On January 8th, 2024, officers were dispatched to a financial institution after staff reported a man attempting to cash a suspicious $10,000 savings bond. >> So, savings bond. >> Can you tell us where you got this savings bond? >> Um, I received it from my grandmother. >> Your grandfather? >> Yes. Yes. Number of them. So, I just came out here to come grab them. Okay. Um cuz this made payable to you. Are you junior? >> Yes. >> This is your social? >> Yes. >> You were born in 1994? >> 94. >> Okay. So, this bond was issued in 1992. >> That means that this bond was issued 2 years before you were born to you with a social security number that you're saying you're social. >> So, that's not >> this is not going to be a legit savings bond. Have you been to two of our other branches today to try to cash the savings bond? >> I have. Yes. >> And what did they tell you? >> Um that it was like a 6 month my account was not >> you had your account with us for 6 months? >> No. But they said just because it was enough that they would be on >> Okay. Okay. Um so this is a fraudulent bond. That is not a true bond. There's no way that somebody could have given the US Treasury Department your social security number if you were born yet. So, did you truly get it from your grandfather? >> I just do have an idea. >> Is it still good for you? The Rockford one. >> Uh, that's my old address. Old is my new address. This one's the new one. Okay. >> Stillford though? Yes. I mean, you didn't really think it was weird when you went to two other branches and like what happened to you there? >> Yeah, it was kind of weird to me. Not going to lie to you, cuz I never had a problem with it before. Had a $50 bond, >> but that was at a different bank. It was Chase. So you went to our Kentucky branch. >> Uhhuh. >> And then you went to Missouri branch, >> right? >> Missouri >> or whatever. >> Two in Kentucky. >> Two in Kentucky. >> Yeah. Okay. Why are you coming all the way over here? >> I was just passing through there. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I Yes. >> But I have family out here. That's what I'm saying. >> Where's your family at? >> In Kentucky and Ohio and pretty much everywhere. >> Are we on the route from Kentucky to Rockford? Rockers up by Chicago. >> Well, I'm I'm going back home now. >> You're going back to Rockford. I didn't have my phone. >> Yeah. You were just at our Kentucky branch at 8:58 this morning cuz we got a picture. >> Yeah. >> So, you were there pretty early. >> Yeah. Yeah. I was there for sure. >> Okay. >> What did they tell you at that branch? >> That they couldn't redeem it because my account was no older than 6 months. >> Well, but your account's still no 6 months. It's it's only I only had my negative federal for since November. >> Right. So if they told you in Kentucky that it's no older than 6 months, you come here, it's still no older than 6 months. >> Well, no. Like I never had an issue with doing it before, no matter how old my account was at any >> Navy Federal or other branch. >> At another branch. That's >> a another Navy Federal branch. >> A different bank. >> Yes, a different bank. >> Are we on the road? >> No. >> No, we're not even really close to the road. So this football family that's in Kentucky I live with my dad separated. So I went to Kentucky yesterday to see them. Got a hotel and then as I was leaving I just wanted to see if I could catch that through Kentucky. So >> are there any other Navy federal branches? >> The closest ones are Levenworth and Leworth over over Missouri and then Chicago up north. >> So there is one in Chicago. There is one in Chicago. >> Um I don't know about where exactly it is by Rockford or not, but you were at Kentucky. >> No, there is one in Gurnie. >> That's the closest branch to me. >> And that's Well, that's closer than what is. >> Well, I didn't have that yet. >> So, you just got this in Kentucky? >> Yes. I went to go see my grandparents, all my family, all my siblings. >> Can I see that map again? >> So, this was given to you when? >> Yesterday. >> Yesterday. Interesting. There's us. >> Yeah. >> And where's Gurnie? Gurnie's up here by Chicago somewhere. I think it's further out west. I think it's west of Chicago cuz that's where Bill came from. You got a car out here? >> Anyone in it? >> Who's in it? >> Your girlfriend. What's her name? >> What kind of a car is it? >> It's a black GMC. >> Black GMC. Illinois plates. Do you know the plate number? >> No, I just got >> Okay. Is it sitting out here right out front? Sit there. >> Are you a lady? >> Yeah. >> Okay. What's going on? Why are you guys here? >> What do you mean? >> Why are you guys here today? >> Why are you guys here today? >> Uh, we just came from a trip. >> From what trip? >> A family trip. But >> what family trip? >> Uh, my boyfriend's family trip. >> Okay. Where you guys coming from? >> Uh, his aunt. >> Where's that at? >> Uh, I'm not sure. In like Kentucky. >> Okay. >> Yeah. He He just told me he had to come and um go to his bank. That's all my >> Okay. Did you guys go to a bank in Kentucky? >> I'm not sure. I was sleep half of the ride. >> Okay. So, where are you guys headed to from here? >> Uh back home. >> Where's back home at? >> Uh in Rockford. >> Okay. So, why did you guys come all the way to Illinois? This is not on your route. >> Oh, no. We came uh for a road trip. We came to his family's house in Kentucky. >> If you're going from Kentucky to Rockford, Illinois, Fallon is not on that route. >> Yeah. I'm not sure. >> So, it's way out of the way. So, why are you guys in Oallen? >> His family is in Kentucky. So, we were on our way from Rockford to Kentucky, >> right? But that's This is not on the route. >> I'm not sure. >> Do you have your ID with you? >> My >> Is this your vehicle or his vehicle? >> This is his vehicle. >> His Okay. What did he tell you about this bond that he's trying to cash? >> What was that? >> What did he tell you about this bond that he's trying to cash? >> Uh, not that I Nothing much. He just has a check from his work. >> A check from his work. >> Yeah. Did you see the check? >> No. >> Okay. Did he tell you it was a check from his work? >> Yeah. >> How long have you guys been dating? >> We've been dating for like five months. >> Five months. Okay. Hang tight. Okay. Stand up. You nervous? Slide in right behind the seat belt. >> This new citation emergency transport westbound 50 to west. We'll let you know when we get there. Mileage is 5161. 5161. So, um, you told me that you're heading from Kentucky. What town in Kentucky were you in? >> Okay. You know what? Can I just be honest? >> Okay. >> Start. So, >> this is going to be an honest statement. That's correct. >> Honest statement. I was scared. >> Okay. >> I felt way more comfortable with just, you know, me and you. >> Okay. >> So, I already had the bond. The bond was shipped to me. I paid this dude. >> Okay. >> To make me one. Okay. >> So, I got it and I went to Kentucky. I did I do have family out there. I did go see a family, >> but I went out there to just, you know, see if I could do it. >> Okay. To see if you could get the cash out there, but they wouldn't do it. Okay. So, then that's why you came here. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Well, I mean, it was on the way back. >> Well, this is not on the direct route from Kentucky to >> No. Okay. >> No, not at all. >> I was just >> Well, that's when I saw when because I knew Rockford was up by Chicago. It's like I don't think we're on the direct route from Kentucky to Chicago. We looked it up on the map app. It's not >> Okay. So, how did you find this dude? >> Telegram. >> A telegram. >> Telegram group chat. Like, it's a lot of stuff going on on the internet right now. >> Okay. >> Weird. But it's like, you know, it's dumb decision. I just tried to see it. I don't know this person. I shouldn't even send the money or >> How much did you pay for the bond? >> 50 bucks. >> Okay. For the $10,000 bond. >> Okay. >> All right. So, um, it was it like a website you I mean how >> Well, okay. So, it's like Telegram is like this group chat. >> Okay. So, Telegram's like a is that a a website or is it group chat? It's an app. App you go like to the play store. >> Yeah. App store. Play store. You can download Telegram. Okay. Gotcha. >> On Telegram there's, you know, groups that find ways to make money and, you know, all that type of stuff. >> Did he put it out there? Hey, I've got bonds for sale. or did you approach him and say, "Hey, can you hook me up with >> Yeah, more of that type of thing." I mean, I seen him posting in there. It wasn't necessarily saying I have bonds for sale, but him saying like, "I can write up some stuff no matter what it is," the type thing. So, I messaged him, I'm I'm in need. I don't have no money. I just spent all my money on my studio. I'm trying to get that afloat. So, I just thought it would be, you know, I didn't I thought it was a harmless thing. I didn't I mean, obviously not, but I didn't think it would be this serious, you know. >> Okay. So, I mean, I just wanted to lay it all out. >> Okay. Well, I appreciate your honesty. >> I do appreciate your honesty. So, I'm just trying to kind of figure out now the the details is all. So, you go and tell you um get on the Telegram app. You see this guy says, "Hey, I can print up any ink you want." >> So, you get hold of him. Now, who had the idea of a bond? Was that your idea? His idea? >> Um he kind of gave me what he can do. >> Okay. >> So, I was like, "Okay, well, let's just try it out then." >> Okay. He said that a bond is one of the things he can do. Okay. >> Like checks, medication scripts, like it don't even have to be monetar monetary value. >> A whole bunch of things >> if you want to get a script for some controlled substance. >> Yeah, basically. Okay. Okay. >> Um, how many times have you bought from him in the past? This is your first time. >> Okay. And um, so then did he mail it to you? >> Yes. >> Okay. What was the return address on the >> I don't have that. >> Okay. Is it in the vehicle? >> It's at home. >> At your house. All the way in Rockford. I have it for sure. >> Okay. And um then how did you get the $50 to him? >> Bitcoin. >> Bitcoin. Okay. Um did you go to like a Bitcoin ATM? >> No, on Cash App. You can deposit money on Cash App and then you can convert that cash to a Bitcoin and you could just send it. >> Do on your phone. Do you have the Telegram messages on your phone? Would you mind showing them to me? >> My phone's dead, though. >> What kind of phone do you have? >> iPhone. >> If we put it on a charger and got a charge on it, would you mind showing that? >> See, I have the group. I don't have the indirect I mean the direct messages. >> You don't have those? >> No. >> What happened to those? >> I deleted them. >> Okay. >> I didn't just for obviously >> in case you got caught. >> Okay. All right. >> Like I don't do this. >> I'm a very hardworking man. I have a daughter. I I was in a bind. >> Okay. >> It was a leap of faith type thing for me. >> Okay. >> I don't go searching for stuff like this. Like I seen it on YouTube like there's these scammers and all type of stuff and they'll put their telegram in the description. So, I was >> I say I had never heard of Telegram. >> Yeah, that's what I'm saying. There's a lot of stuff going on on the internet right now. So, >> for sure. All right. Well, let's get stuff taken care of. You're probably going to end up spending a night here tonight. Just being honest. Just being honest. >> Why? >> Just being honest with you. >> Come on, man. >> Because you're not local. That's why you're not local. >> The man the other officer told me you're way higher ranked than him. So, please please just, you know, I I gave I I gave you >> I gave you and I'm willing to show you. >> You know what? If somebody higher than me makes that decision, I'm cool with it. But, uh, right now, um, you're not local and we usually >> No, I get that. >> So, but let's go get booking taken care of. Okay. Anything else that you can think of that we haven't talked about? >> Um, no. >> Okay. The man was charged with class 3 felony forgery. Court records show that he has not entered a plea and recent proceedings included the appointment of a public defender, an arraignment hearing, and a motion for discovery. As of September 2026, the case remains open with no conviction, dismissal, or sentence recorded.