I signed the back and we went to the bank. That was it. Okay. And I know she probably didn't give you specifics, but >> There was a reason why she dropped you off at the drive-thru ATM and had you walk up and I know she came into the bank with you when you're opening the account, but she's the one who told you to open up the account, correct? Mhm. And I I I mean, I know she did, but And when she told you to open up the account, what did she say to you? Um No, it's tough, but cuz this is this is part of the important stuff that we're talking about. You just >> Like like I don't know. It's It's kind of It's kind of hard to explain cuz it's not like she just like Yeah, she told me to open up the bank. >> Mhm. But it's not like she didn't tell me the reason to open up the bank. She was just like I'mma take you there, you go open up the bank. That's how it was. And then when she would check other things and like at that time, that's when you know, stuff got talked about. Well, now this is going going again still important. Let's talk about this stuff that was talked about because the details matter. She just said the money was going to be deposited in my account and it was going to be quick money, fast money. Quick money. Like I said, no judgement, but given all these circumstances, right? Has she asked you to open up an account before this? And there's got a couple more, right? No. No, I just She just asked me to open up two. Two? Was it this and the Chase? Or was there a different one at the National Bank in Schaumburg? Yeah, the one. >> Okay. Okay, was that the same thing? There was also a check there, too? Okay. Where's she getting these checks? Um I don't know. She already had them. Okay, and does she have a like [clears throat] a checkbook of them? Um no, she had a couple. Where >> She had She had a couple. She didn't have a checkbook. Um she had a couple. I Like I said, I don't know where she got it from. I don't I honestly I really don't know. She was the one who filled out the check, the amount, all that kind of stuff. Did you see her doing that? Was that here in the house? Mhm. Okay. And I just Like I said, I just >> And that was both times at the Schaumburg location and then here? Yes. And these the checks that she gave you the the previous time, too, was from the same company, right? It's the same type of check. Okay. >> And both times she just filled it out at the house? Mhm. I don't know the person that she who name she put down. I don't know them personally. I don't know them at all. Do you think that she's going to say it was your fault or or she going to she going to act be honest like you have been? I'm just curious. I'm I'm not going to talk to her today. That's fine. >> I Yeah. Honestly, I feel like I don't feel like she going to put on me cuz I would I mean I would hope she don't because I Like and I'm not the Like she's the one that had me doing these things. >> Mhm. So, I would hope she's adult enough to take accountability at the end of day. It's all I like I should never got myself into that. I should have just I know. Cuz I had a I have a whole I had a whole job. I was working. She came to me. So, and I have a whole baby. So, it's just like I know. I would hope that she wouldn't do something like that, but her she probably is going to like not hurt she like when I go in there she probably is going to act what I think. Or she's either going to try to, you know, keep up the story that she told you guys and that she that I told you guys. And I I And I I I can I I don't know how it goes, but I don't want you to answer anything for her on my behalf for I don't expect that from you. I just wanted to let you know and I obviously were kind of remind you like, "Hey, you can only control you and your actions, okay?" Has she been taking care of you like financially and Um, actually >> given you a place to stay or are you just kind of hanging out with her today? Yeah, I'm just kind of hanging out with her. Um, I always just kind of hang out with I don't stay with her like if I go with her it it only be for like two to three days. And that's it's only about like money. Money wise it's not about like nothing else. Uh, cuz at first really I was I was scared and worried cuz I was like like I I don't know what to say. And she was like "You know, you got to know what to say." But it's a lot of pressure on me trying to lie and then It is. >> keep up with trying to trying to find another way to lie and keep up with things. And I just Well, that's why I said you never know what she's going to Even if I did keep up with a lie, I feel like I had no other choice but to tell the truth cuz I feel like I was going to get like in trouble regardless. Well, Because you guys already know the truth. We do. Let me ask you this offhand. is it >> Tell me off where? At at the bank and was it that was her and that's her Acura she was driving that the black car? Yeah. Okay. She have it here today or no? >> I don't think so. Okay. But as far as what you guys were doing, you guys are the only two that were involved in in those transactions? Was there anybody else with you? No. Do you think that she got the checks from somebody else in your family? Yeah. She probably I really don't know, but she probably did but she probably didn't. I can't I can't I wouldn't know because she never told me where she got the checks from. I mean, obviously though you know that they're not hers so the fact that they're not legitimate and that's Yeah, but I didn't think like they were not legit. Because you know, usually when you go to a bank they give you checks. Like when you when I went to a bank Yeah, no I get that but I'm saying she's writing different people's names on it. She's filling it out herself. So, that part was the red flag to you, right? >> Yeah. Yeah, it was. It was. Is it safe to say while you were doing this you were nervous you guys might get caught? I was. You seemed very nervous. Yeah. At the bank. I know you were keeping up a good front about it but you seemed quite nervous. Yeah. I was because like this happened and I did not think that I couldn't get caught because I expected it to happen so it's like I'm not surprised because then again she did say like you don't have nothing to worry about and you're not going to get in trouble and stuff like that. You thought she like had her had your back and everything like that. Yeah. Okay. Um Wait, so was this just for the Old National Bank or just both? Well, that's how we kind of got involved in this but there was a kind of couple incidents that can and we we had to do our homework. We've known about both of you for for quite a minute, okay? But cuz we know what happened, we know how it happened, we know when it happened, we know where it happened. We just don't know why it happened. Cuz like I said, the question I really have to answer cuz it's the one question I really can't answer just on my own, right? Yes. Is that you know, I got to separate you. Am I worried about you printing out these checks on your own and doing this again? You know? No, like before she told me how like even if I was just to open up the bank accounts on my own without her telling me, my bank account would have been just regular like it wouldn't have been okay. I would never did anything with it. Only because I don't know how to I didn't know how to do that before before she >> Yeah, I understand. You know it's not illegal to open up a bank account. >> No, I know it's not illegal to open up a bank account, but to to to get checks and then write it myself and then sign it in other people's name. I didn't know none about that. I didn't know that's how you can do that. Okay. Until she explained it to me. Oh, I understand. So, she explained the process to you after you opened up the account. Yes. And you're young and that makes sense to me, okay? It's it's a scam, you know what I mean? Had a police officer been standing right next to you when you were depositing that check, would you have still done it? >> No. Right, because you would have been worried you got caught and arrested for it, right? You just did something illegal with your account after the fact to help facilitate what she wanted to do that was illegal and she's the one who wanted you to open up the account and she had the designs, the intent to do what she did. Um we're trying to get the money out, but And you're having a hard time? Yeah, basically. I get it. You kind of knew why you were having trouble with it, didn't you? No, not really because the account balance it said account balance available. And we also called the bank and they confirmed it. The first time like after that I really didn't want to do it anymore only because the the the story that I did tell them basically I had to have proof or whatever. I was kind of like surprised like damn because the money was in my account one moment then the next it wasn't. And then after that didn't work I went to go open up a old second bank um and that just happened. That's when you started getting the opinion somebody might figure this out pretty quick. Yeah. I get it. But even after the first incident I did kind of think like it was a little suspicious but even after that she did go take me to open up the old second like the same day or the next day. Yeah. Um I did regret it. I did [clears throat] regret it and I'm thinking like you know Christmas is around the corner. I got a daughter. And then like even if like we did get the money it's like I wasn't going to get all of it. All right. Did she give you any of it of what you tried to get? Um no. So it almost sounds like she had you take all the risk for the most part with none of the reward. Did she threaten you in any way or she just present it as a a thing you guys can do and it would work? Yeah. Which one? The second one. Okay. So she didn't like threaten you in any way? No. She No, she didn't threaten me. You're a very articulate, very smart girl, okay? I already know that. You You You did good in school, didn't you? Yeah. I know you did. I can tell. I'm going to address this. I'm not going to tell her what you told me, okay? But I already knew all that stuff. I want to see what she has to tell me, okay? We're going to deal with her, too, okay? >> Okay. Can it not be today? Well >> it be like till I leave because I I'm like a person like That's what I'm going to ask you. If there's a place you want us to give you a ride to, or if there's some place you'd rather go, if you don't feel safe being If we have that conversation, okay? That's more than okay. We can accommodate that, okay? Again, I'm not going to tell her what you said to us. But I'm sure she's going to probably either have her assumptions or whatever the case may be. >> Um I think Well, like I said, I feel like it's she's going to stick to the same storyline because that's what she wanted me to stick to. It's so much pressure on me because stuff is in my name. Yeah. It's in my name, and then it's like it just makes me look like the bad guy. Like Like I just did it all by myself. You're right. But I believe you, okay? Now And you know what? That may be common issue for further investigation. Okay? To her, okay? We can give you a ride somewhere else if if you'd rather not stay with after this is over. I just don't want to be here while the like while you guys question her or anything because I don't want It's It's I feel like it's going to be so much pressure on me, and then it's like when I do go back in there, she's probably going to be like, "Well, what did you say? What did they say? Did you guys say this and that?" And I don't It's just I don't want to have to deal with that. So, if you want to go in there, we'll let her know, "Hey, she wanted us to give her a ride back to Gondola Heights, so we're going to do that now." But I'll tell her I'll be like, um I'm going to go to I'll tell her I will go to um there. Do you get And then while you're getting everything together, I'm going to have a brief conversation You'll already be on your way out. Does that work? Yeah, that's fine. Hi, it's the police. May we come in and talk to you real quick? No, nothing. I Okay. Well, we'll be outside. Destiny turned herself in and was arrested on her own accord after officers kept their promise almost a week later. She was charged with identity theft, forgery, and financial institution fraud. No information is available on the family member that allegedly masterminded the fraud attempts. Share your thoughts below.