the signature looked like it was done by someone like like if somebody tried to forward it >> and we called the customer and as we were >> as she was standing in here they were already in a tea bank in Pennsylvania because they knew their account was compromised. >> My branch manager said that she called seven different bank branches. So that's about all we know about it. >> January 26th, 2024, West Palm Beach, Florida. one forge check drawn on a stolen identity and this case becomes a four-part seminar in criminal procedure. All right, man. Come, come with me real quick. Grab your stuff. >> Nope. We'll deal with that later. We're going to go in this lobby real quick. Put your stuff down right there for me. Put your stuff down. >> All right. Turn around for me. Right now, you're being detained. What? >> Yep. You're being detained. Apparently, you're using a front lane check. You're just being detained until we do our investigation. Okay. >> Okay. Come on. We'll get it. I'll get it. Okay. So, right now, you're just being detained. You're not under arrest until I do my investigation. Okay. 31. You have all the her ID and all that ID. >> Yeah. So, it is the person who is the actual victim. I read it. in Pennsylvania with their friends >> and they don't know who this is. You guys >> Okay. All righty. Well, if I need anything else, you know what? >> Who called us right? >> All right. Thought it was you. You got two heroins here. >> I just need a name for the complaintant. >> Perfect. And then I'll use the bank address and everything else. Just basically saying you're the complaintant and >> we'll figure out. >> Yeah. >> So, >> all righty. Well, if I need anything else from you, like the victim's actual stuff, like all I need to in Pennsylvania, but I know they would have to be the victim technically. You know what I mean? Cuz you guys don't lose money. It's them losing the money. Um you Yes, I understand that. So, I I may end up I'm going to get with somebody who's a little bit better at this 50 in front stuff than I am. Um he's on his way. Okay. So, I'll talk to him. I may have to come back in and talk to you and get a statement from her, I'm guessing, which I will probably have to get a statement from you. Um, we're good. >> All righty. I'll be back. Perfect. >> You're welcome. >> Ma'am, were you the one dealing with the check? >> Yeah, this was the check. Those are the IDs she presented. >> Mhm. >> And the check clearly is uh >> Okay. Would we be able to um get their I need their phone number to contact them. >> I will get you. >> Oh yeah. When you're done. >> Um and real quick, how do you how do you know that it's clearly forged? What? >> Well, it looked funny to begin with. >> Uhhuh. >> And we called the customer and as we were as she was standing here, they were already in a tea bank in Pennsylvania because they knew their account was compromised. >> Do they mention how they knew or no? >> Uh probably somebody else probably uh >> cash another check. Okay. >> But I I'll be able to see you. >> Oh, yeah. We'll be out there. I'll be back in a few minutes. Um have you finish up here and Thank you. >> Thank you. >> 215. >> Okay. So, the 215 is the one she contacted. >> Okay. >> So, Jazelle is the one that caught it. >> So, if you have any questions, >> what was So, what was your involvement? Were you just They told you >> I called Well, yes. They came up to me. >> Okay. >> So, but she's the one that was >> given the check. >> Okay. >> And she was the one that determined that it was no good. Then I won't call the customer. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay. Awesome. Thank you. >> 215. So I'll give them a quick call and just um see if I'll have I'll have her call >> possibly. I don't we don't know yet. So >> did they who you spoke with them on the phone? Yes. >> Did they say how >> so? >> Cuz there were already no TD in Pennsylvania. >> I told them who I was. I told them where I was. >> She literally stop. I'm at my ranch with the store. She puts the store man. I think her name is something. And man, she's currently on. So I don't know if we have other texts trying to go through and she knew the exact number. You said it or something, right? >> Yeah. So, they were already >> She also has a password in her account, which is probably >> $4,700. I'm going to call them and see if they want to press char and then I'm going to have her call and do it. >> Talk to them. >> I'm not doing that. >> Give us one number now. >> Yeah. Whoever was dealing with her. >> Do you want to do that while I call them and see if they want >> different charges? >> Yeah, sure. Can you No. Can you just take it take this down? I will do this. >> Yeah. Sandy. >> Can I do a statement? Yeah. I'm going I'm going to both you at one point. Can I do a state with you real quick? >> Yeah, she's going to let you grab. >> Yeah, it'll take like 2 minutes. >> Yeah. Do you have your ID on you? >> Yes. >> All right. Real quick, please raise your right hand and state your first and last name. >> And what you're about to tell me is the truth is nothing but the truth. >> Yes. Okay. Put your hand up. So, today you were approached by Do you remember her name at all or no? Glattis. I believe it is. >> Okay. Okay. It's similar. So, is that the This is what you guys provided the bank provided to me. Is that is that what was given to you? These items. Okay. So, you she handed you the check. Um she handed you her what? Her ID and the credit card as well or was it >> She handed me her ID and then I said I need a second form cuz she's not a customer. >> So, that's when she gave me her check. >> Okay. So, um what um what red flags kind of >> So, it was the amount at first because for one, we had to make sure we have it. So, I double checked it and then when I went to look at the signature, the signature looked like it was done by someone else, like like if somebody tried to forge it. And then I looked at other checks that came in and I saw that the date was written differently, that the the way that they write the amount was written differently. And then I brought it up to one of um customer service reps up here. And then he told me to go to someone else and then Dette, which is one spoke to, she ended up taking it and then she looked at it. She decided to call the customer and the customer. >> Now, did did the check itself look fraudulent like the paper or is it >> I didn't even feel off about it. Just small little details that kind of >> Yeah. So So, but the the biggest red flag was the the amount and then how things were written. You were able to pull up previous checks and compare the two. >> Mhm. >> Okay. The twos were written differently and usually in between like the actual number and the change they put and that and was not in there. The hes are written differently, the D was written differently and that signature just sometimes I can tell when it's trying to be written by something. >> Okay. Did you um did she talk to you about any like did did you guys have any conversation just the here you go and Okay. So So she would state how she got the check. She didn't say anything about >> She told me she spoke Spanish, but I didn't really try to get any conversation. >> Okay. >> Um, and real quick, when you when you guys go through like training for the job, do you like they they teach you how to look out for stuff like this? Okay. So, that that is part of your training working here at TD Bank. Okay. Is there anything else you'd like to add for the um Okay. All right. I'm going to be muting for a side note completion of the um witness interview. Okay. Okay. Raise your right hand. Say your first and last name. >> And do you saw I'm sorry to tell nothing but the truth? >> Yes. >> Okay. Put your hand up. Okay. So today um how did all this begin? Were you reported by another employee or not? >> She's up front. Other teller is also with her. They have a full line. Okay. >> She reached out to the banker cuz the assistant manager store manager on break. I'm in the back. >> I'm like the oldest color here. So, she comes over. She says, "I just need a second pair." We look it up. I look at the handwriting. It's almost perfect. >> Mhm. >> The signature like looks stamped on or printed on. >> So, we normally don't call our customers. We're not like supposed to. >> Yeah. >> But it's from Pennsylvania. So, I called immediately had the conversation >> project. So, >> Okay. And she So, when you called the other the customer in Pennsylvania, they said that they were already at >> they're in their local branch. >> Okay. So they they were aware that some their their account was somehow compromised. And you also said that there was a password on it from before. >> She has a password on it, but the account's been open for a while. So they probably they have multiple accounts with pretty decent balances. >> Okay. >> And they seem a little older, so they tend to have passwords on it. >> Okay. Um, is this the first time at this location that you know of that someone's tried to cash a check from that >> for that account? Yeah. >> Um, let's see what else is there. Okay. And did you ever talk to the person the the woman in question? No, the the person you guys >> Okay. Um, did your did your fellow employee show you the check and show you the IDs and stuff as well? >> Yes. >> So, >> she handed me the check grabbing coins, which is a little lower. She hands me the check. I took the check. >> So, does it look similar to what's printed on this page? Does this look like a pretty accurate representation of the IDs in the check itself? >> Okay. All right. Um, and you are you the only one that spoke to them? They said that they didn't give anyone the authority to use the account that it's definitely there's no one in Florida that should be using that check. >> Yeah, they're still in Pennsylvania. >> Okay, good. Um >> and I was the only employee that spoke to the customer. >> Okay. Um anything else you like to add to the statement? >> Okay. Nothing. Um yeah, that's pretty straightforward. >> All right. Uh completion of statements. I'll be turning my camera off momentarily. >> Oh, hello guys. >> Hi. >> Amazing. Do you guys have your IDs on you real by chance? >> Yes. >> Can you just show that on the screen for me? >> Okay. Uh, you just need me to hold it up. >> That's perfect. And then what I'm going to have you do after that Yep. I That's good. What I'm going to have you do after that is take photos of both your IDs and send them to me through text message. Okay. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> And then this number is good for both of you guys. The 445 number. Um, I have a separate towel, but why don't I mean, we might as well use yours since it was yours. >> I mean, it doesn't matter. >> Do you want mine as well? Would it help to have mine? >> Um, >> or is it easier to have one? Either one's fine. >> One's fine. I'll just take the one. >> Okay. >> So, I'm going to have one of you guys raise your right hand for me. Everything you're about to tell me is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. >> Yes. Correct. Yes. >> All righty. Can you guys tell me what happened? like the incident, you know, what you guys had on your end. >> I got a call this morning from uh first from uh TD Branch Bank in Charleston, South Carolina, telling me that someone had called pretending to be me, but she was a little suspicious because, you know, why is she calling a branch in Charleston when I live in Phil in Pennsylvania near Philadelphia? >> Yeah. >> She suggested I go immediately to my TD Bank local branch. Um and you know she suspected fraud. Um so on my way to my local branch I got another call from Ipsswitch Massachusetts TD branch saying that there was a you know similar fishing call there from a woman claiming to be me. And then when I was actually working with the TD branch local bank manager to close the account, I got a call from the West Palm Beach TD Bank saying there was someone there trying to cash the $4,000 check. So I, you know, the B the branch manager there said, "Absolutely not. You know, we're that's a fraud. Call the police. Um, you know, this is I have Sandy sitting right in front of me. This is not that person in West Palm Beach is not her. So that's when the police were called and they stopped payment. They didn't stop payment. They actually the the um checking account is closed. We think what happened is this person had access to a check that I wrote to City Cards for payment of a credit card. >> Okay. And so they she had I'm assuming it was a she. I think she was said it was a she. I hope it was a she. Um but that person had my full social security, my full checking account number, my birth date, my address, and was pretending to be me calling. Um my branch manager said that she called seven different bank branches trying to like fish for information like account balance and stuff like that. >> Okay. So that's about all we know about it. So PD friend TD Bank called their fraud division and and they you know closed the account. My husband came over and we gained. >> Okay. So just just to confirm that you got a call from this South Carolina TD Bank saying somebody called in as you. >> Um this is your this is your bank information. >> Same thing. And the person at your switch, Massachusetts, said that there were notes on my account that seven different bank branches had been called by this person. >> Oh, and then so just to confirm, it is your bank information, correct? >> It is mine. It was our my account. >> Okay. And uh >> just to confirm, you guys do want to prosecute. >> Oh, yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah, we we'd like to stop this. >> Yeah. I don't like this happen to anyone else. >> Okay. Um go ahead. Raise your right hand for me. >> Everything you just told me is the whole truth. Nothing but the Everything you just told me is the whole truth. Nothing but the truth. >> The help of God. It is. Yes. >> Cool. Um, so yeah, we're going to question the person that actually figured everything out. Um, but she Yeah, she had a fake check with your guys' names on it. So, the next thing I do the next thing I do ask for you guys is to send me a picture of both your driver's license. >> Okay. and you can send it straight to this number. This is my work phone. So, and then I'll text you um the case number just so you guys can have it. And then I'll text you like a website or a number you can call to get it as well. >> Okay. >> Um but you just let me do my thing and I'll get it all to you. >> Your name again? >> Uh Deputy Sheriff Herb. >> H E RB. I'll I'll send my info as well. Um, but yeah, as soon as you guys can send me a photo of your IDs, please. >> All right, we'll we'll do that right now. >> All righty. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Appreciate your help. >> Who's Kayla? >> Kayla? >> Yeah, Kayla. You don't know you have all of her credit cards and her ID. Thanks. >> That's That's definitely the original girl. Okay. Okay. So, I just explained to her I'm here to translate everything. She may not understand. We don't want to speak with her. I'm here to translate everything. She's one of those people doesn't get her rights and she said yes. Okay. Okay. She understand her right. She's going to start taking care. See, like where did the check come from? I'm checking on money. No. So, she says that she was given to her by a friend um who asked her to cash it for him and she would give he would give her a portion of the money and she asked him if he you know she's like I don't want any trouble with the police and she said that the person told her she wasn't going to have any issues that it was a good show. Who is that friend? >> Yeah, she has messages as well. >> Just Ray. >> Just Ray. >> Yeah, right. >> Sorry, I'm just taking notes. >> Um, can you ask her where the bag came from that she was holding? She was holding a bag. Okay. So, she said that there's that's the person's female's bag that was in the car with her. Uh, one thing that in there that's hers is a black small wallet with a black um puff on it or something, she said. >> Okay. Who is Kayla? She didn't know who she didn't know who she was, but she was one of the ones in the car with her. She saw she said when somebody showed her a photo. >> So, what did she do when she got here? You might ask him like what she she walk in the bank and then what did she do from there? She said she just got here, went to the bank, and just went to get the check. Who' she get the check to? Are you ready to check? >> Okay. Just trying to think if there's any other questions. After you handed her the check, would she tell like what she say to you? Like what were the next steps? ID. >> So, she said that she was going to verify the check, gave her the ID, then came back, did the ID back, verifying the check again. >> Did she know that the check wasn't wasn't hers or any of her friends? Well, she said she said he gave her the check and told her to cash it and then he would give her some of the money. >> So, the friend told her the >> here cast this check for me. That's what she told you. And then she'd get some of the money. >> All right. Um, did she see how much the how much the truck was for? >> Then then check out $4,000 something like that. I got a question though. Um, you didn't ask your friend about the check at all, where he got it from. She said that she said it was he told it there was some sort of reimbursement from my from the house or something. Did she know that the purse was she did I ask that she knew the purse wasn't hers? Like did did she take it or did Kayla hand it to her? Okay. So, she said no. Take the purse. You can put the money in because she had a smile and all with her. >> All right. Well, that's it. >> Yeah. You can inform her that she is going to jail, unfortunately. Okay. Can you ask her if she's the one that signed the check? >> She said in there. She signed it. >> She signed it in there. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. She said she's asking she's arrested now. She's going to jail. She's asking what's next. We just going to read first. Explain her first appearance. Um Start with the Fourth Amendment. The deputy classifies the encounter as a detention, not an arrest, three separate times on camera before any questioning begins. That distinction is the procedural foundation the entire case rests on. Terry versus Ohio 1968 established that brief investigatory detention requires only reasonable suspicion below probable cause. Florida codifies this at statute section 9001.151. United States versus Sakalo 1989 provides the totality analysis an out ofstate check a large dollar amount a mismatch signature noncriminal alone but together they clear the reasonable suspicion threshold. Dunaway versus New York 1979 established that a detention which becomes too prolonged or too custodial converts into a deacto arrest requiring the higher probable cause standard. The detention ran approximately 40 minutes, the outer edge of Terry, and the multi-state fraud verification supplies the factual justification. What weakens the record is the deputy's silence about those steps as the clock ran. Miranda versus Arizona 1966 requires custodial suspects be advised of the right to silence and counsel before questioning. Federal courts added the governing qualifier, the warning must be in a language the suspect actually understands. The subject speaks only Spanish. A bilingual officer delivers the Miranda adisement in her language, an Englishonly warning here, hands defense council a direct suppression argument, and everything the subject said afterward becomes inadmissible. Federal courts consistently uphold bilingual officer translation as constitutionally adequate when substantially accurate and documented on the record. Both conditions are met here. That translated advisement is what makes the subject's statements usable at trial. Comparing the forged check against prior account checks is not merely bank procedure. It is an evidentiary act. Those documented discrepancies provided the factual predicate for reasonable suspicion before law enforcement arrived. Sworn statements, hands raised, acknowledgement on camera before each account leave a suppression resistant record. A witness who commits to an informal oath on camera is significantly harder to walk back at trial. Florida statute section 831.02 uttering a forged instrument is the primary charge. Thirdderee felony, three elements. publication of a forged instrument as genuine, knowledge it was forged, and intent to defraud. The first element is the act itself, presenting and signing the check at the counter. The third element is the structure, a promised percentage of proceeds from an account belonging to someone else entirely. The second element, knowledge, is where the defense would live. Federal and state courts recognize the willful blindness doctrine. consciously avoiding confirmation of a suspicious circumstance is legally equivalent to actual knowledge of the crime. Before entering the bank, she asked her supplier whether the transaction would create police trouble. That question is on camera. Under willful blindness, recognizing that risk and choosing to proceed satisfies the knowledge element, and the defense falls there. Florida statute section 812.014 independently charges the $4,000 check as grand theft third degree. Florida statute section 817.568 identity theft applies to whoever captured the full credential set, not to the subject. Two thirdderee felony counts carry a 10-year consecutive ceiling for a firsttime cooperative nonviolent offender. Florida statute section 948.08 pre-trial intervention is the realistic path. Supervision, restitution, and dismissal on completion. Deputy Sheriff Herb receives an A minus correct Fourth Amendment classification textbook bilingual Miranda protocol methodical sworn statement collection throughout the 40-minute detention. While factually justified was not narrated on camera in a way that insulates it against a Dunaway challenge. The TD Bank employees receive an A+. The first teller compared handwriting under live transaction pressure. The senior teller called the Pennsylvania account holder outside standard protocol one call that confirmed the fraud in real time and made this arrest possible. Laura Raone Amodore receives a D. She signed the instrument at the counter, carried the victim's stolen identification in the bag she brought in, and her own question to the supplier eliminates the innocent courier defense. Cooperation with investigators after arrest keeps this from a failing grade. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office receives a B+ bilingual officer availability and consistent body camera documentation are institutional strengths. A named co-articipant identified during the custodial interview as waiting in the vehicle outside does not appear in the follow-through and that absence trims the grade. Anyone offered a percentage to cash a check on another person's behalf is looking at a money mule operation. Asking the supplier if it is legal and accepting reassurance is not a defense at trial. That question becomes the prosecution's primary exhibit. For law enforcement, narrating the factual basis for a prolonged detention on camera as the investigation develops costs nothing to say. Silence on the clock creates the motion. Saying it out loud eliminates it. If a caller claims to be from your bank and asks to confirm identifying information, hang up and call the number on the back of the card. A bank that placed the call already holds the information it would be asking for. Let us know if there is an interaction or legal topic you would like us to discuss in the comments below. Thank you for watching and don't forget to check out our channel for more police interaction and courtroom content.