It is quite unusual for someone to come upon cash that has been left by its owner, and even when they do, the quantities are often small. Many people who stumble upon cash have a tough decision: should they keep the money for themselves or hunt for the person who legitimately owns it so they may return it? When it comes to smaller quantities, such as a dollar or two, there is less guilt associated with taking the money. When it comes to larger amounts, though, people must stop and consider if they are behaving morally.

On May 8th, a man named Jose Nuez Romaniz of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was at an automated teller machine (ATM) approximately two minutes from his home when he found a large sum of missing money—exactly $135,000 to be precise. Nuez had simply wanted to make a little deposit so that his grandfather could buy some socks online, but he noticed a big bag of cash that had been left unattended directly next to the automated machine (ATM) that he was using at the time. This compelled him to make a critical decision.

According to CNN, Nuez, 19, was on his way to the local ATM on a Sunday to transfer some cash so that he could help his grandfather purchase some socks online after they failed to properly find them in any shops. Nuez intended to assist his grandfather in purchasing the socks after they were unable to find them in any retailers. Nuez saw a clear plastic bag full of money as he walked to the ATM outside of a Wells Fargo bank after parking his car but before going inside.

If they chose to think positively about the scenario, someone else in the same position would have deemed it their lucky day and taken the money. After all, the amount is so large that it might practically change the course of one’s life. Despite this, Nuez considered himself obligated to behave morally.

Nunez told KOAT Action 7 News, “In the back of my mind, I was worrying about my parents, mainly my mother.”

Nuez also told CNN, “I was utterly at a loss for what to do.” I was kind of dreaming. I just couldn’t believe it. “What should I do?” I asked myself as I stood in front of a mirror.

According to the interview, Nuez’s decision on what to do with the money was influenced by a variety of factors. The handbag had a “foot-long stack” of twenty-five and fifty-dollar banknotes. Nuez told CNN that he chose to inform the local police station rather than accept the money and utilize it to purchase himself some new clothing because he thought about his mother.

I began to hear my mother’s voice and her chant at the back of my thoughts. My parents instilled in me the virtues of hard labor and freedom from an early age. You won’t be able to survive on stolen money for long. ”

The expression “la chancla” refers to the real but also hilarious threat made by parents to their children that they would be beaten with a flip-flop if they do not behave properly. After listening to what his parents said, Nuez called the Albuquerque police to turn over the money.

When the funds were ultimately handed to the police station, they were counted, and it was revealed that the bag held a whopping $135,000 in total. Officer Simon Drobik concluded that the money had been left there by a bank subcontractor who was in charge of replenishing the ATM with cash. Officer Drobik told CNN the following:

“If he had made a different decision with his life, this money might have made a huge impact,” the narrator continues, “but he chose… the path of integrity and did the right thing.” “However, he did the right thing.”

Given the fact that he did not win the whole $135,000 reward, Nuez did not go away empty-handed. Nuez, who is now enrolled in a local college and hopes to concentrate on criminal justice, was asked to apply for a job as a public safety officer by the Albuquerque police department. This is due to the fact that Nuez, who is just 19 years old, is not yet of legal age to become a full-time officer of the law.

In addition, CNN reported that Nunez received gift cards for $500 apiece from at least three local businesses in the area, as well as a $100 gift card from a local restaurant. In celebration of his good deed, Albuquerque ESPN Radio 101.7 FM presented him with sports memorabilia, including a football signed by Brian Urlacher, a former NFL player who attended the University of New Mexico and was picked after playing for the NFL. In addition to this donation, the donor also got six season tickets to a UNM football game.

After telling CNN about the money, Nuez went on to detail what he did next:

“When I came home, I did the rest of my online shopping.”

Nunez called his mother immediately after finishing his duty at the police station on the day in question. In the 1990s, Nuez’s parents left Mexico and came to live in the United States. His mother has always been very proud of him.

Nuez recalled his parents’ instilling fundamental ideas in him, and it was these convictions that ultimately inspired him to behave ethically responsibly. He was fully aware of the essential need to disclose what he had learned.

He also said that his mother was moved by the fact that he was behaving responsibly: “She commended me and told me I had made the right choice, adding that she was delighted with me.” She phoned my number and came perilously close to crying. ”