On November 12th, 2025, officers responded to a complaint regarding a suspected trailer scam conducted through Facebook Marketplace. You want to start at the beginning for officer people? Oh, yeah. Um oh god. So, he sold me this trailer yesterday. I bought it. Uh he told me I could wait until the end of the month to switch lot rent over so that way I didn't have to pay lot rent. I figured he was just being nice because I'm a single mom with two kids just trying for none of us to be homeless at this point cuz I it's been a [ __ ] show. Um so, I ended up calling the leasing company the Oakwoods just to like clarify cuz he says he's moving out of state. So, I'm like, I need to clarify and make sure he doesn't need anything. Like I would I just want to get this out of the way. Right. She decides to tell me, "Oh, he's been trying to scam people. He cannot sell this. He cannot have anybody else live here because he owes them over $5,000." Mhm. So, I'm like, "Okay, great. That's cool." So, we came here. We didn't tell him we were coming here cuz I was going to show up without him knowing because based on how quick he's moving, he knows what he did and he's getting the [ __ ] out of this state. Mhm. I was calling him left and right on things. This is the title that I watched his girlfriend sign. It is not in his name or his girlfriend's name. This was yesterday signed it? >> Yes, yesterday. But you said she signed it. She signed it. The girlfriend signed it. Yes. Okay. Yes. And so, I was like, "Well, for my legal obligations, like I need contact with her to make sure this is okay." He provides me one number. I called the number. This guy has no clue what he's talking about. I ask him what the address is. He says, "Oh, I don't know. It's in Morin." I say, "Okay, what's your first what's your middle name and last name?" He goes dead silent. I said, "Hello." He said, "Oh, hang on." and then says nothing. He doesn't know his own middle name or last name. I know it's not him. Yeah. >> So, then I call him and I'm like, "Okay, well, maybe he sent me the wrong number. Like maybe you typed out the wrong number. I don't know. I don't I don't [ __ ] know. I wouldn't assume people would be this shitty of people." So, I'm just trying to find the good in people, unfortunately. So, then he provides me with another number. The number texts me saying that she's fine and that she'll get up to build a sale and that it's okay and everything. Mhm. The number that he provided me is his girlfriend's phone number. It's not right. They have I don't know who it is. I don't know he illegally signed them. Yes, that is his girlfriend, Katie. Yeah, do you have that phone number on you by any chance? Yeah, I have both of them. I have all of our text conversations, Facebook Marketplace conversations, all of it. Okay. >> I've already called the state's attorney, but they told me that I needed a police report for this. Mhm. So, but this is his girlfriend's number. When you look up the number uh it comes up as like the picture of her, so it is her. Yeah. Which I can show you the same >> the number that you called? Uh no, that's not the one that I called. The one that I called cuz I never got to it because at that point I was just like, you guys are so scammy. I'm not dealing with this [ __ ] So, this is all of our conversations. I have them all. This is the first number he originally gave me. And you paid him already? >> Yeah, I gave him $2,000. Okay. And I told him at this point like if he just wants to give me $2,000 back and take the title, I just want to be done with this [ __ ] The least I mean the least the office is trying to help out as much as they can. They offered me to pay off some of his balance, but I'm like that I'm not doing that. That's not my responsibility. Like this man's a piece of [ __ ] This is nothing This has been nothing but an absolute massive scam. There's no way this is legal. There's not a slightest bit of way that this is legal. First off, he illegally signed this. That right there Yeah. is highly illegal. Well, she signed it, correct? >> Yes, she signed it. Yes. >> Is she here? Yeah, she's inside with us as well. >> just haven't seen her yet. >> give you a heads-up right now because my stepdad was here before I got here. He got out to try and talk to him and immediately it was an altercation. I don't know 100% what happened cuz I was not here, but I know a table was flipped and then he pulled a knife out on my stepdad. So, then my stepdad pulled out a knife as well and was like, I have one, too. Like, what are you going to do about it? And that's all I know about that situation, but I I will say that that altercation did happen. Yeah. I myself have been over here probably 100 times, so I'm well aware No, no, no. Here. Oh. I'm well aware. of So, he doesn't own this? This for supposedly unless that's a fake title. Do you think the office would have that info on who actually owns it? What I'm thinking is this female half essentially forged the document. Yep. So, potentially have forgery on her and then theft by deception on him. Cuz it was paid to him. I'm guessing that it was paid to send this. We have to clarify who it was paid to. Right. >> But he was facilitating that essentially. Yeah, but I guess I would need to find out who this is to prove the forgery, you know, cuz maybe Well, she's saying she physically watched But what? >> the female sign it name. It's not her name. She She can't sign hers. You know what I mean? >> Even if he gives her permission? She can't sign it. Real quick, did you Did you watch her sign it? Yeah, I stood right there on the porch and they were inside on the living room and I saw directly into the house. Okay. >> Who did you pay the money I paid the man. Cash? Yes. And what type of bills? Uh there was some 20s and some 100s. And when did you pay him? Yesterday morning. He told me word for word, "Well, we can wait till the end of the month to talk to the leasing company so that way you don't have to pay anything this month." Okay. I thought maybe he was just being nice. Come to find out just because he wanted to get away with his [ __ ] scam. Yeah. What state is he moving to? Um I think Indiana, but I've also heard him talk about Florida. So, one of those two. Yeah, I'm sure it's one of those. All right. All right, just go ahead and hang tight. Yep. So, Brian, what's going on with this? >> her this trailer. We never put the title in her name. We're like, "Hey, we know the guy." We gave him the number. He seems in like he's drunk. So, my wife starts relaying everything they're saying through her phone Mhm. to them. And she's like, "Oh, well, you guys don't own a trailer." I didn't own the trailer, I wouldn't have title, wouldn't be signed. If the title signed, we own the trailer. We never put it in our name. We don't have to put it in our name. By law they the trailer park said we didn't have to put it in our name. So we never put the title in our name. I have the message where I borrowed the money from the other dude talking about I sold the trailer. I'm going to have to get something in writing for you so so I can pay you back the money I owe you. There is she's starting to say there's $5,000 owed on this trailer. No there's not. There ain't no $5,000 owed on this trailer. Lot rent $631 a month. Been paid since I got here. So $5,000 owed there's no [ __ ] way. Well that's according to the office. >> Yeah and I tried nobody answers. She said I just talked to him. So I called up there. Mhm. They close at like 3:30. But you talked to him 10 minutes before you came here. No. They already knew we were putting the trailer up for rent so once since DCFS came and took our kid Mhm. because of all the [ __ ] We told him it's sold. She goes all right sell it we'll start sending people down there. So who is this That's the person we bought the trailer from like a year ago. Okay. Do you have his number? The last number I have is the number I gave her to him. I got him on Facebook too. Yeah. >> Yeah if you could give me his number. >> Yeah. Are you supposed to go through the office when you sell? >> No you don't have to go through the office you own the trailer. Yeah I bought it never registered it. I have where he where I can show you his texts right here. I'm going to go back to where >> Why would you never get it titled in your name? >> we didn't have to. They said all we have to do is transfer the taxes. That's all we've ever done. Well here is the thing if I buy a car I'm not going to leave that in if I buy a car I won't leave it in your car. If they if they still possess it they own the title. They that's how we were told. And how did you get the title? Because I bought it right out. They you don't pay them nothing. So if they're if you're paying them for the trailer they own the title. If you own the trailer they give you the title. Okay but you just said that they hold the title. Well obviously not. Yes. If if so for instance you're buying the trailer from them they hold the title. Until it's paid. Correct. >> So then if you buy the trailer trailer from somebody you get the title like a car. And your and you get a titled in your name. Well, we were told we didn't have to do that. Well, I mean, do you do that with a car? I've never This is the first time I got one and I told her if it's that big a deal tomorrow when my bank opens I'll go give her the money back cuz it ain't really an issue of the money. But, they came over here acting crazy and we're like, "What are you talking about? We screwed you over. We don't screw people over. We have no reason to. We gave you the title the same way it was given to us." So, who signed the title? He did. We've had that title since he did it. It was just wasn't dated. Okay. And we didn't date the title. Here's where I bought it back in for 3,000, two bedroom, two bath. Mhm. I don't got nothing to lie to you about cuz I know what I own. Go here to Marketplace. I scroll all the way down here. Here it is. Sold. That was way back then. I own the trailer. Okay. Well, what I'm saying is according to that title you do not. >> So, who owns it then? Looks like whoever this girl is. No, I own it cuz here's where >> So, was that left open and then when you sold it yesterday >> I just never put it >> It sounds like Katie signed No. No, no, no. signed the title. I have the stuff right here. signed it. They just It was never dated. The only thing we told her is you'll have to date it cuz it wasn't dated. But, everything was signed. Nobody signed nothing. That title was signed, it's been in my safe since I got the trailer. We got the title. We never put the title into my name because we were told by the previous manager >> you're saying it was signed and Katie just dated it yesterday? >> didn't even date it. There was no signa- The only thing was on there was a signature and a print. >> Then who dated it? She had to have because we didn't date it. I told her yesterday it ain't dated so whenever you choose to go do with it is it's on you. We never dated it. Okay, that doesn't make sense to me. I told her to date it when I handed her the title and she handed me the cash and said there's no date on it. Okay. I said, "So?" Well, to me it looks like the same It looks like the same penmanship. It is the exact same pen. So, you're telling me that like nobody a year time span the same exact pen was used with the same penny and [ __ ] I didn't I'm telling you that title was signed a year ago. Okay. Well, I'm saying that I'm telling you nobody nobody did nothing that title was signed and everything. Nobody signed no title. Hey Mary Kay. You You might talk to me over here. So, what's going on? He sold that we sold the house. Okay. And she wanted the house so she gave us the money. Mhm. And yeah. Okay. So, she gave you the 2,000 and then do you know this for old guy that the title was on? I wasn't here. I I moved from Indiana in May. All right. Right. Yeah. But have you had any contact with him? I'm not answering questions. I'm just talking. Well, hold on. You guys aren't leaving. You're staying here. That's fine. We'll stay here but I'm really curious to what what you're trying to get at cuz I I'm trying to get down to the bottom of it is what I'm trying to get at. >> just told you to give me an email. I'll email you where this guy called dude and I sent him the signed title and I have it. When? When I first bought it. Hold on. I got to answer this customer. Go for it. Alpha Omega. How much longer cuz I got to go meet somebody? I don't know. Other officer is talking to the office right now. Okay cuz I I there's that note on this. Okay. I'm just saying he's talking to the office right now. >> Like I told her I'd give her the two grand back tomorrow when my bank opens. Yep. She don't she yeah, she don't want the two grand and So. Her name is I got to double check. Yeah, her number looks like that she received a second set of text messages from. Okay. >> Looks to be the same. I looked up the number. That's her picture right there. Yep. That's her number. Okay. >> [snorts] >> So, they presented this as this number one Yes. Yeah, he called me cuz Further investigation revealed that the wife's phone number was provided to the victim as the original owner's contact information. The actual original owner who sold the trailer to the suspects was never identified or contacted. >> cuz that's when he sent me that >> reasonable for theft by deception for her and theft by deception for him. Okay. Uh, 8121 like Yeah. Do you have any idea why I got to get this appointment? Yeah, just hang tight for us. All right, Brian. Mind getting off the phone for me? For what? >> You're going to be under arrest. What am I being arrested for? Put your hands behind your back. All right, can I be pulled >> Theft by deception. How? How is it theft when I just said I give the lady back her money? Yesterday, I said it three times on my body cam. I bought the trailer and now I'm going to jail for theft. You're not squeezing hard enough. >> I'm not squeezing. I'm just holding on cuz if you fall, that's on me. All right, can I Can I you get my wife Can I talk to my wife for a second? Well, just hold tight. What did I steal then? Or what did I theft cons How did I >> Theft by deception for $2,000. >> For what though? Cuz you have no authority to sell that. You have You can't sell that until those lot fees are Who said that? The office. Who The The tre The Hold on. W- In is it Did they show you the lease in my name? That doesn't matter. You can't sell it because >> they told us we could though. No, they didn't. I have the text messages from the management and nobody's asking for any of the proof. We just talked to the management. They said that they can't that you can't sell it. You have back fees on it. >> That's I didn't know that. I just If I they wouldn't tell you that So, question. Ask the lady if I give her money back, I'll give her something in writing cuz I didn't do nothing wrong. I'll give her something in writing. I'll go get her money tomorrow off my account. That'll be something for later. But for right now, no, that's not an option. All right, you please have my Can my come over here? Yep. All right. Go ahead and stand up for us. We'll transfer you back. Oh my god. But she didn't do nothing. Same thing. She didn't do nothing. I got some some on my phone. Well, say goodbye. What's my wife being arrested for? Can I have my phone? Just step out real quick. I want my phone though. I don't like people having my That's a company phone. I want my phone. >> Just step out, Brian. Turn around. Why is my wife being arrested? >> I already told you that. But she didn't do nothing. My wife wasn't even here. Can I talk to you? I have to speak with my wife. I'm [ __ ] got both of you guys. Yeah. Hello? Yeah, I'm going to. I got to hang up this phone. If you The man was charged with theft by deception, while his wife was charged with theft by deception and forgery.