When a group of men said they found a wooden crate full of antique bank notes and bills buried in a yard, the story captured national media attention. The three "thought challenged" men appeared on "Good Morning America," CNN and other national television shows to tell of their find. I guess they never considered the police might be watching their story as well.
Authorities found that one of the men has a criminal record that includes a 1999 federal conviction for counterfeiting. (Red flag for those of you who aren't paying attention)
The three men who say they found the money -- Barry Billcliff, 27, of Manchester, N.H., Matt Ingham, 26, of Newton, N.H., and Tim Crebase, 22, of Methuen -- have told their story over and over to various media outlets since last Friday, each time a little differently. (Another Red flag for those of you who aren't paying attention)
One consistent thread is that they dug up 1,800 bank notes and bills dated between 1899 and 1928, with a face value of about $7,000 but worth much more to collectors. The stories differed over how deep the remarkably well-preserved money was buried -- anywhere from 9 inches to 2 feet.
They also differed on the details of the condition of the wooden box the money was found in -- at first they said it was so rotted it disintegrated on contact and, in another report, that they tore off the top in one piece.
The men also gave conflicting accounts of their reasons for digging in the back yard of the house where Crebase lives. They told one reporter they were digging a hole to plant a tree. In other reports, they were quoted as saying they wanted to remove a small tree or dig up the roots of a shrub that was damaging the foundation of the house. (Ok we are up to about 10 red flags now!)
So fast forward and you find the men charged with receiving stolen property, conspiracy and accessory after the fact. Why? Police say the men found the old bank notes and bills in a house where they were doing roofing work. In other words, they stole the money from someone else. They then went on a national media tour to tell their lies that they could not even keep straight.
Too bad stupidity is not a crime. We could add another charge.
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