Con Artist Nabbed At Walmart By New Lenox Police

NEW LENOX, IL - A 23-year-old suspected con artist has spent the past week of his life at the Will County Jail in connection with a New Lenox Police investigation that led to felony theft by deception charges. Police say that the crimes of Michael Humphrey happened at the Walmart parking lot in New Lenox.

The Country Club Hills resident was busted during a police sting last Thursday, Dec. 13.

New Lenox "detectives arranged to purchase an iPhone from Humphrey on the 5Miles mobile app," police announced. "The transaction was set to take place in the Walmart parking lot. Humphrey arrived in a tan colored Ford Fusion, provided an undercover police officer with a bag containing an empty IPhone box, and took $350 from the officer. Humphrey was apprehended and taken to the NLPD."

New Lenox Police say they can tie Humphrey to at least two other crimes at the New Lenox Walmart parking lot. On Monday, Nov. 26, "the victim agreed to purchase the phone for $125 and the transaction was set to take place in the Walmart parking lot. The seller arrived in a tan colored Ford Fusion and the victim provided him the agreed upon money. The seller handed the victim an empty iPhone box and sped off in his vehicle with the victim’s money," police said.

On Thursday, Dec. 6, Humphrey pulled his con again in New Lenox, police said.

"The victim agreed to purchase the phone for $300 and the transaction was set to take place in the Walmart parking lot. The seller again arrived in a tan colored Ford Fusion. When the victim asked to view the phone the offender gave the victim a bag with an empty iPhone box, grabbed the money from the victim’s hand and sped off in his vehicle with her money," police said.

During the police investigations, New Lenox Police said they realized the criminal was Michael Humphrey. He was also previously arrested and charged with one felony count of Burglary and one felony count of Identity Theft for an incident in the Walmart parking lot in September, police said.

Bail was set by a Will County judge at $75,000 for the young man from out of county. He has been unsuccessful in coming up with $7,500 cash to post as bond.

Mugshot of Michael Humphrey via Will County Jail