seems to be gone with the texas wind. in the wake of bonnie's death, the orchards faded and there were no longer any harkey's living in the harkey home. >> that's all for this edition of dateline. i'm natalie morales. thanks for watching. les. thanks for watching. >> you were looking for love and decided to try a dating site. >> i did. >> what was his description? >> he was a military, navy seal. >> he would show up have flowers, give me cards for no reason, he was a charm. >> my oldest daughter said to me either he is the perfect guy, or you will end up on dateline some ten. >> i googled derek alldred and i see all his old mug shots. >> when i saw the uniform i knew that there was something really wrong because he had a fake batch on. >> every minute he is with you, he is stealing all of your

money. the more we found out about him, the more dangerous he became. >> he is starting to brandish a gun. >> i had my guns leached and next to me. >> i had a back pack for myself, the minute i had heard him storing i jumped out of my bed. >> this guy needs to be stopped. >> we all banded together. >> he's not gonna do this to another woman. >> it all came down to this moment. >> we had officers and agents in vehicle, extra points, entry points to make sure he doesn't escape. >> finally he was in their sights. >> this guy needs to be stopped. >> he was going from state to state and he wasn't being held accountable. >> this is what he did for power. it's almost like a drug. >> he was good. really good.

>> the best liar i've ever met in my life. >> he just didn't count on her. >> you have no idea, i'm not gonna stop. >> cindi pardini was a true success story. she earned her degree in construction management and engineering. >> graduated with all men in a hard hat, and a gown. >> she went into technology, working for start-ups that became multi billion dollar companies. >> i had purchased stock, in the first tech company that i had worked for, at the time i left i had 1 million dollars. >> how old were you then? >> 30. >> by her early 40s, she was looking to slow down. >> i had taken a breather from my tech career, i was traveling all around the world, i was traveling well over hundred thousand miles a. here >> one day, after posting something on facebook about her beloved football team, san franciscan 49ers, a comment caught her attention. >> somebody had come on to my page and said go cowboys, and

they are arch rivals, that peaked my interest. >> that someone was a man named derek alldred, they had mutual friends on facebook. curious to find out more, she scanned his linkedin page and saw that he was a 42 year old investment banker. >> you're having this light hearted banterer on football teams? >> yes. >> she didn't hear from him for several months, then in the fall of 2013, out of the blue, derek message her. >> he said i've been going through a terrible divorce, and i've been in maui decompressing, and he said i've just inherited bunch of money, several million dollars and i'm thinking about moving to san francisco. >> he wondered if he could stay in her guest bedroom while he looked at properties nearby. >> he said i don't want to stay in the motel, and i don't want to stay downtown because that wouldn't give me the vibe of the marina. >> how did you feel about him staying with you. >> it really didn't matter,

i've had friends stay with me and i do airbnb and so a kind of welcomed having the company in my house. >> so derrick flew to hawaii to knock on her door, he seemed charming, we started talking and so we dug into -- he >> had an impressive background? >> sure. he said i'm building a ritz-carlton in maui and i build the one in tahoe. >> after several days of house hunting he went back to hawaii for business, but he found a house in san francisco he was interested. and >> he said do you mind if i come back while i come through and work through this list. >> when he returned? >> he was taking me to dinner almost every single night to reimburse me,. >> he even took cindy and her sister to a 49ers game. >> and we can get away to the hotel he said he had built. >> i wasn't pulling my wallet out for anything. my sister thought that he was

awesome. she said, you should dayton. >> then, he told her about an upcoming business trip to new york city and invited her as his guest on the luxury trip. >> he said i will stand one of the wrist carleton, i'm looking at the properties that we are investing. in >> is it still friendship? are things progressing? >> i mean, things are progressing but it's not a full blown dating relationship, you know? it was more, it was still an open -- >> let's see where this goes? >> yes. >> you are not picking out wedding dresses, let's put it that way? >> not at all. >> as the car pulled up to take them to the airport, cindy got a call from -- derek called dread, and i said yes and he said i need to let you know that it looks like he is using other peoples credit cards. >> cindy had the man on speakerphone, derrick was in the room and grab the phone. >> he was just like why do you keep calling, you, know

somebody is using my name, this is not me, derrick explained that they kept confusing him with another derrick who was living in the midwest. >> all my bags were downstairs, and the town car is calling up and asking us if we are ready to go. >> cindy wasn't sure what to believe, so she threw caution to the wind and headed to new york. >> the first morning there, she says derrick was upright an early. >> he got up, took a shower, put on a three piece suit had full contracts in hand put them in his briefcase. >> after he was out the doors and it was having trouble with her computers or she borrowed derek's. >> i wanted to check mail and read the news online, i clicked on the mail and i see that it is all of these women's name. >> it looked to cindy like he had been messaging women that he had met on line. one email in particular caught

her eye. it was to it woman named wendy. >> it's hi wendy, i hope you enjoy the weekend in hawaii, i hope you got the flowers -- >> wow. >> the earrings, and i can't wait to see you again. >> cindy concluded derek had been lying about what he had been doing in hawaii. he had told her that it was all business, she started wondering what else he could be lying about. she got back to that call from priced line and checked her bank accounts. >> i noticed in the last month that there was a 20,000-dollar line of credit that had been pulled down into my checking account. >> the money was gone and cindy was in a panic. she checked her american express platinum account and saw that he had opened a car to his name on her life credit. it has been dozens of toddlers, in fact she discovered it was her money. >> i was shaking, they're very few times in my life that if i had been shook in. up >> when derek return later

that day, did you confront him about the? money >> yeah is, and then at that point that was that. >> he refused to discuss it further. >> the last thing i remember is him walking out of the room with the silver briefcase. >> gone? >> gone. >> cindy was reeling. she couldn't think straight, she needed to get herself a home, to sort out this nightmare. >> it was so shocking that it was hard to put one foot in front of the other. >> the road ahead would be far from easy for sandy. she was in for the fight of her life. coming up. cindy couldn't possibly have known how long that journey would be, or how many women would join her on it. >> i went directly to facebook and gave his name, and said if anybody knows of him, share this. >> cher they did.

a slew of dark stories about what derek had done. >> i was stunned, i was shock, i was disgusted, all of these crazy emotions. >> when dateline continues. i just love our new alexa. dad, it's a buick. i love that new alexa smell. it's a buick. we need snacks for the team. alexa, take us to the nearest grocery store. getting directions. alexa will get us there in no time. it's a buick. let's be real. don't make me turn this alexa around. oh my. it's painful. the buick enclave, with available alexa built in. ask “alexa, tell me more about buick suvs.” there's an invisible threat in your backyard that could cause deadly heartworm disease for your dog.

but not if you protect him every month with heartgard plus, the #1 choice of dogs. digestive and neurological side effects have rarely been reported. ask your vet for heartgard plus. here's candice... who works from home, and then works from home. but she can handle pickup, even when her bladder makes a little drop-off. because candice has poise, poise under pressure and poise in her pants. it takes poise.

xfinity mobile runs on america's most reliable 5g network, but for up to half the price of verizon so you have more money for more stuff. this phone? fewer groceries. this phone? more groceries! this phone? fewer concert tickets. this phone? more concert tickets. and not just for my shows. switch to xfinity mobile for half the price of verizon. new and existing customers get amazing value with our everyday pricing. switch today. this? this is supersonic wifi from xfinity. it's fast. like, ready-for- major-gig-speeds fast. like riding-a-cheetah fast. isn't that right, girl? whoa! it can connect hundreds of devices at once. [ in unison ] that's powerful. couldn't have said it better myself. and with three times the bandwidth, the gaming never has to end.

slaying is our business. and business is good. unbeatable internet from xfinity. >> cindi bardini any could feel made to do anything so you can do anything. the shock wearing off and cold reality setting in. she had been swindled by a smooth talking conman and needed to act quickly. >> i went directly to facebook and i said i have been a victim of fraud and i need help. i gave his name and i posted his linkedin profile as well, i said if anybody knows of him, share this. >> when she started totaling up her losses to her horror, she realized in the month she had known him, derek had stolen much more than she originally thought. he tapped into her 401(k), mortgage saving, and her credit card.

>> how much do you alleged he ended up stealing from you in the end? >> $250, 000, that's like losing $10,000 a day. >> she tried to piece together how he had done it. he hacked into her gmail account, she thinks, back then security wasn't as tight. >> we didn't have the authentication that we have now, he had been forwarding mayoral to his own mail and also playing a chess game with my mail, so i wouldn't see deleted items. >> from there, she says he changed her passwords and was able to raid her bank accounts and break up thousands of dollars on her credit card. she contacted her local san francisco police department and filed a report, i actually got a female detective and she said honey, i really don't think i'm gonna be able to get this until 2015. i said that's two years from now. >> oh my gosh, you must of been

so deflated. >> yeah, i wasn't being heard. >> so cindi became her own detective, she started by calling wendy, the woman she discovered derek had spend time with in hawaii. >> i wanted to warn her of what had happened to me. >> how did she react? >> she said, i'm not seeing him, i broke up with him, you know, over a month ago. >> wendy said derek hadn't stolen any money from her, that's when the conversation turned awkward. cindi told wendy all that money derek had been using to romance her came from cindi's own credit card. >> he was sending her 200 dollar bouquets of flowers, sometimes twice a week, he bought a 3000 dollar earring, spa treatment, he even, during the month that he was here he had borrowed my card supposedly to go see his dog and he actually picked up wendy and her daughter and took them to a

concert and dinner in my car my money when they were visiting san francisco. >> how is she reacting to this when you are telling her, that was actually my money? >> she was like i'm so sorry, and she said i knew something was off with him that's why i broke it off. >> she continued posting about him and even spoke to the newspaper, tips started coming in. one painted a picture of his childhood back in northern california,. >> he was adopted, his father had a restaurant business. >> did derek had some kind of messed up childhood that let him down his path? >> he grew up near the oakland hills in berkeley, very wealthy area. >> cindi got another tip about derek's past, a woman named vanessa said she dated him back in 1992 when she was a student at ucla. derek was in his early 20s and told her he was amid student.

maxlength=32> he was there, walking through the hallways with his lab coat on. and his name was embroidered, ucla research. she had no reason to doubt him. >> i would take him to the children's hospital where he was doing research for cystic fibrosis. and even the girls at the reception knew him. >> she fell hard, he was tall, handsome, and charming. she remembers a long road trips they took to visit his parents. she thought they were building a future together. >> he kind of created this dream, we fell in love, and he said we'd be married, and he'd be a doctor, and we have a family one day. and that's the first time someone had ever said that to me, so i believed him. why wouldn't i? >> but a year and a half into their relationship everything changed. >> one day he says he has to go visit his parents, out of the blue, gave me a kiss. he said i'll see you soon, bay.

and i never heard from him again. the nasa said he'd taken off the sentimental gold bracelet, and $2,000 over money. she tried to get it all back. >> so, i got to his mom, trying to get answers, she was always a evasive about his whereabouts. it wasn't until 25 years later, when on a she decided to google her old flame. there is a news article about him having swindled someone by the name of cindi pardini, and i was like what's? ? i couldn't believe it. she discovered her hands and that student was an impostor. derek alldred never even intended ucla. >> i was stunned, i was shocked, i was disgusted. all these crazy emotions. and so i immediately reached out to cindi. >> she was always kind of there to be supportive of me. >> soon, cindy had established a small network of derek's

victims. >> we have a group instant messenger, we have group text, we have group emails. and i'll be like, welcome to the collab, you know. >> you don't want to be in this club, but welcome. >> i was still reeling from the fact that we hadn't caught him yet. so, i just said, i know that this isn't going to help much right now and you're probably just as much and shock as i am about what's happened to you. but, i'm here to listen. >> after vanessa, for more women in california reached out to sandy. it was becoming clear to her, that's derek was moving from women to women, definitely avoiding the law. >> you didn't realize the kind of worms you are holding up? >> the more i found out, the more i was just pissed off that our justice system wasn't doing anything about it. another victim would pop up, and i would then call the police in my own city and say you need to charge him. at least charge him.

>> in the meantime, cindi have been texting derek, demanding he give her her money back. eventually, he said, i'll paypal whatever you think i owe you. of course, the money never showed, so cindy gave him a warning, i said i'm gonna be like a pit bull here. i'm just gonna keep going after it. you have no idea, i'm not going to stop. >> coming up. >> he said well, my wallets in my luggage, is it okay if we just check in? >> derek gets more daring, with a brazen con at a luxury hotel. >> he was having, someone, from a fictitious hospital in hawaii. which was really derek sending emails to the hotel, to say that he was good for the money? >> yes. >> when dateline continues. nues [ screaming ]

[ dinosaur snarls ] flo: it's a good thing you bundled your home, auto, and rv insurance with progressive. you saved money and you get round-the-clock protection. so don't worry. it's all under control. [ screaming continues ] that's cool. we'll finish up here. bye! [ roars ] [ screaming continues ] that's why you go to the restroom before the movie starts. get epic protection for your dominion with progressive. maxlength=32> cindi pardini

still had hope that somehow she get her money back. she'd been pleading with her credit card company and bank, asking them to help her. >> literally 9 to 5 on the phone with banks. the impasse from one teller to another, and having to rehash the story. so far, she was getting nowhere. it had been six months since she last seen derek aldrin, and she had no idea where he was. >> i had hired a private investigator and said, we've got to find this guy. the pei found him. derek it was now dividing his time between hawaii and minnesota, and was engaged to a woman named kimberly. >> what did you learn about? kimberly >> i just knew that she was a doctor. >> kimberly advertiser business

online, and cindy found the ad. she instantly sends that this was another victim. at the same time, someone else was on derrick's trail. sheriff -- he'd gotten a call from the manager of the st. paul hotel. >> that's our finest hotel in st. paul, it's cater to presidents. there is a problem with the guest, the man seen here in the security video. i believe -- to preregistered the room, the credit card was eventually declined. he said he was a doctor, and told him he'd give them another credit card. but he claimed the airline had lost his luggage. >> and he said, well, my wallet is in my luggage, is it okay if we just check in. the clerk gave him a room. of course, the man checking in is derek alldred. >> he followed up with us manager and said he'd be able to have the payment made through his office in hawaii. emails came in promising --

dr. reese assured payment for dr. old ridges stay. >> he always signed his emails, mahalo. >> he was having someone from a fictitious hospital in hawaii, which was really derek sending emails to the huddle. saying he was good for the money. >> yes. >> the sergeant learned derrick told the hotel manager was a special weekend. he was in town to take us fiancée kim, her daughter, and niece to a bruno mars concert. >> he said that he was going crazy because he was in a single room, can we just get another room. and the hotel desk manager felt sorry for him and said all right, we'll let you have this other room you know you're not supposed to. >> so the hotel is getting con? >> yes, they got caught out of two rooms instead of just the one. and he took advantage of

charging all the meals that he made at the hotel, also use the menu bar in both rooms, and charged it to the room. >> the sergeant said derek alldred kept a con going for three days. i one point, he and kim had been seen in the hotel business center. she briefly spoke to him, then quickly walked away. he continued to talk to a hotel staff member, and one of his time to pay the almost 1900 -dollar bill, derek pulled a vanishing acts. leaving kim in the girls high and dry. >> and he just disappeared into the wind. >> so it's like the dine and dash, the hotel version. >> yes, the how expensive hotel version. >> when the sergeant went looking for him, he got a lucky break, to say the least. derek was brazenly trying to pull the same scam at another hotel in the area. >> the general manager for the st. paul hotel was friends with the general manager was at their country in. >> but derrick didn't know was that while he was trying to get a room, the two managers we're

talking. >> i think i said, funny, because my manager said i had a guy who's given the same story. and he said he also adopted from hawaii. >> general managers had called the cops. >> one of the odds of these two managers talking? >> exactly. >> police arrested derek and brought him in for questioning. >> however, you purported yourself to be one. >> now, i didn't report myself to be one, no i didn't. >> he looked me right in the eye in light. >> did you feel like he was trying to kanye? >> i did. >> you don't know i doctor james reece? chief of cardiovascular surgery? university of all? i >> know. >> why were they in contact, email, with a, the st. paul hotels and they would pay your bill? >> i don't know. maybe ask him about that. >> it doesn't mention can at all.

immense and there's a doctor all drench. >> i said was isa elaborate ruse by your fiancée cam, he said i don't know. >> but he was almost gonna blame cam? >> blame cam. >> but the sergeant knew kim was no con artist, she was the one being conned. >> he had told her he was an investor, that he had hundreds of thousands of dollars. >> in an interview with the sergeant a few days later, she told him derek all dread had all but destroyed her life. >> can you tell me how all this transpired, and what occurred, and how it affected you? >> my losses oh my whole life, through no credit. you got into my email accounts, intercepted emails, so they wouldn't know. he blocked calls from my parents, so the parents couldn't get in touch with me and tell me what was going on. >> so did you given the card too used to pay for things? >> no, not my credit card. but he did with my credit card

is, i found, he pulled it out of my purse, made a copy on his phone, which i actually have. and was using my credit card. >> not only did he ruin her credit, kimberly also told police he put her in debt so deep she worried that she would never recover. >> i was cam's demeanor like? >> broken. is probably a really good word for it. broken, heart. >> well derek it was not charge was dealing from cam, he was charged with one count of its death by swindle on the hotel. four cindi, hundred miles away in san francisco, the arrest was welcome news. >> if you think, finally this is going to be it, this is gonna be justice? >> yeah, i thought, okay, we've got him. >> but, cindi knew how slippery derek could be, so she reached out to local law enforcement. i start getting involved with the minnesota police, don't let him go, given until he sentenced. >> the prosecutor believed. >> --

skipped bail. >> when you find that out, didn't you just want to scream? >> yeah, it was just so emotionally draining. >> i cindy saw it, in this game of cat and mouse, derrick had just scored another point. but the game was far from over, and cindi was determined to win. i was on a mission. >> coming up,. >> had she fallen for him? >> yes. >> but did you tell or? >> who's talking about marrying her. >> i knew the victim meets derek the attorney, complete with office staff. >> he had a secretary. i actually would call the secretary and talk to somebody. >> and then, a big break could mean he's caught. >> so you know potentially exactly where he's going to be an exact time,? >> right. >> when dateline continues. when dateline continues

pre-rinsing your dishes? you could be using the wrong detergent. and wasting up to 20 gallons of water. skip the rinse with finish quantum. its activelift technology provides an unbeatable clean on 24 hour dried-on stains. skip the rinse with finish to save our water. ♪i'm a ganiac, ganiac, check my drawers.♪ ♪and my clothes smell so much fresher than before!♪ try gain flings and you'll be a gainiac too. the only detergent with oxiboost and febreze.

when you really need to sleep. you reach for the really good stuff. and you'll be a gainiac too. zzzquil ultra helps you sleep better and longer when you need it most. its non-habit forming and powered by the makers of nyquil. welcome to allstate. where everyone saves when they bundle their home and auto insurance. isn't that right, frank? i saved 25%. booyah. you protected your casa? sure did. and the frank tank? you know it. and now you're relaxing. i'm working from home. sure you are. alright i see a lot of head nods. let's circle back tomorrow. you weren't kidding. save up to 25% when you bundle home and auto with allstate. click or call for a quote today. maxlength=32> cindi pardini was

angry. just when she thought derek alldred would pay for his crimes, he'd gotten away again. >> derek alldred was always one step ahead of the law. >> he was. >> like a bloodhound she be tracking his movements for almost a year. >> is he haunting you throughout this? >> oh my gosh, i mean, he's always in my thoughts, i would meet people and i'd say hi my name is cindi pardini, i'm a

victim of fraud, it was in my dna. a warrant was out for his arrest for skipping bail in a hotel swindle, that didn't stop him from moving on to his next victim. in the fall of 2014, cindy heard about another woman who gotten tangled up in derek's web of deceit. >> you get a call from the mother of one of derek's alleged victims? >> and she said to my talking to my daughter. >> so cindi not on the phone with a woman named joanne, a high school teacher in minnesota, by cindi's count she was victim number ten. >> joann said she met him on hash on calm, and he said he was a hot shot attorney -- >> had she fallen for him? >> yes. >> what did you tell him? >> she was talking about marrying her. >> joann, i deeply religious, women said derek we go to church with her every sunday and pray before every meal. even though cindi had sea never seen this devout side of derek. >> he asked a lot of questions, and he tries to become what the

other person is. >> in need of. >> in need of, or looking for in a partner. >> what was his name with her? >> derek "derek r. allarad". there was a placard on the door "derek r. allarad". >> this is joanne, he had a secretary, and i'd call the secretary and i physically talked to a secretary. i have no idea how that. works >> derek, a lawyer, had wine dimes joann, even took her on a trip to hawaii. >> i really thought this was the guy. >> but when she started poking around on social media, she stumbled on his real name. and saw there was a warrant out for his arrest. >> and just like cindi before

her, i nagging feeling prompted her to check her finances. >> we did a credit check, and that's when i found out that he'd open no credit card in my name, and there was $14,000 charge to it. including the whole trip to hawaii. >> she broke it off. >> i was just devastated. >> and called the police. >> since there was a warrant out for derrick's arrest, she was transferred to the deputy sheriff paul mask in, who is working for the u.s. marshal service as a investigator. she told him her story of betrayal. >> technically, for my assignment with the marshals, didn't fit, because it wasn't a crime of violence. why did you decide i'm going to take action here and help this woman? >> he was a parasite. here is this woman that he completely victimized. this guy can get away with this. let's see what we can do. >> masking up to work.

>> i researched, and sure enough st. paul had a case of the hotel. and started working on that angle. >> the same poll hotel swindle. >> joanne gave him one of their experience cars, so he paid a visit to the law office address. >> that address he claimed, they said there's nobody who would ever been there by that, it's real addressed, but he never been to the law firm or anything like that. >> and you call the number one woman we answer, right? >> i ever find out who this one was? >> no. >> that's gonna news team brainstormed ways to catch, derek and came in with a plan. >> he had originally showed joann to shut down the credit card derrick had been using. but now he had a different idea. let's activated again. >> see if derek is using the card. >> she turned her card by. calm >> and doesn't work? >> they started giving

information between the credit card companies, which brings out that he bought it trying to get on amtrak. >> so you know potentially exactly where he's going to be at an exact time? >> right. >> the ticket was for the next day. the 6:40 am train leaving out of union station in st. paul. >> it was don, november 7th, 2014. this train platform was swarming with undercover u.s. marshals, sheriff's deputies, and police officers, all waiting for derek alldred to board the train, would you finally be captured? >> we were in our positions, and ready, and the train came. >> coming up. this is a long train. there are a lot of ways to get on or off the train. >> yeah, we had everything covered. >> so why is she about to slip through their fingers yet again? >> this really came down to minutes. >> we were on a time. cringe >> when dateline continues. >> when datelin continues. alexa, take us to the nearest grocery store. getting directions. alexa will get us there in no time.

it's a buick. let's be real. don't make me turn this alexa around. oh my. it's painful. the buick enclave, with available alexa built in. ask “alexa, tell me more about buick suvs.” >> at the end track chain

pulled into st. paul station, all eyes are on the lookout for derek alldred. >> i wanted everyone to familiarize themselves with the photo. >> we briefed everything up, let him out here it, is here's the, photo here's what our phone is. here's a takedown team. >> plain clothes officer scanned each train car, ready to pounce. >> and this is a long train, there's a lot of ways to get on or off a train. >> yeah, we've got everything cover. >> so you're looking, and looking, and looking. and? >> he wasn't there. >> derek there's nowhere to be found. >> he invaded law enforcement again.

>> the investigator didn't know what happened, it was hopeful derek we do use the stolen card again. >> for a few days, he heard nothing. and then. >> police got a tip, he used a card, he's on a train. -- now let's work that angle. >> do you know exactly where is going? >> we eventually get information, as we're making phone, calls and interviewing people, that it looks like he's heading for portland. by the time asking out the tip, derek was only a few steps away from its final destination. >> so this really came down to? minutes >> yeah, we were on a time crunch. he contacted the u.s. marshals and portland, and a team race over the station. >> arriving, just as this train was planned. >> and he walked up the train, and they walked out to him and said derek? and take him into custody. >> bingo. finally got him. >> he was sent back to minnesota, where he was charged with failure to appear, and for that death by a swindle

incident at the st. paul hotel. joann was told he wasn't charged for using her freddy card, derek alldred was sentenced to 15 months. it wasn't nearly enough time, not the way cindi pardini sought. but it was a start. >> i was happy, at this point i was hopeful. hopeful that when he was released, to get justice for herself in california. that san francisco and find a way to extradite him. so i spent that year thinking, what am i gonna do, can you at least tell him nothing. >> nothing's ever that, easy isn't? >> now. >> less than a year later, cindy got a tip that derek was free again. she had no illusions though, that he had somehow learned his lesson. she figured, for derrick, the short jail stint was just the price of doing business. and it was only a matter of time before he would pull another con. sure enough. >> in august of 2016 i get a message, he's back in action. and >> you are just like.

>> yes. >> the message in your inbox front was from a woman named missy bryant. a flight attendant from st. paul. she told cindy every single detail, it started like so many others, on a dating site. >> i was at a point where i figured, i would like to meet somebody. >> she quickly found a match, somebody named richie peterson, a former navy seal. >> he had just retired, and he was very decorated. >> he relationship focused? >> right away, i walked into my house and there was four dozen roses. >> wow. romantic. >> two days later, there were four more dozen roses for my daughters. >> what did your daughter say about him? >> they were just like, wow, oh my gosh, teddy bears, and candy. eventually he bought a boat, for us. >> like he gave it to you? >> he had at the marina.

>> but he said this boat for you? >> that's a big gift. >> big, it was a nice vote. >> what kind about was a? >> it was like a 31 foot chris craft. it's loved all of us and a kitchen and bathroom. >> he's not messing around? >> now, he's not. >> i mean, this is great. >> missy had now spent four months with her new dream man. >> we've not got along with? them >> they loved him. >> are you thinking like he could be the one? >> i did actually tell my daughter when she was bringing her school one day, i'm gonna marry him. >> and yet, no matter what his new name or occupation, derek could now would be derek. he started doing shady things he gave a pause. >> he would go missing, and i'd go why did you go mia, literally when we are supposed to do something, all of a sudden they're zero communication, you're just gone? >> how does he explain that? >> there's always an excuse, it almost made me feel bad. >> i'd be really angry at the time. and then he david all turned around, and he was really busy doing something. and then it was important.

>> and when he was around, he said they were always take a trip to the er to deal with as old war injuries and a heart condition, or so you said. >> we spent a lot of time in the emergency room. >> they're giving him? drugs >> are given him drugs, lots of drugs. >> it was after an illegitimate trip to the er, he'd been a motorcycle accident. curiosity got the better of missy. when he wasn't looking, she snapped. >> so i went to look in that wallet, and when i open up the wall, there is a minnesota state i. d. in there that day says derek mylan derek alldred. >> he told you he's richie. it's like a lightning bolt? >> that was a sign that clearly i needed. but i don't say anything at the time. >> she waited until he went to run an errand, and then lit up his phone. i'm doing nothing else with you. >> he's like i don't know we are talking about? >> this is how you confronted him? >> the attacks, i have nothing else to do with you.

derek alldred. >> at first she was devastated, then angry, then curious once again. because of what she had seen while she was snooping. >> when i found his wallet, i also found two credit cards, with a woman's name on them. >> do you search linda? >> now my mission is to find. linda >> she didn't know it then, but missy had just become a player in one of derek's most outlandish law cons yet. >> coming up. >> i said i know you're gonna think i'm crazy, but i believe we're dating the same man. >> missy tracks down linda, who is home along with derek. >> so i'm like, we need to get him out of there. >> you're not helping? >> of course i am, absolutely. she's afraid. >> when dateline continues. >> when dateline continues is turning into their parents. -not those two. -yep, they're gone. -forever? -yep.

that there is progressive's homequote explorer website, where i compared home insurance rates. we don't need to print the internet. some are beyond help. i will give you $100 if you can tell me what this is. -scotch egg. -it's a meatball. progressive can't help you from becoming your parents, but we can help you compare rates on home insurance with homequote explorer. we've got a lot of work to do. (geri) i smoked, and i have copd. my children are really worried. my tip is, send your kids a text. it may be the last time that you do. (announcer) you can quit. for free help, call 1-800-quit-now. what can i du with less asthma? with dupixent, i can du more... crazy commutes... crowd control-

have a nice day alex (thanks ms. ellen) ...taking the stairs. that's how you du more with dupixent, which helps prevent asthma attacks. dupixent is not for sudden breathing problems. it's an add-on-treatment for specific types of moderate-to-severe asthma that can improve lung function for better breathing in as little as two weeks. and can reduce, or even eliminate, oral steroids. and here's something important. dupixent can cause allergic reactions that can be severe. get help right away if you have rash, chest pain, worsening shortness of breath, tingling or numbness in your limbs. tell your doctor about new or worsening joint aches and pain, or a parasitic infection. don't change or stop asthma medicines, including steroids, without talking to your doctor. are you ready to du more with less asthma? just ask your asthma specialist about dupixent. maxlength=32> missy brett had

no idea where her former boyfriend, richie peterson, aka derek alldred was. only that he was out of her house, and her life, or so she thought. >> the story is unbelievable, not a story, it's our lives, and it's unbelievable, but it's real. >> mrs. twilight zone began when she spotted derek's relied area in her wallet, googled his name, and discovered his history has a con man. missy knew he had a credit card belonging to a linda. she looked sharp on line and realize that linda live nearby. >> i requested her friendship on facebook. center a message and said, i know you're gonna think i'm crazy, but i think we're dating the same man. >> he took a few days, but missy finally got a response from linda, who seemed in a panic. >> because he was in the house, so i'm like, we need to figure out how to get him out there. >> you are not helping her? >> of course i am, i mean

absolutely. she's afraid. >> that should get him out of the house? >> he comes upstairs and says i need to go to the hospital, i mean so much pain again. >> she gets him out, i will bring, you should bring some and then immediately calls the police. >> hours later, when derek took a hubert from the hospital back to linda's, soon as he was getting out the lights come on. >> police lights. derek let's put in the back of a squad car and brought in for questioning. later, well into what's been questioned by investigators, a package arrived at her house. it was addressed to derek from another woman. >> but was in the box? >> the box was chocolate, and a bottle of whiskey, a card saying i hope you feel better. >> but it wasn't what was inside the box that peaked macy's interest. and she says that this was occurred with time in town, she drove to her house to drop a bombshell. >> i want you to know what's happening, she wasn't home, and i just had an impulse to say

we're all seeing this guy. >> on the post? and >> on the post. it i said i know you're dating him, i'm getting, him and another. girl just call me. >> they are not and just one, not two, but three women in the minneapolis area. all the same time. >> he's a cruel carcinoma. >> he is. yup. >> the woman who sent derek that package? he says he swindled her out of roughly $10,000 worth of jewelry. missy says he didn't take any of her money, but linda? >> how much money did linda say she lost? >> about $385,000. >> that's a lot of money. >> in six months. >> he saw that vulnerability, and went after. it this is linda speaking with msnbc affiliate after derek's arrest. >> how could i view sudan? i basically gave him access to steal my identity. >> but your answer to that? >> he's a professional, he's very believable. >> reporter laura mann check.

>> he says that he cleaned out her 401k, her son's college account, a life savings gone. >> so linda was one of the more unfortunate. >> yeah. he really destroyed linda's life and her finances. she said she's ended up sleeping on peoples counters because she didn't have a home. >> i was in a pretty dark place. then i found out who she what he was. when i found out that everything was just a lie. >> linda was broke, homeless, and even in trouble with a law. remember the boat derek bought for himself and missy? >> he bought the boat with lenders bonnie. >> yeah. i was paying rent with checks from linda's checkbook. >> and they were bouncing, because your monies disappearing. >> they wanted to put linda in jail, want to pick up and charge her for fraudulent checks. >> even after all that, derek as you get away.

>> police released him pending further investigation. when cindi her the noose, you can guess her reaction. >> i was pretty much losing at that point, it's not 2016, so now three years into this. and i'm just getting tired of it. >> she had to have wondered if derek hide sweet talked her way out of custody, -- should come to know just how devious he could be. >> he was dressing up as a firefighter in the mid 2000s. >> she is referring to an old case out of california, she stumbled across it will hunting down derek. >> so are you feeling like, hey, this guy is even a bigger con than i believed? >> yes. >> it was 2005. tom old it was a fire investigator in northern california, he sometimes handled calls about firefighters who've gotten into trouble. on that day, a local hospital said it was treating a firefighter named derek, for an overdose. >> walked in, and he was in a hospital gown, i asked him if i

could see his uniform, when i saw the uniform, i knew there was something really wrong because he had a fake baton. >> you could tell the uniform was fake to. >> the investigator knew this man was a fraud, and he was determined to find out why. >> we've searched his car, we found some prescription bottles, we found some prescriptions that weren't in his name. >> but did you think his motive was to pretend to be a firefighter? >> i was kind of thinking it he was doing it seeking drugs. >> derek was released from the hospital, but tom old doug wasn't gonna let it go. >> i did, really pissed me off, he's impersonating a firefighter, it's an honorable occupation and here's a guy asking when you can get away with. >> but just how far was the irked investigator willing to go to catch a man who suspect was the scammer? turns out, derrick may have met his match. >> coming up, so i went in there really quick. gotta make gunpoint. arrested him.

>> and then, there are glasses latest victim know he's got a gun. >> that's a really scary part of a movie? >> it was very scary. >> when dateline continues dad, it's a buick. i love that new alexa smell. it's a buick. we need snacks for the team. alexa, take us to the nearest grocery store. getting directions. alexa will get us there in no time. it's a buick. let's be real. don't make me turn this alexa around. oh my. it's painful. the buick enclave, with available alexa built in. ask “alexa, tell me more about buick suvs.” okay, snacks and popcorn are gonna be expensive. let's just accept that. going to the movies can be a lot for young homeowners turning into their parents. bathrooms -- even if you don't have to go, you should try. we all know where the bathroom is and how to us it, okay? you know, the stevensons told me they saved money bundling their boat insurance with progressive.

no one knows who those people are. -it can be painful. -hand me your coats. there's an extra seat right here. no, no, no, no, no. we don't need a coat wrangler. progressive can't save you from becoming your parents, but we can save you money when you bundle home, auto, and more with us. no one who made the movie is here. >> they're called or try to

pass himself off as a firefighter when he showed off at a northern california hospital seeking parity treatment for an apparent overdose. now investigator tom old acquisition -- testing the theory that bulldog was in search of prescription drugs. visiting urgent care centers, pain specialist in four counties. >> was he calling the doctors, the nurses? >> i guess he was. a week and a half or so, was up

to about 20 different pharmacies and clinics. dozens of prescriptions. there were one day where he went to five different pharmacies. he was real busy. >> he discovered that the fake firefighter had gotten every last pill for free by claiming that he was injured on the job. >> was filling out workman's comp forms. under a fake name, fake social security number and get his medications and walk up. >> old it now believed he had enough to go after there for fraud. i had no arrest warrant for him. brett's ex-wife in, he had been called her on his cell phone. told us where he was at. >> the investigator's plan into action and raced over to a nearby fast food place. >> was on a payphone right outside of the mcdonald's on plaza road. one in there really quick and had him at gunpoint. >> at gunpoint? >> yes, i wanted him to know that i was real serious at my bar and not to play anymore. >> the investigator

interrogated there for more than two hours. >> he quickly admitted that he had an issue with pain medication. and came clean about all of his names. allred, all george. >> how do you spell that? >> al di are icy age. >> what other first names have used? >> usually always derek. >> any richards? >> i think i have in the past. >> but when the investigator asked him about getting drug for free, the comment was not about to confess that. >> impersonating a firefighter herrera? and how would you use that? how a person do that? >> i don't know to be honest with you. >> have you ever done that? >> specifically to get pills, no? >> this takes that term liar liar pants on fire to a whole new level.

>> exactly. , >> about an hour into the interview, he left the room and wanted characters to do for a bit. when he came back, he tried a different approach. >> you shake his hand. told him he was the best liar ever. >> you are very good at what you do. you are very good. are you? are you very good? >> well yeah. then doing it for a long time. >> i was shocked. completely shocked at that answer. >> the new approach worked. they're opened up about his other fake identities. >> i've represented myself an executive, a firefighter, you name. it >> all of those social security numbers. >> i pull on a murder of thinner. >> he recalled everything, without a piece of paper, was all and said. >> i knew he was very smart. incredibly smart. >> do you think there is part of in that enjoyed the cough? >> i have no doubt.

i believe that he was a narcissist and very much enjoyed the challenge of seeing where he can get away with. later on he told me that i was the first guy to catch up to 19 years. >> i just thinking that i'm dealing with a real character here? >> oh yeah. just crazy. if he can take his intelligence and put to work, he definitely would be somebody in a good place. but, his job was a con. >> he took a plea deal and was convicted of six felonies, including embezzlement, burglary and making false insurance claims. in total, he swindled the firefighters workman's confluent for more than $200,000. all to pay for his medical care and prescription drugs. for those crimes. >> three years probation, a year and a half in county jail. old egg was certain that he would not go after his time and will lock up. >> he is fraud, tigers don't change their stripes. >> old it was right, as we now

know, in the years that followed. derek scammed more than a dozen women in five states, including wendy, cindy and all of those women in minnesota. by 2016, he was free again and headed to sin city. only now, he seemed they rush. more desperate and he let it be known that he was carrying a gun. coming up, a new victim caught in their ex webbed tries to escape. >> i had a little bag packed for myself. in the second i heard him snowing, i jumped out of the bed and i ran downstairs. when dateline continues. when ♪♪ why not both? visibly diminish wrinkled skin in just two days.

new crepe corrector lotion only from gold bond. champion your skin. one prilosec otc in the morning blocks heartburn all day only from gold bond. and all night. prilosec otc prevents excess acid production that can cause heartburn. so don't fight heartburn, block it with prilosec otc. cindy party in a fair derek

would never stop so it's no surprise when in late 2016 charity content in the moment in arizona. by cities count victim number

60. >> he had met a woman there and he had stolen jewelry from her. and so he got arrested there. and again he didn't show up for his sentencing. >> so he got away again? >> yes again. >> promotes and edmund herring derrick had been rushing through women and cons. >> they are in short periods of time. he's moving pretty fast through all of them. the woman in minnesota had told or something frightening. >> he is starting to brandish a gun. >> i still sometimes have a hard time really wrapping my head around it. >> kelly paterson met derek just a few months after his escape from arizona. he had shown up in las vegas calling himself, rich taylor, former navy fighter pilot. >> seven or eight deployments. >> that's a lot. >> that is a lot. >> kelly, a single mother of two girls recalls being swept off her feet immediately. rich quickly moved into her house. brought to roses, a mercedes,

and a membership to a swanky country club. >> he just coming one day when i saw work and said hey remember that red rock onto club now. >> is now or which i place? >> he might. >> her new life seemed perfect. we are going to the club all the time for dinner and lunch and he was coughing there a lot. >> are you proud to show him off? >> i was. i do google from some college they came in and met him and they just were like, wow we are so happy that you met someone like this. you deserve it. but >> not everyone was submitted. where kelly envisioned her alter ahead her teenager saw trouble. >> my oldest daughter, she said to me, either he is the perfect guy or you're going to end up on dateline someday. and -- >> and here you are. >> rich also flunked the meet the parents test. when her father visited from ohio. >> i think, immediately, my dad just had that fatherly

instinct. >> similar daughter's? >> the same as my daughters. >> kelly admits she also had some doubts about rich but shove them aside. her family, however, would not. back in ohio her dad made some calls waller says to scour the internet. >> i was that rich -- parents called me and said he is not who he says he is. but that said,, i'm really worried, i don't know if he could be violent. >> are you feeling when you hear this? >> sick. >> i would be scared. >> i was scared. and i had to call. i had to pretend like everything was okay. to try and get away from him. >> unfortunately, her daughters were away at the time. stay with her dad. but that meant kelly had to face him at home, alone. she was especially frightened because he once told her he had a gun. >> he wouldn't leave my side. it was like he knew that something was wrong. as much as i was trying to act like everything was okay i

think he sensed it. >> that's like a really scary part of a movie. >> it was very scary. >> so i went to bed with him and light from the fall asleep. and i got a little backpack for myself. and the second i heard him story i jumped out of my bed and i ran downstairs. >> just one she thought she had escaped unnoticed. >> i got in the car, as i was backing out, he was standing in the doorway. and i just pulled out of my neighborhood and drove directly to my conference house. >> could you see the look on his face? >> yeah, he looked angry, and my friends are blowing up. and i didn't answer it. and he called, and called and called. >> you gotta just in the nick of time? >> i gotta just in time. >> eventually she realize just how lucky he was. which had only stolen her rent money. as for the mercedes, -- >> we walked off that lot with an almost 50,000 dollar car and not a dime had been paid. that's how good he was.

>> she later returned it, and the country club peace camped -- >> i think at one point about was getting so high that the general manager called him and said we're going to need you to make a payment. those around $20,000. and i think that was when everything started to kind of go sideways for him. >> i would also knowing that rich was actually derek altered a con man not a navy man. >> that was the thing that my dad was so adamant about. he was like, this jerk is walking around impersonating military. not okay. >> military men and women do not like that. >> no, nobody likes. that my dad went to ncis and talk to an agent. >> the naval criminal investigative services. madad said, he's impersonating a naval officer. >> her father was furious. but kelly was just ashamed.

>> i was really really upset with myself. and we lost faith in myself. i don't trust myself anymore. i made such a bad decision. >> if anything helped, it was. this she found that she was not alone. kelly was not part of a strange sisterhood. or would you call this club? >> the courage club. just take a lot of courage for us to speak out about it. because this is not the kind of attention anybody's welcomes. >> according to cindy, but 2017, they work the bogus lawyer, dr., firefighter,, professor, ceo, hotel developer, fighter pilot navy seal head count more than a dozen women in seven states. >> he's a smart woman. with happens is he's a master manipulator. >> oh in the magic from caroline was now reporting extensively on these victims. and there is ability to pray on the. >> how does this happen to these women? there's a doctor, there's a nurse, there's an engineer, there's a computer programmer.

>> one woman was a nuclear physicist. but when they went to police, a much excess, the women often felt they weren't heard. >> but when it's a time again is a fear that they're treated like scorned women. like their complaints are taken seriously. that's on the police department just don't have the bandwidth to really investigate these financial crimes. and so he gets off with a stop on the wrist. >> they are called right had tried like in vegas would nothing to show for it. he was moving on his time to texas. and a showdown. coming up. there are strikes again. but his target turns the tables. >> i got my gun. i had my dog list and next to me. god forbid it comes to that door. i'm ready. >> when dateline continues. >> whe ♪ breeze driftin' on by ♪ ♪ you know how i feel ♪ copd may have gotten you here, but you decide what's next.

start a new day with trelegy. no once-daily copd medicine has the power to treat copd in as many ways as trelegy. with three medicines in one inhaler, trelegy helps people breathe easier and improves lung function. it also helps prevent future flare-ups. trelegy won't replace a rescue inhaler for sudden breathing problems. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking it. do not take trelegy more than prescribed. trelegy may increase your risk of thrush, pneumonia, and osteoporosis. call your doctor if worsened breathing, chest pain, mouth or tongue swelling, problems urinating, vision changes, or eye pain occur. take a stand and start a new day with trelegy. ask your doctor about once-daily trelegy. and save at trelegy.com. ♪i'm a ganiac, ganiac, check my drawers.♪ ♪and my clothes smell so much fresher than before!♪ try gain flings and you'll be a gainiac too. the only detergent with oxiboost and febreze.

wet dishes? spots? cloudy glasses? when detergent alone isn't enough... ...add finish jet dry 3 in 1. to dry, prevent spots, and protect glasses against cloudiness. the dishes aren't done without finish jet dry 3 in 1. (rose h) smoking caused my lung cancer. they put this in me to drain the fluid. every day i prayed that they would remove it. my tip is be careful what you wish for. that chest tube hurt a lot more coming out... then it did going in. (announcer) you can quit. for free help, call 1-800-quit-now >> after talking with kelly in

vegas, things were pretty quiet personally pretty. they are called or it was in the wind. >> i knew he moved on, but i did not know where. >> even though kelly's that had alerted naval investigators, nothing came of it. then five months later, cynthia's phone rang. it was a woman from dallas, another victim. >> she was very upset. this had just happened to her. >> cindy learned her story about duplicitous their. he was still using the name rich taylor and posing as a

navy that. >> had been dressing up in the military uniform. >> told me he was still in the reserves with the united states navy and worked for the department of defense. >> donny van horn, and hr manager had only dated richie for about six weeks. >> the tall man in uniform had quickly captured her heart. their first date started out rocky. he took her to a texas rangers game. >> and up and said i'm captain rich taylor and colonel somebody. and they left tickets. there were no tickets. started getting angry and pulled out his ncis badge, saying look this is who i am, we need these tickets. it was a good 5 to 10 minutes at least and finally they came up with some tickets. >> during the game, saying that verges phone boast, an urgent call from the pentagon. told that they were asking for his expertise on north korea.

>> the north korean crisis started around that time and there was a senate hearing committee that he was going to have to go down and present's opinion. >> we think and, while this guy's really high level. >> i was impressed. later on saw his uniforms, those metals, all kinds of military awards. >> did he ever where his military uniform around you? >> he did put on his dress blues when he was having several meetings that at the dfw airport. and i also had seen him in like a flight jumpsuit that pilots where. he had a helmet with microphone on it. >> do we offered to drop him off at the airport first top secret missions, because his poor should be in an accident, and at least that is what he said, even sent her pictures. told her that he was in the navy reserves, flying f-18s. >> he would send me pictures that he had taken when he was up in the sky flying, they were

flying training missions, basically getting prepared for this attack that is pending possibly with north korea. >> some of his grand stories, did make her wonder. >> but i was falling for him, i thought that he was you know, one that i had been looking for and so it's lot of these little things that i had just pushed out. >> you are going yoga, yes, absolutely. >> were you falling in love with rich? >> i think it was. >> did he expressed to you that he was falling for you. >> absolutely. i got i love the after it was about two weeks. three weeks he was telling me that i was it. i was everything that he had been looking for. just absolutely treating me like -- just making me feel really good about myself. >> like a princess? >> yes, made me feel really good. >> but, he says that richie the romantic also had a dark side.

>> he would kick the, wall kick my bookcase, kick something, flip something off the coffee table. but i always made excuses for. >> the dramatic and came the day that ritchie left behind an ipad that he had bored from story. >> i pick it, up i flip it open and everything is different on the front page. he's hijacked that. what do you find inside? >> a picture of him laying in a hospital bed. and i look closer and the name on the account is derek allred. >> i remember looking at that thinking, that's richie. >> a quick google search in the name derek allred showed up. along with his decades long history of fraud and a stack of mugshots that could fill a full album. door you can barely breathe. >> i went upstairs and grabbed my gun. and i sat on my couch and i was wide awake. had my dogs leached and next to me. just sitting there. god forbid he comes to that door, i'm ready.

>> derek number showed, so dory fled to her brother's ranch. >> while i was out there, i started digging into my finances. >> tory searched her accounts and there was, there could drain her checking account and charged thousands on one of her credit cards. >> in total, $19,800. >> the only thing i can put together that i went upstairs, he snapped a picture of my checkbook and this extra credit card that i had he took. >> she called the police, detective kelly hunt of the texas police department got the case. she knew derek allred was bad news after running his name through a criminal database. >> some, fraud you could see that this was something he got away with. no real time in jail. >> detective, hunt assure dory that he would not get away this time. unlike many ted tactics before her, she understood that this was not about scorned women out

for revenge. >> i took it probably a little more personal than other cases i would have, just because you know, you could see the betrayal that he left. just destruction. >> here is where dory did something that would prove crucial to the case. >> we've got to do something that hasn't worked before. >> after derek, left she collected a closet full of potential evidence. >> i had all kinds of uniforms, uniforms and badges that he had hit all around my calls it, way in the back of the closet. >> detective hunt was also interested in the credit card fraud aspect of the case. she knew that it was something she could work with. she visited three local businesses where derek had used stories card. >> all three places they knew him. real big talker, would where his military uniform, i had one of the cashiers come in and he did a photo lineup, pick them out immediately. so that was for me and airtight case, we could go ahead and get a warrant and came into custody before he ran.

>> but there was something else that she needed to do, of all the stuff that they left behind at doors, one thing stood out. >> also headed back from the ncis neighboring investigations. and it looked to me like a legitimate patch. so she reached out to ncis and showed that badge to a real agent. >> compared his to derrick's, he could not tell them apart. >> took pictures of it and says that i have to send this to my boss right away, because he will never believe this. >> there is impersonating a federal officer? >> correct. >> which is an avenue that can be taken to maybe finally get him. >> yes. that bad was about to lead the u.s. navy into a con man's treasure trove, and launch an investigation with teeth. >> coming up, a previous victim willing to go undercover could change everything. >> she is pretending that he is still in love with him, meanwhile she is setting him up.

when dateline continues. when dateline continues. (whispers) air wick upgrade to our redesigned oil warmer. our latest device optimizes airflow to fill your space with lasting fragrance inspired by the scents of nature you love. air wick. connect to nature.

here's candice... who works from home, and then works from home. but she can handle pickup, even when her bladder makes a little drop-off. because candice has poise, poise under pressure and poise in her pants. it takes poise.

after my car accident, i wondered what my case was worth. so i called the barnes firm. when that car hit my motorcycle, insurance wasn't fair. so i called the barnes firm. it was the best call i could've made. atat t bararnefirmrm, our r inry a attneysys wk hahard i could've made. atat t bararnefirmrm, to get you the best result possible. call us now and find out what your case could be worth. you u mit bebe sprisised and say's agents. ♪ the barnes firm injury attorneys ♪ ♪ call one eight hundred, eight million ♪

mike out care, and jeremy health, got a look at the military paraphernalia shed collected. they were astounded. >> the conference table was filled with counterfeit to the potential 90, courts military uniforms, metals, counterfeit at a special age badges. i've never seen anything like it. >> it almost one man. dorian's former boyfriend derek alter it. >> how seriously does the military take it when someone is impersonating a military officer, from a legal standpoint? >> from a legal standpoint it is free speech to wear military uniform and public. it is illegal if you use that to gain something of value. >> it is called, stolen valor. and as far as the agents can tell their kids use the military to live the high life. >> he really went all out to 50 persona of a military officer.

>> absolutely. >> purple heart silver star -- >> seal team won, demolition school, he displayed them all. >> love this hair represent stolen valor. >> absolutely. >> this was a big part of your case? >> this was this was definitely the hope to get in and start the case. >> agents quickly learned there was so much more. >> mail fraud, aggravated identity theft while the possession of a firearm, wire fraud, access to vice fraud, and hochul's social security fraud. he was collecting social security disability because he was blind. there is not blind. >> so building a federal case takes time. that is one thing they didn't have. >> we need to catch mr. responsible because he was going to run. >> on the lamb. >> we have history running, why stop now? >> so agent al care had idea. >> as detective and if she can just get a local worn for the credit card charge.

just so i can get him into custody. >> i've got the warrant. >> now they needed to find derek. not surprisingly, cindy got involved. she was still keeping track of their whereabouts. i thought she might know where he was. her information came from a new member of the club. a woman named tracy. >> once i reach out to sandy she said while there is another girl in texas as well. he had been dating tracy at the same time as dory. which exploit all those charges on her credit card. >> he was basically whining and dining on monday. he had air beats pretty much every weekend. fancy dinners, fancy lake houses they wanted. >> a saw was indeed learn from trace she thought was possible that derek was still in dallas. agent al kerry tracked down tracey hoping she was still in contact with derek. she wasn't. >> she tell me that go to a fight earlier, prior to knowing all this, and she came out of her house. the agent asked him to patch things up so she could find out where he was. >> she did exactly what we have

to do. to tax, to apologize, -- >> she's essentially acting at this point. >> correct. >> pretending that she is still not with them, everything is fine. >> right. >> meanwhile, -- >> she setting up. >> eric took the break. he told us not having our procedure. she offered to pick up the next day. >> then the plan was to estimate from the hospital? >> yes. >> all the details that we worked out. they are ready to make the arrest. but then, after seeing a local police alert online, not knowing the statements in the work. dallas tv station, wfaa, ran a story when in the public about their work. >> and you just like why, why now? >> by someone we know about there at that time and how savvy was. we are concerned who's going to see that he's going to be gone. >> he could run? >> he could run. >> they just decide to go ahead with the sting anyway. but >> the adrenaline was pumping, we are keeping our eyes out. to spot him.

and hoping that everything goes smoothly. >> and cnn listed the help of local law enforcement. ten officers and agents had the hospital covered. >> we had plain clothes off to just walk around the hospital as normal patrons. we had officers and agents all around the hospital in vehicles to station locations, access points, entry points, to make sure that we cover our bases. with barracks that he doesn't escape. >> did you feel like this was your moment? like you are going to catch their covert. >> i felt like we don't catch up now we weren't sure if we are ever going to catch. >> the pickup time was fast approaching. their work sent a text to tracey. >> there was a problem? >> best laid plans don't always work the way they are supposed to. >> they don't. >> coming up next tracy has bad news for law enforcement. but she? frantic >> shows a little frantic but we are more concerned with losing him. >> and then, derek, finally in custody. claiming he's a victim of a

scorned woman. >> when things went south she was bitter and upset and hurt. probably a little scornful and want to revenge or whatever you want to call it. when dateline continues. when dateline continues. you look fantastic. it's jon. hamm, from the blind date we went on years ago. ah, the struggling actor who didn't believe he could save with snapshot based on how and how much he drives. i'd love to talk about it over dinner sometime. well, i usually don't talk on the phone during dinner, but for potential customer tom hamm, i will make an exception. oh, boy. medusa lived with a hideous curse. uhh, i mean the whole turning people to stone thing was a bit of a buzz kill, right? so she ordered sunglasses with prime, one day delivery. ♪♪ clever girl. people realized she's actually hilarious once you get to know her.

eugh. as if. ♪♪ well, he was asking for it. prime changes everything. with less moderate-to-severe eczema, why hide your skin if you can help heal your skin from within? dupixent helps keep you one step ahead of eczema with clearer skin and less itch. hide my skin? not me. don't use if you're allergic to dupixent. serious allergic reactions can occur that can be severe. tell your doctor about new or worsening eye problems such as eye pain or vision changes, including blurred vision, joint aches and pain, or a parasitic infection. don't change or stop asthma medicines without talking to your doctor. ask your doctor about dupixent. big game today! everybody ready? alexa, ask buick to start my enclave. starting your buick enclave. i just love our new alexa. dad, it's a buick. i love that new alexa smell. it's a buick. we need snacks for the team. alexa, take us to the nearest grocery store. getting directions. alexa will get us there in no time. it's a buick. let's be real.

don't make me turn this alexa around. oh my. it's painful. the buick enclave, with available alexa built in. ask “alexa, tell me more about buick suvs.” >> the navy sting operation in

fort worth was in trouble. police were supposed to arrest derek as he left this medical center. tracey, working with investigators had just gotten a text from him. >> in the last minute calls me and says hey, he's at the heart hospital, he's now fort worth and he's waiting for me here. >> when she frantic? >> she was a little frantic. but i think we are more concerned with losing him. >> how do you all scramble to get into position in the no location? >> get our cars, some of us were already in cars and start heading in that direction. >> the agents had to wonder if derek had seen that local news report. just before the last minute.

when pulling up to the hospital, the agents didn't see him there either. >> started walking around the hospital and find him in the valley. any of the lobbies, anywhere we could get ice. >> the medical center is crawling with local law enforcement and federal law enforcement. and then there he was, he was sitting in a lounge. and suit and tie. i say go up the stairs and put your hands behind your back. >> the sidewalks, who talked his way out of every trap, this time was acting like nobody puppy. >> i was more shocked at the fact that he was not questioning what's going on. a normal person would go with this is all about. was almost like he was at peace with. it >> tracy said we caught him, we got a. >> tracy, who was at the hospital, witnessed the arrest. she was at the phone giving city a play by play. >> i said send me the pictures now. >> she hung up and she took pictures of him in the suit with his hands behind his back.

>> in handcuffs. >> could you believe? i >> couldn't believe it, i was so happy. >> tell me a little bit about why you may think you are here. >> within minutes, there could gone from a hospital lounge to the police department interviewed. >> a warrant out for my arrest. saw the 7:00 news this morning. >> so he had seen that news report and those dodging the law and agents nafta. but now he wanted them to know something. he was the victim here. of angry axes, like linda from minnesota. >> when things went south, she was better, she was upset. and a little scornful, wanted revenge. >> the agents weren't interested in his top stories. that's something else in mind. >> i want to ask, have you ever served in the military? have you ever been in law enforcement before? environment? >> no.

>> you know i think he told the truth about was that he was not in the military, was not a pilot, was not a special agent with ntsb. >> yet the agents had security video of derek walking around in an airport posing as a fighter pilot. >> one of the things he did was he would tell the victim that he was deploying for the weekend, will drop him off on friday night at one terminal and would walk to a different terminal and have another victim picking up and tell them that he had just gotten back. >> so they put the question to them. >> do you wear military uniforms of personnel? >> no never. >> i have in the past. >> last week? >> not last, week not last, but not last year. >> except the head of florida that said otherwise. dory snapped days earlier when there was not looking. >> in full naval uniform, on his cell phone, not paying attention, she snapped a photo of that. >> when they showed him the

proof, they never denied it. >> i've never won this in public anywhere. i don't know how that was taken, that's crazy. >> when you think that was taken? >> i'm not quite sure. >> a normal response would be, that's me. i don't know how you would've gone that photo. >> continental i mediately. >> absolutely. >> derek and blues and whites, white jumpsuits, none of which is a crime. but -- >> have you ever heard of the turn stolen valor? >> wearing military uniforms and flashy badges to get things for free. that is a crime. >> heavy ever had any military i.d.s in your possession or anything like that? >> military i.d.s, no. >> so nothing, fake, counterfeit, anything like that. >> no. i can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt, i've never gone out in public and gotten free stuff

or free drinks or free dinners or tickets to baseball games. >> no, nothing, never. >> once again, they had evidence. >> we have these credentials you. you have this navy -- >> you know i'm talking about right? >> this is a common access corn. >> i am off of ebay. >> that's where you got these from? >> but we're gonna do with you? >> nothing, haven't done anything. >> but remember when derek took dory to see the texas rangers. cameras were recording more than just the game. >> we were able to pull footage and clearly you are showing i.d. and insisting that you are military and gaining something. which is the equivalent of storm valley.

>> oh yes he did. according to stadium security officers. they recall the larger than life man who waved his ncis patch. >> showed him a picture of derek and they said yes, absolutely, he was a great guy, we gave him a tour of the stadium. >> real agents had the fake one in a corner. >> but there, who could talk himself out of a tight spot, was going to give it one more try. not only with them. >> ready to do this, we are recording. >> but also with us. coming up, why did you do that? our turn to confront the calm. what do you say to all these women who say that you destroy their love. >> destroying 70's life, that's a bit exaggerated. >> and then, the hardest thing about being a victim. >> you get really emotional talking about that. >> that part bothers me. >> when dateline continues. when dateline continues

and say as agents were losing patience with their cauldron. they've been interviewing him from within an hour and they were getting nowhere. >> i think the last 20 minutes you apply to our face about 50 times. you've been a lying to all of these people. >> they had enough of his deceased. >> they wanted to make america that we weren't going away. we weren't going to give up on this case. their tone changes pass is one of identities. >> you just say i don't do it, didn't happened. when it is clear -- why would all these people say this? there is evidence of it happening. then there is videos and pictures of you doing it. >> what was your impression of their without this investigation? >> that was a sociopath.

he was articulate, smart, coherent. >> could you see firsthand how he was able to consummate people? >> absolutely. his absolute confidence and everything that he said and it. it is believable. >> the agents continue to push. then you there are cut borrowed stories gun. and since he's a convicted felon that is illegal. >> have your current firearm for two months? >> we found one in the car. >> i don't believe, so help not. >> once his confidence was rattled to actually access to get him a nitro pill from his back because he was having heart problems. >> and the stuff you took out of the pocket. and a mental's bottle. there's nitro in there. can i please have one of those? >> you take nitro? >> yeah? >> standby. >> with the statewide and said is this guy seriously trying to convince us to give him a

pillow out of a mental spot. >> they ended the interview and said there is the hospital precaution. but san diego team got the hospital from the updates. they were at a panic. they were derek had just fooled federal agents. >> all the us were like, oh no, here we go, during language osborne's going to flee from the hospital. >> i assure them that he was under guard, 24 hours a day, he will be brought back to. they'll docible, they found nothing of course. later that night my votes are going up. as a recent text messages saying thank you for what you did. it's a quick for this. >> cindy's network was in overdrive. the scores of women started sharing their stories with agent al care. finally, someone was listening. and the agents were getting just what they needed from cities courage club. >> how helpful were the women in building your case? >> they were the case. >> so without them? >> there was none. >> now it was up to federal prosecutor, william tatum, to get justice for those victims.

but after a first look at the evidence for stolen valor. he was concerned. >> so in valor, unfortunately, has a very low penalty. and adding the money there are still from those critical to make much of a difference. because the charges were federal, maintain can process towards while the other woman whose bank accounts had been drained, he had an idea. >> but we need to do was get cindy ortiz lawsuit in there. get linda to join it. get all those in their. cousin roxana blossom out over 1 million. >> that would carry much harsher sentence. >> how much you think is still in total? >> it's in the millions. that's just for the people we know about. >> the prosecutor tacked on gun possession, but it still wasn't sure if that was enough. so we took a closer look at their works fake uniforms and medals. and you couldn't believe his luck. dory had kept the packaging. important because no data had proof there can't use the mail to buy his impostor kate.

>> so once we had all these packages that we knew we had mail fraud. >> that was a smoking gun,? really >> now the prosecutor had what he needed. he offered derek a deal. we offered him the option of pleading guilty to the mail fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. so 24 years total as what he was looking at. >> 24 years behind bars. would he take it? so far, his strategy when speaking to investigators was to deny, deny, deny. we wondered what he would say to us. he agreed to a phone interview. we spoken to a number of women who said you did steal money from them and in fact he stole money from them to use that money to wine and dine other women. >> but i would say is that these women, a lot of them, not all of them. but a lot of them are twisting it and winnipeg lady facts. >> they would say the exact opposite, that you're the one who's twisting manipulating

facts. >> i know that would because i've seen some of their statements. >> did you steal from the these women? >> no. >> these women are just broken from the interaction with you. that is what they told us. >> i really don't know how to respond to that because in the short term of knowing some of these women and how we interacted. i just don't see how that is possible. >> i think that they would say that that was a clue the statement. >> they might. the very well might. >> would you say to all of these women who say that you destroyed their lives? >> i'm not trying to justify my behavior. my behavior -- i was a horrible boyfriend. absolutely horrible. destroying someone's life? i think that is a big exaggerated. >> when the president by this fake identities that he didn't deny. >> you've been accused of posing as an attorney, a doctor, a firefighter, executive, veteran and, there's more.

how did you keep it all straight? >> it is impossible to keep straight. particularly when i was running from the force. or running from the united states marshals. i mean, it was it was tough to keep track of who are saying. where i was and what it was doing. and whom i was. it's overwhelming. >> my husband was a fighter pilot and f-18 fighter pilot. you've reported to be one. members of the military, obviously don't look kindly are people who pose as military officers. >> i think that's kind of a cheap shot question. >> but is a big part of your case, stolen valor? >> but i mean, it's not a big part of my case, because it is actually no part of my. case >> but open the door, really, to the federal authorities going after you. >> right. i'm not gonna answer. it >> why did you poses all of these different occupations and professions? >> i really can't -- there's no specific reason why.

there's really not. >> and yet, he made a deal, -- >> it's a cola, but he finally accepted. >> yes he did except, it i did eventually play. >> there's no guarantee a judge will guarantee that except that they. the prosecutor asked derek victims to tell their stories in court. >> we are going to make the argument to the judge that all of this throughout the entire night states issued all count in this case in sherman texas. >> eight of derek victims arrived in court. getting vanessa, missy, lori, and of course cindy. who had fought so hard to see this day. >> he was the first of a career victim impact statement. it was very powerful. you said a dark journey that with our you into the spells of depression, rage, and loneliness. it will unravel your deepest insecurities leaving you with a lingering emptiness that haunts your every breath. >> that's about right. >> that's intense. >> it was, it was a very lonely time for me. >> the judge listen to every

word from every woman. when it was stories turned she spoke about how their a cat forever stolen her billet-y to trust. >> he took a piece of you? >> yes. i was very trusting, loving -- you have my trust until you show you the other was. on the other way now. i don't trust anybody. >> you could really emotional talking about that. >> the par bother's me. >> then, there quadrant face the judge. and the women and try to pull off one last gone. >> he got there and today didn't meet her anybody. i didn't steal from anyone. these are all just bad relationships. he kind of tried to turn on the look at me port derek about the president and i haven't really done anything. but the judge was involved, not even slightly. >> he told eric the man's had to stop. >> he sent them to effective if i would give you a life sentence i would. >> on august 22nd, 2018 the

judge gave their cauldron the maximum. 24 years. and ordered him to pay more than a quarter million dollars in restitution. we asked him about that. the phone interview was from a federal prison in sheridan oregon. >> the judge threw the book at you. suggesting that he believes these women. >> that is a shame. >> what was it like for you to face all those women in court? >> to see some of them it was surreal. >> did you look at derek in the courtroom? >> i looked but he did look back. there is no reaction to what any of us were saying. >> their cauldron will be 67 when he's eligible for release. and many believe his finney pertaining to thank for that. >> city was a driving course and getting together all of them coming together. to make them all the hero. >> i walk forward every single day. and every day that i walk forward i'm walking further

away from the situation. >> there's also give you comfort in knowing the prison that their cauldron isn't is no four seasons? >> exactly. this sunday, the tragedies in texas. another mass shooting. another grieving community. >> you look at this girl. >> another political debate about what to do about guns in america from democrats. >> what are we doing? why are you here? it's not to solve, if not to solve a problem as existential