A Florida woman accused of posing as a bank representative and taking a senior’s debit card arrived at jail with something deputies say she neglected to mention during her arrest: $3,180 in cash concealed inside her body.
Investigators say that exact amount had been drained from the victim’s bank account shortly after 31-year-old Moniquie Love Turnbull left the senior’s home. The money included $3,000 taken in one withdrawal and another $180 withdrawn from an ATM.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office says the scheme began with a caller posing as a Chase Bank fraud representative, followed by an in-person visit from Turnbull using the name “Monica.” Investigators say she cut the victim’s card in half before leaving with it, while a second attempted victim that same day refused to turn over a card.
The cash was not discovered during Turnbull’s arrest. Sheriff John Budensiek said detectives learned about it after Turnbull complained of pain during a jail phone call, eventually leading to an admission about where the missing $3,180 had been hidden.
Deputies Say the $3,180 Came to Light After a Jail Phone Call
Turnbull, of Miami, was arrested Monday after deputies connected her to two encounters involving people who were approached by someone claiming to represent their bank, according to CBS12.
The cash was not discovered during the traffic stop. Sheriff John Budensiek said Turnbull later complained of pain while speaking to an unidentified man during a jail phone call, prompting detectives to return and question her.
Budensiek stated: “Our detectives went back over to the jail. They interviewed her yet again. She admitted to having money inside of her. She said at that point it was only $400. And then later, as they interviewed her a little more, she said it was $3,180.”
Investigators say Turnbull had concealed the money inside her body before entering the jail. She is now facing an additional charge of introducing contraband into a corrections facility.
The unusual hiding place may be what turned the case into a national headline, but investigators say the $3,180 had been taken from a senior who could hardly afford to lose it.
The Scam Allegedly Started With a Convincing Call
According to arrest affidavits reviewed by CBS12, an unidentified man first called the victim while posing as a Chase Bank fraud representative. He reportedly claimed the victim’s account had been compromised and said someone would arrive at the home to collect the card and destroy it before a replacement was issued.
Investigators say Turnbull then arrived using the name “Monica.” The caller reportedly supplied a verification code that Turnbull used with the victim, giving the in-person visit another layer of credibility.
Turnbull took the card, cut it in half in front of the victim, and placed the pieces into a manila envelope, according to investigators.
The victim was uneasy enough about the encounter to write down the vehicle’s license plate number after Turnbull left.
Minutes later, investigators say $3,000 was withdrawn from the victim’s account, followed by another $180 ATM withdrawal.
The total was $3,180.
That was the same amount deputies say was later found concealed inside Turnbull when she was being processed at the jail.
Budensiek said the loss was especially damaging for the victim: “In this particular instance, this was all the money that this lady had. This was her rent money. This was everything that she had. And she handed it over to a scammer.”
A Second Doorstep Encounter
While deputies were investigating the first report, they learned about another encounter involving a person investigators believed was Turnbull, according to CBS12’s initial report.
That visit was captured by a Ring doorbell camera. A family member became suspicious and refused to hand over the requested card, investigators said.
Information from the two encounters, including a license plate number and vehicle description, helped deputies locate Turnbull near Interstate 95 in Hobe Sound.
Body-camera footage shows deputies stopping the vehicle and taking Turnbull into custody. The first victim was brought to the scene and identified her as the woman who had come to the home using the name “Monica,” according to CBS12.
Deputies searching the vehicle reportedly found a surgical mask and multiple yellow envelopes matching descriptions given during the investigation.
Turnbull was booked on charges including scheme to defraud, grand theft, fraudulent use of a credit or debit card without consent involving a victim 60 or older, fraudulent use of identification without consent, and felony use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
Her cellphone and Apple Watch were also seized, and investigators were seeking permission to search the devices.
The Case May Go Beyond One Suspect
Deputies believe another person participated in the scheme by making the phone calls, and Budensiek said investigators still do not know how the targets were selected.
Turnbull told investigators she was part of a larger organization, according to the sheriff, although he emphasized that investigators had not verified that claim.
“Where’s the money going? We don’t know. She stated that she is part of a larger organization. We can’t verify that one way or the other, and then the other question we have is: How does she know where to go? She went to two Chase Bank customers. Just random addresses, but it doesn’t look to be that random.”
Turnbull was being held on $500,000 bond as of Wednesday, according to CBS12. The investigation remained open, including efforts to identify the person accused of making the phone calls.
The sheriff’s office is warning residents not to hand over bank cards, cash, gold, or other valuables to people who unexpectedly arrive at their homes claiming to represent a financial institution. Anyone receiving a suspicious request can independently contact their bank using the number printed on the back of their card or through the bank’s official website or app rather than relying on a number supplied by the caller.
The charges against Turnbull are accusations. She is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.