18-Year-Old Scammer Caught in Banker’s GENIUS Trap: Waiting for His Own Arrest! Legal Analysis

Added: 2026-05-10

[00:00:05]You're just being entertained right now.

[00:00:08]>> Yeah, I'll tell you in a second. Um, it's a lot.

[00:00:12]>> I I have Boa Police Department.

[00:00:15]>> You guys got a room.

[00:00:16]>> Um, >> we're going to Lonzo Sav. This room taking this room. Let's go.

[00:00:25]>> No, I'll tell you in a minute. You know the reason, but we'll play your game.

[00:00:28]>> Freedom play. Yep. Have a seat.

[00:00:32]All right. You're being lawfully detained right now when we investigate a fraud investigation.

[00:00:36]>> Fraud?

[00:00:36]>> Yep.

[00:00:39]>> Everything will be explained to you.

[00:00:41]>> I mean, >> right now, you're not free to go and you're being lawfully detained.

[00:00:45]I'm going to reach your rights. All right. I'm required to warn you before you make any statement. You have the following constitutional rights.

[00:00:52]>> You have the right to remain silent and not answer any questions. Any statement can be and will be used against you in a court of law. You understand these rights. to have read them to you.

[00:01:00]>> You wish to answer my questions.

[00:01:02]>> On March 25th, 2025, Bokea Ratan police responded to a TD Bank after an employee called 911 while stalling a fraud suspect at the front desk. That suspect was 18-year-old Elliot Garcia attempting to cash a forged $4,850 check drawn on a New Jersey account.

[00:01:22]>> Where's that? Can I see that?

[00:01:24]>> Yes. This is the check that he has.

[00:01:29]She lives in New Jersey. She's in New Jersey now.

[00:01:31]>> Okay. She says she never wrote this check out.

[00:01:33]>> She never wrote that check. He said it's for um to She has repairs.

[00:01:40]>> I do have the check. Yes.

[00:01:43]>> Can you tell me what happened?

[00:01:44]>> Um subject came in, approached the teller. Um I am the assistant manager here. The teller wanted >> further verification after looking at the subjects.

[00:01:57]identification um and the check I realized that um it may be a stolen check. Um so I proceeded to contact the customer.

[00:02:09]>> Is there a reason why you thought it was a stolen one? You said I'm sorry.

[00:02:11]>> Yes. Because of um the the location we >> cuz this was a New Jersey.

[00:02:19]>> A New Jersey New Jersey check. Yes.

[00:02:21]>> So those are little flags you saw.

[00:02:22]>> Correct.

[00:02:22]>> Okay. Um, I investigated further, realized that the subject just recently opened up an account, two accounts that has not been funded on March 10th. Um, his stories that he provided to me did not add up. He first he said that he was going to he purchased his homes, fixed them up, and resell them.

[00:02:45]>> So, okay.

[00:02:45]>> Yes. And then he stated that he was doing some work for them that they have a property in Boca Raton even though they live in New Jersey and he was doing some work for them. He also stated that it was from a company and then he switched and he said that it was from so I didn't feel comfortable so I delayed him called the customer and then called uh the police department.

[00:03:08]>> So I spoke with this gentleman he lives in Orlando. Apparently, he came down from Orlando to West Palm Beach to stay at a hotel cuz him and his cousin like to flip random down apartments, houses. Correct.

[00:03:23]Okay. If I'm wrong at any point, correct me. Okay. Please. Okay. So, he's staying in West Palm. He didn't want to cash the check in West Palm cuz he didn't want to get robbed.

[00:03:35]But for whatever reason, he couldn't stop in Lantana, Buenham Beach, do the re any other city that was in between West Palm and the city of Boca Raton. He he for whatever reason is just random. Now, if I again, if I understand correctly, apparently in in our city, in the city of Boca Raton, there's a lot of rundown apartments that need fixing that he can flip. and uh he needed to cash the check for $4,850 in our city um so that he can go look at a property somewhere in the city of Bocarone. He doesn't know where. His cousin knows where, but his cousin didn't come with him cuz he had all the important meetings, right?

[00:04:16]>> No, I didn't say.

[00:04:17]>> Oh, well, he has other important stuff to do, right?

[00:04:20]>> Okay. So, he had other important stuff to do. So, he just Uber from West Palm to the city of Bocar Raton to cash a check. Uh, did I get the story right, sir?

[00:04:28]>> Okay. Just want to make sure I was right.

[00:04:30]>> So, I spoke to the teller and I spoke to Who's that to you?

[00:04:36]>> That's just the lady I have been remodeling for the house.

[00:04:38]>> Where?

[00:04:39]>> Uh, I don't remember, but I still have a company over there, but >> she owns no houses in the state of Florida. She only lives in Jersey. Never been down a book or a tone.

[00:04:49]>> Yeah, she only she lives in Jersey.

[00:04:51]>> Okay. She never wrote this check out cuz she still has the check.

[00:04:54]>> Where is >> at her house?

[00:04:58]How is that fee if the check's right there in front of you?

[00:05:01]>> I'm asking you that question.

[00:05:02]>> That's how I'm trying to >> This check was written out to you.

[00:05:05]>> Exactly. That's how I'm trying to figure out right now.

[00:05:07]>> You have her information there. You can call her. If you're a client, if she's your client, you can call her.

[00:05:13]>> I mean, you work in her house, right?

[00:05:15]>> I sent the company to her house. I I'm just literally like >> Well, you said you picked up the check.

[00:05:20]You went to get the check in Jersey.

[00:05:22]>> Yeah, I picked up that check >> in Jersey.

[00:05:24]>> I didn't pick it up though. I got a mail.

[00:05:25]>> Oh, you know what? Let's put her on the phone. We'll put it on the speaker for you. You have to work phone.

[00:05:33]>> That's crazy.

[00:05:34]>> So, when I like what?

[00:05:36]>> We're going to send her a picture of this. So, she's going to confirm this is her signature, right?

[00:05:42]>> I mean, my man, you did the work. You got the check. You don't know anything about a check that was given to you?

[00:05:46]>> No.

[00:05:47]>> No. Okay.

[00:05:47]>> I mean, you saying that the check is still in Jersey. It's right there in front of me. I'm trying to figure out.

[00:05:52]So you went all the way to Jersey to do a construction job.

[00:05:57]>> So what city did you go to do this job?

[00:05:59]>> The company went over there to do the job for >> Okay. So >> what's your company?

[00:06:06]>> No, it's not my company.

[00:06:08]>> You said it's your company.

[00:06:08]>> I said a company.

[00:06:09]>> A company.

[00:06:10]>> You said it was your company.

[00:06:11]>> I didn't say it was my company.

[00:06:11]>> Okay. So a company is going. So why this a company? Whatever the name of a company is giving you a check.

[00:06:20]>> Okay.

[00:06:20]>> To do a job. But what job are you doing?

[00:06:23]You here in Florida, my man.

[00:06:24]>> Elliot, I'm going to ask you a question.

[00:06:26]Okay.

[00:06:27]>> You have a right to say no. Do you mind if you look through your phone? No.

[00:06:30]>> Okay. So, we're going to take the evidence and seize it.

[00:06:33]>> Wait for this evidence.

[00:06:36]Your phone.

[00:06:37]>> Wait. If I say yes, >> you said no. I'm not going to go back and forth. I'm just trying to prove what you say conversations with this this this victim here, right? In your company. Cuz usually you're going to text message some kind of proof of your company, right? and it showed you where the checkout some kind of service some kind of something like that >> we all been doing this job for a while.

[00:07:02]So, is there someone who told you to go cash this check in >> and you're just kind of the dumb person that don't know don't know anything?

[00:07:13]>> This is your chance to come clean, bro.

[00:07:15]I already cut you in enough more than enough lies.

[00:07:18]>> So, this is your chance to come clean and try to help yourself. If you want to stick to your story, you're more than welcome. But even the way I explained the story and you confirmed that that was your story, dude.

[00:07:28]>> You know, it it makes no sense, my man.

[00:07:29]Listen, maybe fe was our first day doing this line of work in my work.

[00:07:33]>> It's in South of Florida. This is king of frauds down here. This is not the first time we dealt with it.

[00:07:38]>> Fraud li ain't going to lie, that right there.

[00:07:42]>> So, who gave you that check to cash?

[00:07:44]>> I don't know. Some random person on the beach.

[00:07:47]>> Is it on the beach? Where? Here or where where you live?

[00:07:50]>> N like >> Did he drop you off here? Is the car still here? No, they I'm pretty sure once they seen you out cuz so far they've been the >> bang on, right?

[00:08:00]>> Yeah.

[00:08:01]>> So you met this random guy on the beach.

[00:08:03]He told you what? Just go in there cash.

[00:08:05]>> Yeah.

[00:08:06]>> Because on the March 10th you open up an account TD Bank.

[00:08:08]>> Yeah.

[00:08:09]>> Is that what he told you to do or?

[00:08:11]>> No. No. I was going to open for my clothing brand. But he was like >> blah blah blah TV blah blah blah.

[00:08:17]>> So random guy. You know you know what city he was in?

[00:08:20]>> What beach?

[00:08:20]>> Tampa.

[00:08:21]>> Tampa.

[00:08:23]>> So he was in Tampa. You met this random guy on the beach?

[00:08:25]>> Yes.

[00:08:26]>> He told you >> whatever whatever they want. Blah blah blah. All right.

[00:08:31]>> Okay.

[00:08:32]>> Did Okay. You ever been arrested before for anything?

[00:08:35]>> I'm down here. What's uh county?

[00:08:38]>> Uh the people from Tampa had dropped me on here and then I guess once they see I'm sure they left.

[00:08:45]>> Is it something like a friend of a trench told you do this or some random guy at the beach?

[00:08:49]>> Some random person at the beach. Yeah.

[00:08:51]He was like, "Yo, I got these uh these checks." I'm like, "Okay."

[00:08:56]>> Yeah. I'm like, "They're legit." He's like, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. They're legit."

[00:08:59]I'm like, "Okay, I'm not going to get into no trouble, right?" He was like, "Nah, nah, you good." I was like, "Okay, good."

[00:09:04]>> Black guy, white guy, Spanish guy.

[00:09:06]>> Nah. Um, >> white guy girl.

[00:09:09]>> Sorry.

[00:09:10]>> Who was the guy who who told you?

[00:09:11]>> It was like he's like Haitian. Like, >> so it's a black guy.

[00:09:14]>> I'm not trying to skin color white, black, yellow, dark skin.

[00:09:19]>> Third skin. He got dressed. Okay.

[00:09:21]>> Uh tax was all over.

[00:09:24]>> How many checks did he give you? Just one?

[00:09:26]>> Yeah, literally just one.

[00:09:27]>> Just one?

[00:09:27]>> Yeah, literally just one.

[00:09:29]>> He said you said he gave you checks.

[00:09:31]>> No, no, he gave me that check right there.

[00:09:33]>> He just gave you >> He literally gave me one >> and he drove you all the way down here for one check.

[00:09:39]>> Is that the guy you're on the phone with when you were trying to cash the check?

[00:09:42]>> That's what we usually do is stay on the phone when we try to do this.

[00:09:45]The first question is whether the detention was lawful. Under Terry versus Ohio, officers may detain a person based on reasonable, articulable suspicion that a crime is occurring. A bank employee had already called police while stalling Garcia. He had opened two unfunded accounts at that branch 15 days earlier, and his story was already shifting on arrival. That clears the Terry threshold with room to spare. The second issue is Miranda. The fifth amendment requires officers to advise a custodial subject of their right to remain silent and to counsel before interrogation begins. Officers read Garcia his rights at 1 minute 33 seconds. The advisement was accurate, but no explicit verbal waiver was obtained before questioning resumed.

[00:10:27]Under Berg House versus Tomkins, continuing to speak voluntarily after Miranda warnings is an implicit waiver.

[00:10:33]Garcia talked for over 20 minutes, but the missing onrecord waiver is a vulnerability the defense will exploit.

[00:10:39]The third issue is the phone. Garcia refused consent to search. Officers responded they would seize it as evidence instead, and that was legally correct. The Fourth Amendment protects against warrantless searches, not against seizure, when probable cause exists. Under United States versus place, officers may seize property to prevent its loss while obtaining a warrant. Refusing consent does not shield the device. The fourth issue is the interrogation. After Miranda officers spent over 15 minutes urging Garcia to cooperate and outlining his felony exposure, persuasion is only lawful when officers make no promises of leniency. Under Colorado versus Connelly, a statement is involuntary only when coercive government conduct caused the waiver, not when officers simply encourage cooperation. Officers disclaimed any promise or deal repeatedly and explicitly on camera.

[00:11:30]Every statement Garcia made was legally obtained. What Garcia said matters. He admitted having doubts about the check's legitimacy before proceeding, then went ahead anyway after being told he would be fine. To convict on uttering a forged instrument under Florida Statute Section 831.02, the prosecution must prove the defendant knew the instrument was forged and intended to defraud. Garcia's own words on tape satisfy both elements. He also admitted this was not his first time, that prior conduct may be admissible under Florida evidence rule 90.404 to prove knowledge and absence of mistake. Garcia was charged with three thirdderee felonies, grand theft under section 812.014, uttering a counterfeit check under section 831.02, and fraudulent use of personal identification under section 817.568.

[00:12:21]Each count carries up to 5 years in state prison and $5,000 in fines. As a firsttime adult offender, Garcia may qualify for Florida's pre-trial diversion program, which could result in full dismissal upon completion.

[00:12:37]>> How much money were you supposed to get paid from that >> from the 4950 that you were going to take? How much was your cut? Uh um probably like probably like 15 >> 1500 >> and he dropped you off and he says in >> he just said cash it out real quick.

[00:13:04]>> What what car did he drop you off in?

[00:13:06]>> Uh electric one >> like a Tesla. No, something like that.

[00:13:15]>> The Kona whatever it is. I don't know.

[00:13:17]It's like can something else.

[00:13:18]>> Is it the Hyundai?

[00:13:20]>> No, >> it it's newer EV. What color?

[00:13:27]>> We're going to check the camera. So, I mean, just better be honest. If you came in the car, you dropped off or were you dropped off in the front or you dropped off in the back?

[00:13:37]>> Were you dropped off on the side, the front or the back? Cuz we're going to check the cameras. There's a bank.

[00:13:41]There's cameras everywhere. Walked.

[00:13:43]>> Walked where? You said you were dropped off.

[00:13:45]>> I know, but I I dropped off like down the street and I walked here.

[00:13:49]>> So, I believe you're telling part of the story, right? You came honest with someone telling you to do this.

[00:13:53]>> But I ain't It ain't some guy on the beach. It's probably someone you know.

[00:13:57]Probably someone who's done this before and said, "Hey, I did it once. It went through >> in Tampa. Who took you from Tampa to here and you don't know what kind of car it was?"

[00:14:09]>> You said it was an EV car, newer, right?

[00:14:10]What color was it?

[00:14:12]>> It's like a reddish. It's like a dark reddish. Like a wine color.

[00:14:16]>> Where did he drop you off?

[00:14:19]>> Literally at the light >> at this light where this wide open window light is right here. They have cameras that point that way. Why? We're going to see you walk.

[00:14:30]>> That point that way >> where they're going to see you walk.

[00:14:32]>> Yep.

[00:14:33]>> Okay.

[00:14:35]>> You You understand? You're in serious trouble right now, right? I hope you know that. Okay. Okay. I'm trying to I'm I'm going to be straight up with you.

[00:14:41]Okay.

[00:14:41]>> You're looking at a couple felonies.

[00:14:44]>> Felonies.

[00:14:46]>> This is felony, man.

[00:14:48]>> What?

[00:14:49]>> Yeah. You're looking at washing a check, that's a felony.

[00:14:54]Fraud, that's another felony. The amount is over 750, so another felony. So, right now, you're looking at three felonies alone yourself.

[00:15:03]Yeah.

[00:15:04]>> So, we're giving you the chance to try to help yourself.

[00:15:09]>> What What would What would be helping you?

[00:15:11]>> The truth. The truth will help you because when we present a case later to the state attorney's office, >> they're going to see everything and they're going to be like, "Okay, this guy's coop cooperating or something." I don't think that you're the person involved in this. I think this is a bigger ring that I think that there's way more people involved in this. I don't think you're the only person that they're using to cash these checks. And the reason I know this is because a couple months ago, I made the same arrest for somebody else. Okay? So, it's up to you if you want to be you want to see the state. Okay. Hey, I cooperated. He was being truthful. Let's see what we can do to help them out. And I'm not saying to help you out that they're going to give you a deal or anything that I'm not mentioning anything. I'm promising you anything. I am not. But what I'm trying to explain to you is it's just going to help you later in the long run because everybody's going to have access to all of this. All of this is being video and already recorded. We have all the evidence. We getting the statements, right? So all of this information is going to come into play later in court.

[00:16:17]So we're you we already caught your line, right? But now you're finally starting to tell somewhat of the truth, right? It's not a good look when the state attorney is reviewing this and they're like, "Okay, he's not even remorseful about what he's doing. He doesn't care about what he's doing." Okay, then they're going to give you what they're going to give you.

[00:16:38]>> Okay. Again, I'm didn't make you any promise. I'm not telling you that something's going to change. However, being truthful and you telling the truth and maybe even getting the people that got you in this situation involved, cuz as you can see, the people that dropped you off here, >> the moment they saw our cars, I know that they took off at a high rate of speed. They got in that highway and they say, "Lose this guy's contact number and it's over."

[00:17:04]You think you're ever going to hear from them again?

[00:17:07]>> You think you think they're going to post your bell?

[00:17:11]You got to think you were set to make what? 15 $1,500. $1,000. So they gave you one check for $1,000 is what you were going to get. Think about how many checks they're giving out to people. How much money they're making. They're making hundreds of thousands of dollars and you're about to make $1,000. And like he said, three felonies. Three felonies for $1,000.

[00:17:36]>> Let that cover your body.

[00:17:37]>> Let that sink in. You know, >> it's going to be up there. You're going to depending on the amount of felonies we're going to put.

[00:17:44]>> I don't want to give you a number, then I'm wrong.

[00:17:47]>> You get what I'm saying?

[00:17:50]>> This is the one and only chance and opportunity we're going to give you to come clean. Once we lock into your statement, guess what? All you whatever you tell us, that's what's going to be locked into your statement.

[00:18:02]Then it's up to the attorneys later on and the state how they going to want to handle this. Okay.

[00:18:09]But it's up to you cuz I don't think you are the person at fault for this.

[00:18:15]Somebody used you and now look who's the one in handcuffs and look who's the one that just took off in a car and they're hanging out home >> and all they lost was a piece of paper.

[00:18:28]>> Somebody's calling you. Some hav guy facetiming you.

[00:18:36]>> Okay. So you you want to take the fall for everything? It's you >> take the fall for everything.

[00:18:41]>> Yeah. Like so this was your idea. This is your whole plot.

[00:18:44]>> Okay. So whose idea was for you to do this? I There's no way you just were walking around the beach holding hands or or walking by yourself, holding the air, and you decided to be like, "Oh, hey.

[00:18:55]How you doing, stranger? Oh, I can make $1,000. Let me jump in your car and let's go to the city of Bakaraton so I can make some money." I highly doubt that's what happened, but if that's a statement you want to stick to, I'll be more than happy when we go in front of the judge to let the judge know that was your statement.

[00:19:11]>> So, what happened?

[00:19:13]>> I was at the beach on Temple >> when >> two weeks ago.

[00:19:18]>> Two weeks ago. Okay. And then what happened?

[00:19:20]>> Uh I was just walking I walked out of a restaurant. Some guy was like, "Hey yo, how old you is?" I was like, "I'm 18 years old." and he was like, "Hey, you trying to make like you trying to make a quick th000?" I'm like, "Sure." And then once he showed me the check, I'm like 4,000.

[00:19:38]So, I'm only getting $1,000 for $4,000 checks.

[00:19:42]And I was like, you know, he'll probably give me more. So, I was like, you know, I'll just go through with it, cast a check, give him whatever he gives, and whatever he gives me, he gives me. That was literally the end of it.

[00:19:58]Okay. How did you contact with this person? Huh?

[00:20:01]>> How did you communicate with this person?

[00:20:04]>> In person.

[00:20:07]>> Okay. So, you known him for two weeks, correct? Two weeks from today. Correct.

[00:20:10]Give or take?

[00:20:11]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:20:12]>> Okay. So, you've been with him every single day, 24/7 with him for the last two weeks?

[00:20:18]>> No.

[00:20:18]>> Okay. So, how did you communicate? Did you guys use like brain signals, smoke signals? How did you communicate with him? No, he just tell me what to do and I just I already I really had to like memorize.

[00:20:30]>> Okay. So, he tells you what to do, but somebody dropped you off. So, how did you communicate with these people?

[00:20:39]>> How did you get from Tampa? Right. If you guys met in Tampa on the beach, I'm assuming like Clear Water St. Pete, right? It's the other side of the state.

[00:20:46]>> So, in a twoe time frame, follow me. Two week time frame, you got from there to here with him.

[00:20:53]How did you orchestrate him picking you up and driving you here? Did you send him mail? Did you call him? Did you FaceTime him? Do you UVU MySpace? Like, what did you guys use to talk to coordinate you getting here today?

[00:21:09]That's what we're trying to figure out.

[00:21:12]>> That's But that's not what I'm asking.

[00:21:13]>> I'm not asking what he paid for. How did you guys arrange like Instagram DMs? Did you like DM him like, "Hey, dude. I'm ready to go at noon." No, it was just >> I'll pick you up.

[00:21:24]>> Yeah, he'll pick me up and then he'll drop me off and then he drop me off.

[00:21:27]>> So, how did he know when to pick you up and how to where to pick you up?

[00:21:31]>> Cuz he already dropped me off the first time when we came back.

[00:21:34]>> So, he just came at a random time and you were like, "Oh, perfect. I've been ready." So, you were outside your house for hours just waiting with your stuff to come out?

[00:21:41]>> Not waiting for hours, but I was You knocked on the door and was there. So, I was, "All right, let's go."

[00:21:45]>> So, he's familiar with the area over here, >> I guess. So, >> so he's from over here? I don't know where he's from. He lit I literally met him in Tampa.

[00:21:52]>> So, how did he know where you lived?

[00:21:54]>> He didn't know where I live. I met him in Tampa.

[00:21:59]>> Maybe maybe I'm just really confused with the situation. Right. So, you live here, but you were in Tampa, right?

[00:22:06]>> What?

[00:22:06]>> You live in West Palm. Sorry.

[00:22:08]>> I don't live here.

[00:22:08]>> Where do you live?

[00:22:11]>> In Orlando.

[00:22:12]>> You live in Orlando.

[00:22:13]>> So, he picks you up in Orlando after meeting two weeks ago in Tampa. And then somehow you guys end up driving down here.

[00:22:21]>> Yeah.

[00:22:23]>> So, how did he know what time, what day to get from Tampa to Orlando to pick you up?

[00:22:28]>> He didn't know no time. He just pulled up.

[00:22:34]Okay. You just want to lie. You just want to lie, my man. It is what it is, bro. Come on, bro. Like, you mean to tell me in a nature of communication where you have a phone that's been blowing up this whole time during a conversation, you didn't get his phone number. So, somebody tells you, a random person you never met in your life, tells you, "Hey, I'm going to give you $1,000." And the first thing is like, "Okay, you're a stranger. You didn't worry that he was going to go to your house to kill you and your family." You No. None of that went through your head.

[00:23:01]And you don't not even worry that he knows where you live.

[00:23:05]>> Now that you're caught, you're not worried that he knows where you live.

[00:23:12]>> Now, when you say it like that, yeah, a little bit. But I mean, I don't think he's going to Well, I don't know.

[00:23:20]>> I guess we'll never know.

[00:23:21]>> Yeah, we'll never know, >> right?

[00:23:23]>> Well, you might know, but we won't know.

[00:23:26]>> Okay, like I said, we'll seize this.

[00:23:28]We're going to do a whole analytical.

[00:23:30]We'll get a warrant for this. This tells the truth.

[00:23:34]>> Okay, that's fine. Listen, bro. Just want I want to tell you something, okay?

[00:23:41]So, you understand how this works. Even when you delete stuff in this, nothing is permanently deleted.

[00:23:47]And the once we get the warrant and we get the stuff we need, everything you even ever deleted, we're going to be able to see.

[00:23:55]>> So, yes.

[00:23:57]>> All right. So, he he changed the story a little bit. We didn't >> meet him in Tampa down like literally a couple days ago. This is I mean they take it all right now. You're still not being super clear about how you got down here because >> you told me one thing but now you tell me another thing, right? So this is just something you like I told you before, you're articulate. You seem like you know you haven't you know >> clean recordation.

[00:24:27]You have a clean record, bro. But like this >> I mean it listen it's like I said it's not a crime of the century but you had to know you have to someone hands you a check with these two people's names on it say oh go in here and do this like come on >> the thing is I I did it before like a regular employer check so I when I didn't have a bank that's how I would get my money like I would literally go cash it out. You are smart. Some random dude in Fort Lauderdale comes up to you and says, "Oh, you want to be a TD?"

[00:24:55]That's wild, bro. That you would even tell me that would be a fast investment though. That's how that's how I seen it though. It happened so fast ever do it again. Obviously, >> ever in my life for it, right? And >> ruining that record. But like I said, you're 18, okay? It's a crime 100% and you're going to jail for it, right? But if you really don't have any other prior arrests or anything like that, >> I have nothing.

[00:25:21]>> Okay. And then you go see a judge and they have plenty of things. They have diversion programs.

[00:25:26]>> What was the difference in your story with her so just so that way I'm caught up to speed, right? Cuz here here's where I'm at, right? I'm not trying to ask you. I'm sharing with you, right?

[00:25:37]Manto man. You told us one story. That's all I know. She can tell me her story and it's coming from her. So it's a game of telephone, right? I don't like playing telephone. I'd rather hear from you. So that way >> that way when I write my report, it's your words and not somebody else's.

[00:25:52]Right. So you met this dude in Fort Lauderdale 2 days ago.

[00:25:55]>> Yeah.

[00:25:56]>> You go back home. What? What happened?

[00:25:57]>> No, I I stayed in Fort Lauderdale.

[00:25:59]>> Okay. So you stay down there and then >> stay down there. Literally, he said just give me a couple days. I was like, "All right, I'll give you a couple days."

[00:26:06]The day comes, he said, "All right, this what you going to do? You going to walk in TD? I'mma give you this check and he's gonna walk out.

[00:26:15]>> Literally made it super like that. He didn't even he didn't give me his details. He didn't give me nothing. Like he didn't give me arrangements or nothing. Literally said I'm going to give you this check once you walk in TD.

[00:26:25]>> Cash it and you're out.

[00:26:26]>> Literally literally simple as that.

[00:26:28]>> So like the this is for from my understanding, not like >> to just clarify. Did did he have you fill it out or did he already have all this information for the lady? It was already filled out. He litally he literally gave it to me. He said, "Walk in here." And I'll >> So he already knew your name and stuff to fill it out and then he knew what I guess dollar amount he wanted it all to be and stuff.

[00:26:48]>> That's I guess all the only thing the only thing he asked me for was a name.

[00:26:53]Like mine >> your sorry >> my name.

[00:26:55]>> Your name?

[00:26:56]>> That's >> I didn't I just didn't hear you.

[00:26:58]>> No, you >> um Okay. And then what? He picked you up earlier today. Y'all came straight here and that was it. Y'all ain't been hanging out the last two days.

[00:27:04]>> Literally that's it.

[00:27:06]>> Okay.

[00:27:07]I don't know. He just made it so simple.

[00:27:10]So I didn't really like it back in my head like damn this dumb.

[00:27:14]>> You walk out with a band too.

[00:27:17]>> Like and that that band was literally going to go to my clothing like >> go to your what?

[00:27:21]>> My clothing brand.

[00:27:22]>> Clothing. I got >> like I was about to I was about to open that's why I opened TD originally to make a business.

[00:27:27]>> Yeah.

[00:27:27]>> To make as a business account.

[00:27:29]>> Okay.

[00:27:30]>> But it's too late for that.

[00:27:32]>> We're going to search you before we'll put you in the vehicle cuz you understand. You understand you're under arrest, right? Okay.

[00:27:46]Spread your feet for me, sir. A little more wider than that. You don't have to go wider. A little bit wider.

[00:27:50]>> Yep. I'll show you. Right there. Like that.

[00:27:55]>> You hold me if I fall.

[00:27:56]>> 100%. Where you think my hand is here?

[00:27:58]You see what I'm saying? Look, I got my leg and my arm making sure you don't fall, bro.

[00:28:02]>> I know, bro. You good?

[00:28:03]>> I get it. I get it, bro. It's all love, bro. I didn't even >> I feel you. Listen, I get it. I get it.

[00:28:08]>> Hey, so listen. I'm not asking this to be funny, right? I ask everybody this before I put them in my car. I'm going to patch you down. Is there anything that's going to poke me, stick me, or harm me? Okay, so that covers anything.

[00:28:18]Just hear me out. Anything that covers anything on the outside of your body? Do you have anything on the inside of your body?

[00:28:24]>> I ask everybody because here's the reason I'm asking it is it's it's fine now, but once you get to the jail, they're going to x-ray you. And if they see something inside you, it's another charge.

[00:28:32]>> So if you want to tell me now, we can figure that out.

[00:28:35]>> You sure? No piercings in places that I'm not going to find. Okay.

[00:28:38]>> The Boca Ratan Police Department receives an A minus. The detention Miranda advisement phone seizure and cooperation pitch were all handled correctly. Two factors prevent a perfect score. No explicit Miranda waiver was secured on the record. And one officer's sarcastic remarks during questioning, while not coercive, were unprofessional and hand defense council and easy narrative. Elliot Garcia receives a D.

[00:29:03]He knowingly participated despite his own doubts, gave four materially different accounts on camera after Miranda, and admitted to prior similar conduct. Garcia receives some credit for not resisting arrest and for eventually providing a more consistent account to the second detective. Those factors do not offset three on camera felony admissions. The TD Bank assistant manager receives an A. She identified fraud indicators early delayed Garcia without alerting him. confirmed the check was unauthorized by calling the account holder directly and briefed officers clearly on arrival. Three lessons stand out. First, cashing a check on behalf of a stranger is a money mule scheme. It is a felony under both state and federal law, regardless of whether you know the specific instrument is forged. The law does not require proof you knew every detail of the fraud. Proof that you knew something was wrong and proceeded anyway, is enough for conviction. Garcia's own statement established that threshold. Second, once Miranda warnings are given the right to remain silent is absolute, every inconsistency added during post Miranda questioning becomes evidence. Invoking that right and asking for an attorney is always the smarter choice. Third bank employees are trained to flag this exact pattern. New account, outofstate check, no verifiable relationship to the issuer. Inconsistent story. This scheme was never going to succeed. The organizers collected the profit, paid Garcia a small cut, and fled when police arrived. Garcia faces 15 years of exposure. They do not. That is how money mule recruitment is designed to work.

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