What's your name, sir? Anthony, you're under arrest. You have a You have an arrest warrant, okay? Is there any guns in here? >> Did you ever take any money from Staples? And before you answer, understand that I've been dealing with this for now a few months. Did you ever take any cash deposits from Staples? >> I did not take any cash deposits from Staples. >> You walk into that vault, you remove the cash deposits, and you hide them, whether it's underneath a folder or they're under something else. So, do you want to talk about the truth, or do you want to because the truth will set you free. I'm a reasonable person, and when there's no victim, there's no crime, Anthony. On July 18th, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida, a Staples general manager was arrested on felony charges tied to $30,000 in stolen cash deposits across 11 bags, taken over roughly 3 weeks. The real issue here is not that he stole from his employer. It's that the system designed to stop him never actually worked. >> You got a GM. >> Mhm. >> My uh >> He He just went on LOA. >> Okay. >> Um >> What is that mean? >> 29th, leave of absence. >> Okay. >> Uh he basically job abandoned, but you know how those rules go. He didn't contact anybody, but then somebody got a hold of him through HR, and they put him on LOA. That's so >> Mhm. >> So, I get notification from our bank. >> Mhm. >> And it goes through another person who works in corporate, and they say, "Hey, we got three deposits outstanding." >> Mhm. >> And it's from uh it starts at the end of February. So, I'm like 2 weeks behind on this notification, all right? >> Mhm. >> I request to the store, to this GM, "Send me your Garda log that shows they're signed for." A Garda comes, picks them up once a week. >> Mhm. >> And then our weekly deposit log. So, he sends that to me, and they look fine. Look like they're picked up and gone. So, I'm thinking, "Oh, it's not our fault. Must be the Garda." >> Mhm. >> They have a camera system, so I have to verify and confirm, right? So I'm watching it, and in any given week you get seven business days. The Garda comes once a week, so you get seven business days. So they should pick up a minimum of of seven bags. >> Mhm. >> So the Garda comes in, they're supposed to pick up seven bags. He scans six. It's clear as a day in the video. Camera right in there, right over top of you. He scans, he has to enter them up. Does it six times. So he leaves with six. We have paperwork that shows he scanned six, not seven. So we have one missing just in that example for $920. >> Mhm. >> So the suspect here is that GM. >> And um is how long has has that been going on? >> Yeah, it started the first deposit missing is the date um What is it? 229. >> 229? >> Yeah, 229. >> every week since? >> Yes. Well, it escalated, obviously. Yeah, so >> So in the beginning it was one bag. >> Yeah. >> And then how how big is >> Yeah, it started one bag. Uh well, the sales date 226. That was the first one sales date. So we have 11 bags missing, and that's the total loss we have right now. >> Okay. >> And everything that's occurred after this, he went on LOA shortly after this because I started sticking my nose into it. "Hey, send me the logs. Send me this." He knew he was in big trouble. >> And nothing happened after 317? >> No. >> Okay. >> I started inquiring about 320, 321. >> And it stopped? >> And it complete Well, he left. Yeah, and it And it And it stopped. >> day did he leave? >> Uh his last day worked, I think, was 329. >> 329? But if nothing happened >> No, no, we're clean. We're clean. We're clean. >> Deposits picked up in the bank. >> Okay. >> The only person Let me show you the safe so you get a little grasp of it. I wish I could open it for you. You got a problem with this, so we have to get a locksmith out. So here's the safe. This is where the deposits were kept. >> This where deposits I'm sorry. >> Yeah, yeah. >> Where are they? That's where they are? >> Yep. >> Okay. >> That's where they are. This is just your safe funds. This is where they keep uh all the money throughout the day, where they get changed. So, they never have to go in there. It's separate separate deal. >> So, at the end of the day they get this, count it, and then put it in there. >> Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. The safe fund is what you operate your business with. >> Okay. >> It's like what you put in the drawers, and then you need change throughout the day. It That's That's what that is. It The deposits are at the end of the night. Like tonight, when he comes in, he's going to pull all the drawers, and then, you know, subtract the $100 that we started the bank with, you know, the drawer, and then the rest of it is our profit. >> Okay. >> And then he seals it in a bag, and they put it in there. >> Got it. >> There's a process for that. >> Got it. >> It's a two-person process. Um So, but this was not This was not secured like this. And it's not supposed It's supposed to work like that, where guard it comes in, puts in a second key. Well, I found out, you know, obviously, after the fact that you just pull up the handle, and the deposits were accessible. >> So, it wasn't secure. >> It wasn't secure. >> Was this door secure? >> Oh, yeah, that door is always closed. >> Okay. So, the only people who have access to this door would have access to that. >> Yep. Yep. Key entry, and there's only There's There's five people in the building that held a key. So, that'd be the general manager, sales manager. >> Well, >> Uh yeah, sales manager. Um he went to print marketing. So, let's see. The tech soup. They don't have a sales manager right now. So, it'd be the general manager, the tech soup, uh Mike, the MIS, and then you get two two print marketing soups that have a key. But, you can eliminate almost all of them. Uh one, and the reason is the print marketing soups never came in here during my investigation. From 2:26 to They I'd never even saw them come in here, and they would have no need to. They probably don't want to come in here. Uh cuz they get enough business over there. The tech soup, uh he closes about every night. He's here right now, by the way. I can eliminate him. >> Mhm. >> Um >> He never came in here. >> Well, no, he came in here. Oh, he closed. But, he had no interest in that. Meaning, he would the the way the process works is um he prepares a deposit and he leaves the money here and then a second person comes in. This is our process, the company. Second person comes in, they verify it. So, he's not stealing, right? They verify it. They put it in the bag while he's here and they seal it and the verifier throws it in there. >> Mhm. >> Okay? So, it one's verifying the other and that's the process. And then they're really consistent on it about 90% of the time. I did see a couple days where the the person didn't come in and verify and he verified his own deposit. >> Mhm. >> So, I already chewed him up there. But, um cuz it [clears throat] kind of leaves you, you know. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, especially if there's money missing from it. You would think I'm going to talk to him. Anyway, so, the thing about Dwayne, he's he's in here a lot, but the video the camera's right there and it shows what he's doing. He's preparing the deposit here. He doesn't go down there until he throws the deposit in. >> And Dwayne is the person that you're most suspicious of. >> No, Dwayne is he's clear. He's clear. He's the tech suit. The guy I'm suspicious of, it's and so obvious. We I'll show you a clip. >> Okay. >> The GM. He's got a drug problem. There's no question about this. Everybody, I mean, I talked to the the key holders, I go, "Anything different going on?" And he guys, "No, there's a story that's He says he's in the hospital. He's in rehab." Anyway, um I don't [clears throat] know that for a fact, but he the GM is the only one Well, first let me explain the video. The video here, because there's so much dead time in this room, you could go six, seven hours in a day while we're open for business, no one comes in here. Door closed. So, for me to for us to have to watch video for that would be >> Yeah, just skip forward until somebody's in here. >> Yeah, but you don't know. But, the way it's set up, it's motion activated. So, as soon as that door comes open, the the video backs up maybe 2 seconds >> Mhm. >> and then it it it starts recording. >> Okay. >> And then you see the door open, you see the people come in. So, what I saw was the GM coming in uh going into that deposit. So, when he's here bending down, digging around into the deposit uh from that angle, it's really difficult to see exactly what's going on. It's not like stealing from a register and you got the camera right there. >> don't see him put it in the pocket >> No, it's not that obvious. What he does is he uses this prop right there. He used that once. This is This is lost and found stuff that shouldn't have been down there, but this envelope was in there. And he's He has no reason to really go in there unless a customer says, "Hey, I left my passport here and it just went in there." But this is so out of policy, it's not even funny. It's not how we handle it. But anyway, that bag was down there and that's one of the things he messed with and he would be down in there with the deposits, then all of a sudden he walks out here and goes into his office with that bag and then comes back and puts it in. So. >> Oh, so he takes that bag with him. >> Yeah, [clears throat] takes it into his office there. >> Does Does this have cameras? >> That's the That's the manager's office. Yeah, the cameras are there. >> But does that camera see anything? >> No. No, there's no camera in there. >> Oh, there's no camera in there. >> You're not going to see it. There There is no clear concealment of the deposit bags. I'll tell you that right now. >> Okay. >> What The only The way you that The only thing we have is kind of like a process of elimination. The person You can't accuse somebody of stealing something if they never went in there. >> Right. >> He's the only one and he did it time after time after time. >> After months of building their case, officers secured an arrest warrant for the Staples manager. He thought the storm had passed until the moment he arrived at his job, completely caught off guard. His scheme had finally unraveled. >> Yes. What's your name, sir? >> Anthony. >> Anthony, you're under arrest. You have You have an arrest warrant, okay? >> For what, sir? I just >> Is there any guns in here? >> No, sir. >> Okay. Just stay right where you are, sir. under arrest? You're under arrest for felony charges out of the city of West Palm Beach in reference to fraudulent No, that was for That was for Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. >> Yes, so the charges failed. >> City of West Palm Beach. Come on out. >> I'm coming out. >> No. Come on out. >> What? Put your hands on top of your car. I'm going to pat you >> They're new. They're new. >> You You got arrested on the 12th >> Hey. >> for Palm Beach County. That was for schemes to defraud and using other people's property, things like that. This is for something completely different. >> City of West Palm Beach charges. >> City of West Palm Beach >> All right. So, would you rather take this take this off and I'll cuff you? I know it sucks, dude, but this is This is what it is, brother. >> Yeah, I guess. I understand that. >> You got You got some keys on you? >> Yeah, I have my keys. >> Okay. I'll get your phone. I will get your phone. You want to take this off? It'd just be easier, more comfortable if you want to take that off. It's fraud stuff. It's nothing violent. You're not, you know, it is >> You mind >> What's going on? >> The Fernando guy. >> I think he probably wants to I I'd give it a shot. It's probably worth talking to him about. >> Um So, I'm recording. Um I'm the detective assigned to this investigation. >> Okay. >> Uh you understand that you're obviously under arrest. You have the right right to remain silence. Um that anything you say may and will be used against you Do you understand that? >> Yes, sir. Okay. >> So, before we get started, though, um right now it's the time for me to ask you questions and for you to answer whatever you want to answer. Okay? Um the allegations are that Were you an employee of Staples? >> Yeah, I work for Staples. >> Okay. And then, what's your date of birth, Anthony? Um how long did you work for Staples? >> I worked for Staples. I started with them in New York. And say it's April 2023. >> Since April 2023, how long have you worked at this Staples here? >> In this Staples here, I came I think it was in around August 2023, somewhere in there. >> Okay. >> August between August and September. >> Okay, so you started around August or September. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> That date had moved around a couple times. It was initially supposed to be October, but it was earlier. >> Okay. What's your title? >> I was the general manager for this location here. >> Are you still employed? >> Um, no. Well, at this time I was on an extended medical leave. I took very ill. My doctor took me out of work. That, you know, was you know, probably 3 months. And I have not returned. And I wasn't, you know, due to the job that and just the certain, you know, the conditions of of what was going on and, you know, was a big contributor to what made me sick. I, you know, my physician had recommended that I find a different job like >> What was it about the job that You don't have to tell me about your physical ailments, but what was it about the job that would make you physically ill? >> So, just very strenuous shifts. There was a lot. The company went through some very major um realignments and shifts, changes to their operation structures and personnel structures, functional structures of personnel. Um you know, in the time since I got there, you know, I was um brought there under the pretense and and agreement. Part of why I accepted it was because I was told that a turnkey operation and in that it was going to be um it's transitioning to a growth market model. So, upon going there and we we started getting bombarded with um very high-level um visits from corporate from all over the country. Um you know, from the investment group and with that leading up to it, it would be fire drills to just prepa- make preparations, clean store, get all things just perfect and I'm even working open to close for days, weeks at a time for that and then there would be the visits. And then there would be a a long list of uh initiatives and and to get obviously executed after the visit per their instructions. That would happen probably you know, at one point three, four times a month. On top of that um you know, my dist- the district um and comp- they did a whole realignment to where we had a new district manager, new divisional leader and it was very aggressive in this uh particular location and area and the surrounding stores hadn't gone through this transition. I'm just trying to set the >> So, so you you have a stressful job, I have a stressful job, people have stressful jobs. >> Right. >> Do you have any idea and and just this is the time where you can help yourself. >> Right. >> Is you have any idea why a detective would be talking to you right now? And before you answer, please please. >> Mhm. >> Do you have any idea why I would be here talking to you specific to Staples? >> No, sir. No. >> So, if if Staples management uh how many managers did you have under you at Staples? >> Uh so my direct reports? My >> How many people had access and a key to the cash room at Staples? >> I'd say other than myself, yeah, there were uh I think four. >> Four other people, okay. >> I mean, and that's just during a time Mind you, like I was telling you before, there were many visits with many managers at different levels, you know, whether they're regional or divisional, in and out of that store very frequently. >> Okay. The allegation is that there's money missing, and just before you answer, >> Mhm. >> I've been working this case now for quite some time, okay? >> Mhm. >> So, the allegations Would you Would you know whether there would be any allegations that there would be money missing from the cash room of Staples? >> I can tell you what I am privy to of regarding um the discr- discrepancies because I was involved with investigating um um probably I don't remember how long before I went out sick, but um I remember we provided all the information and the the uh you know, the uh armored carrier uh logs, and you know, just everything that went along with that, and at at that point, um you know, that's as far as I was um involved with that. Now, with that, I know that was um as a result to it being reported in the through the system that they um hadn't received um >> When Detective Palacios read Anthony his rights before the interrogation, he covered the right to remain silent and the use of statements in court. But, under Miranda versus Arizona, the full advisement must also include the right to appointed counsel if the suspect cannot afford one. That element does not appear clearly in this exchange, and that gap matters more than most people realize. Still, under Berghuis versus Thompkins, a suspect who continues to speak voluntarily after a Miranda warning may be found to have waived those rights by conduct. Anthony spoke at length and never once asked for a lawyer, which creates a strong implied waiver argument for the prosecution. >> Uh deposits that were >> Did you ever Did you ever take any money from Staples? >> And >> Before you answer, understand that I've been dealing with this for now a few months. Did you ever take any cash deposits from Staples? >> I did not take any cash deposits from Staples, and I understand >> Anybody else take cash deposits from Staples? >> Not to my knowledge, not that I've seen or I'm aware of. I can I can tell you Um >> Have you ever come to Staples in a day or time that you were not supposed to be working at Staples? >> Sir, I I would come to Staples uh off my schedule there at different times all the time and as related to what I was just explaining to you. Um I would come there as needed as you know cuz >> So, if there's video of you walking out of that cash room with cash deposits, you're saying that that video would not be truth? >> I'm saying that that's not what it I did not take any cash deposits out of Staples. Now, and I was I had explained it over the phone dealing with uh the loss prevention um Ted and other and and you know as far as you know, some of the concerns that I had regarding the safekeeping regarding you know, the the process because they were on process. I was doing my best to get things on process to avoid the types of issues and the discrepancies that we were going through at that time. >> What would be that? What What would be one thing that you did to avoid that? >> So, in that um one of the main things is that in that particular safe, um there is uh an internal safe as well. Like so when you open the main safe, there's another one. >> Mhm. >> And it's connected to a chute. And the chute goes down just like every other retail I've been doing retail a very long time. And that's how it's supposed to be managed. So, that way once it's dropped, it's secured until the armored car person comes and picks it up with their key. Um and you you know, and you have a second key. Well, what they were doing here is just uh preparing the cash and then putting it um in the safe. You know, putting it um at in the bottom which wasn't locked. Um they wouldn't lock it. It would be just set on day lock all the time. The one time I actually locked it, they had a connection because they couldn't open it. They didn't have the key. So, I found the key for the purchase safe. And then another issue is that they were keeping all of the lost and found, which this place had collected a lot of lost and found. I'm talking, you know, birth certificates, IDs, you know, just sentimental documents. Ev- everything from the copy center, flash drives. It was exploding out of the same um section that they were putting, you know, stacking their cash uh deposits up on. So, I was working very hard to consolidate that lost and found to try to reach out to the people who who I thought like if maybe their marriage certificate or death certificate, to try to get it back to them. You know, because a lot of these are customers that I was recognizing. I was starting to see, you know, they're they're regulars. They didn't even know. They'd call about documents and they'd be told that it wasn't there because they were so unorganized. They didn't have a process for keeping track of following up on these things. So, I worked very hard to to do that, you know, to get that um consolidated and to get on process with the cash handling and I made it very very clear on the team as far as the expectation. Once I you know, they were um they had a discrepancy on some of the cash drops. I was at that point starting to make sure that everybody was on process. Tim was or Ted rather was sent the same thing. He was telling me, you know, let you know, let's make sure we all understand the the the correct process on that. At no time there had been times where because of where the lost and found was situated, there there were times where I have gone in there take to recover a a document or belonging of that belonged to a customer that left it there and I would bring it and get it get it to them or mail it to them. So, if there was a like if I if you if I'm being seen taking something out, and it's not like helping or assisting with the transition of a cash drop, then it's was in managing like the lost and found and managing you know, the just the excessive amount of of liability and all the all those documents in there. >> So, so you're saying that there was excessive amount of liability with the lost and found. >> Mhm. >> And you're saying that there was a kind of a mess, that's my word, it's a big mess, between uh the cash and that >> I mean, you >> But then but then you But then you decide to merge the cash with the lost and found. >> it was already done. It was already >> That's not what I was told. Here's what the allegations are. >> not true at all. That is not true at all. >> Listen, you keep >> checking the go I I swear to you, if you continue digging in the investigation for that fact of how they were managing lost and found and you'll see from before, long before I got there, they were using that bottom uh cat cabinet as the lost and found with no um additional like separation between, you know, that stuff and the uh the deposit. Uh but I one thing I did was made them put it all of the lost and found into like a consolidated bag that said lost and found on it, you know, and make them uh try to upkeep the lost and found ledger as as frequently as possible, you know, or at least consistently. But there that I there's I did not merge that those two things together. I was trying to break them apart and to get rid of eliminate the lost and found and then going forward instead of automatically putting something that was found in there and forgetting about it, make an effort to contact, to look up, identify the person, and reach out and let them know that you have their their their item. That and that's what we were doing up to that point, but they had things going back from like 2013, 2014 in there. And that was the issue and I had expressed this concern to to to my direct supervisor, to Ted as well. At no point did I did did I go in there and take money out of there. I mean, I I you know, I've been I've been going through enough and it's been hard enough like what what's been going on. We see I was working open to close for for months on end since I started there. No days off. And my family is out here. We haven't we were we weren't even able to settle into a permanent home yet. I have seven kids. Uh my wife we we weren't even able supposed to be like that for this long, but I've been obligated to be here, which I've done in good faith, did my job, did everything I was asked, gone to other locations to help. >> want to be truthful today, or am I just going to listen to you talk? And I'm just a straight shooter. >> a true I've been truthful in this regard. >> so here's the in regards to money that is missing from the safe and you on video several times, at least four that I counted that I saw, where there's discrepancies in the cash. You walk into the vault, you remove the cash deposits, and you hide them, whether it's underneath a folder or under something else. So, do you want to talk about the truth, or do you want to because the truth will set you free. I'm a reasonable person, and when there's no victim, there's no crime, Anthony. So, if Staple decides not to be a victim any longer, you're not going to see Detective Palacios anymore. But, if I'm going to sit here, and I'm going to have to accept you lying to me, I think that's a little bit unfair. I think that's disrespectful, and we'll just we'll just leave it at that, and you stick to your story. If you want to be truthful, and say, "Okay, listen, Detective, we have been going through some tough times, and I went through this, and I was against the wall because I will probably do the same thing, Anthony, if I have to feed my family. But, please don't lie to me after I've been looking at this for months now cuz we're at the end of July. >> Right. >> And this is back from February and March, I believe it was, and there's several deposits that are missing, and I don't know if you knew, but there Anthony, I'm giving you the facts and the truth. >> I I'm >> The truth is documented, so I'm not making it up. >> Understood. >> So, and there's videos where where it's it's on a sensory basis that when it sensors somebody in the room, it goes off, and it starts recording. I've reviewed those videos. I've reviewed the consistency and I saw you grab deposits from underneath the safe that the safe that you're explaining. I saw you logging in on the clipboard, whatever you were logging. I saw you pull out certain things. I've already gone through that. I'm trying to understand why you did it so that I can pass along the information and you can potentially honestly help yourself. I'm not a judge. I'm not a jury. I just collect information. I review information and I'm I'm pretty decent at it. I'm not going to say I'm the best. I'm also very reasonable and I will share whatever message you have for me to share with Staples and management. But just please understand that this is this is a decent time for us to talk about the truth so that you can potentially help yourself by moving on out of this so that you can take care of your seven kids and your wife. >> Sir, and I I very much respect that and I respect you and your and your time, too. But I this is clearly a big misunderstanding. A a big big misunderstanding and I am not going to say that I have taken something that I haven't taken. >> That said, what he said on camera still runs through the lens of voluntariness and that's where this gets complicated. Under Florida Statute 812.014, grand theft requires knowingly taking property with intent to permanently deprive the owner. A loss between $20,000 and $100,000 qualifies as a second-degree felony carrying up to 15 years in Florida state prison. Anthony's defense framing that his visits to the cash room were about managing lost and found items does not defeat intent. The camera showed him entering on days he was not scheduled, going directly to the deposit area and leaving with items into a room without surveillance. Under Florida statute 817.034, scheme to defraud requires a systematic, ongoing course of conduct. 11 missing bags across multiple weeks, combined with falsified garda logs submitted to corporate, satisfies every element of that statute. The distinction matters. This is not one bad moment. It is a documented pattern, and Florida statute 812.025 allowed prosecutors to charge both grand theft and scheme to defraud from the same set of transactions, which is exactly what happened here. Detective Palacios used a textbook Reid technique move, telling Anthony that if Staples chose not to be a victim, there would be no crime. That is minimization, and it is legally permissible under current case law, but it walks a line that defense attorneys will always challenge. Under Colorado versus Connelly, personal hardship alone, including family pressure, illness, or financial stress, does not make a statement involuntary. While Anthony's claims about his seven children and medical leave were emotionally compelling, they carry no legal weight as a voluntariness defense. Detective Palacios ran a clean methodical investigation. He built the case on camera footage, garda logs, and a systematic elimination of every other key holder. He secured an arrest warrant before making contact, which satisfied the Fourth Amendment requirement for a lawful custodial arrest. Where his approach draws scrutiny is in the interrogation room, specifically the no victim, no crime framing, which implied a deal that was never his to offer. Anthony made the most common mistake in custodial interrogations. He kept talking without a lawyer. He was detailed and composed, but every sentence gave investigators more to work with, not less. His denial without invoking silence was a gamble that did not pay off. Question one, if you are a manager with access to cash handling systems, your presence on camera in a restricted area is never neutral. Every entry you make into a cash room, on or off the clock, will be reviewed, timestamped, and cross-referenced against deposit records if money goes missing. Question two, dual control cash handling exists for one reason. To make single-person theft structurally impossible. When that process breaks down, when one person self-verifies their own deposit, the accountability layer disappears and the risk falls on the company and its employees. Lesson three, once you are under arrest and Miranda has been read, say four words, "I want a lawyer." This case ended with two years of probation, no prison time. That reflects plea negotiations and judicial discretion, not a failure of the investigation. Let us know what you think below.