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Man Hunts Down Rightful Owner of $200,000
http://articles.news.aol.com/news ^ | 3 17 06 | aolnews

Posted on 03/16/2006 11:58:17 AM PST by freepatriot32

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. (March 15) - Carlos G. Rojas didn't know what to think when the military life insurance checks started showing up at his office. He didn't know anyone who would have named him a beneficiary, and the checks totaled $200,000.

He called Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance, which pays death benefits to military families, and the customer service representatives insisted the money was his and he should cash the checks, he said.

Rojas couldn't do it.

"It's not like picking up a penny you just found," said Rojas, a 29-year-old marketing consultant. "Somebody's life was connected with that money."

Meanwhile, Carlos M. Rojas, 62, wondered why he had never received life insurance payments for his son, Army Pfc. Kenny Rojas, killed by a land mine in October in Iraq.

Servicemembers' Group assured him the checks were in the mail.

On Tuesday, after weeks of searching, the younger Rojas tracked down the grieving father.

"I believe this belongs to you," he said, handing him the checks.

The two men had never met but once worked in the same Miramar office building - Carlos G. Rojas for Wells Fargo Financial and Carlos M. Rojas for Comcast cable television. Carlos M. Rojas had quit his job at Comcast, though.

The checks, addressed to only "Carlos Rojas," were sent to the building because the elder Rojas had recently moved.

It took nine weeks, but Carlos G. Rojas was able to find a telephone number for the grieving father.

"I feel pretty good that somebody is honest enough to not spend the money," said Carlos M. Rojas. "This is like the last gift from my son. It's still very sad that he is not here. I cry every night."

Servicemembers' Group has spoken with the elder Rojas and will be sending him a letter of apology, spokeswoman Laurita Warner said Wednesday.

"We are investigating this situation to find out what happened and will take steps to make sure this doesn't happen again," she said.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: 000; 200; americanhero; anamericansoldier; down; florida; hunts; man; of; owner; pembrokepines; rightful
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To: Dante3

It's a big deal, as a lot of people would not have figured it out....also, he didn't have to personally find the man, he could of just returned to sender. Meaning, it would of taken much longer for the man to receive the money. You know how the system works. They might have even put it into a dead file and he would of never received it.

It's a very big deal...............


41 posted on 03/16/2006 12:44:39 PM PST by tgambill (I would like to comment.....)
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To: Flash Bazbeaux
Yes. He very easily could have kept the money. Human nature being what it is, its easier to do something when it benefits us. Its much harder to do something when it benefits someone else. Now I understand what the Misnah says when you should serve God without the expectation of receiving a reward. We usually think of rewards as money or material goods. There are other rewards waiting for us and we don't think about them often since they're not that obvious. One of them is the feeling of gaining merit before God's eyes. Compared to the treasures of the earth, the treasures of heaven are of infinite value and lasting worth. The younger Rojas gained more than many people think he received and its something that can't be measured on a price tag. It may be the most precious reward of all to have.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

42 posted on 03/16/2006 12:45:24 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: WoofDog123

:)) I said the same thing......didn't read yours until now.....


43 posted on 03/16/2006 12:45:35 PM PST by tgambill (I would like to comment.....)
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To: TankerKC

Sarcasm or not, you're the only one injecting such tripe into a thread about integrity, courage and hope. Buzz off.


44 posted on 03/16/2006 12:46:24 PM PST by pgyanke (Christ has a tolerance for sinners; liberals have a tolerance for sin.)
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To: freepatriot32

God just put down a gold star next to Mr. Carlos G. Rojas name in the book of life.


45 posted on 03/16/2006 12:48:57 PM PST by Doomonyou (FR doesn't suffer fools lightly.)
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To: SandRat

bttt!

Nice story for your ping list?


46 posted on 03/16/2006 12:50:55 PM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: freepatriot32
Hooray for you Carlos G. Rojas.

It pleases God to see some righteousness prevail in a land that is known as the home of the brave and "USED" to be known as home to many more like Carlos G. Rojas.

All's well that ends well!

47 posted on 03/16/2006 12:51:47 PM PST by VOYAGER
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To: goldstategop
I was defrauded in a business transaction so I wondered if there are still honest people.

You also setup a bank account for the Nigerian and transferred money to him? Man, and I thought I was the only one...
48 posted on 03/16/2006 12:53:39 PM PST by TSgt (Extreme vitriol and rancorous replies served daily. - Mike W USAF)
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To: MikeWUSAF
Nothing like that. I know, I should have listened to my inner voice telling me NO. But I learned my lesson and will never do it again.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

49 posted on 03/16/2006 12:56:07 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: Dante3

***This is really not that big a deal. Eventually the mixup would have been discoverd and he would have had to return the money.***

Yes, you're right. But he could have shredded the checks and forgotten about it. So he STILL deserves credit for making sure the insurance company didn't just write it off as well. The ins. company, after all, had records to prove they sent the check, and the insured might NOT have told anyone that he took out the insurance. He's still a hero in my book for caring.


50 posted on 03/16/2006 12:58:21 PM PST by kitkat
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To: Responsibility2nd

How could anyone do anything different than this man did? I don't get it. It wasn't his money, so he found the guy it belonged to and got the money to him. That's what you do.


51 posted on 03/16/2006 1:21:17 PM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: Dante3
This is really not that big a deal. Eventually the mixup would have been discoverd and he would have had to return the money.

Inferno,

I've known you to be cynical, but this takes the cake. Try spell checker, it works.

52 posted on 03/16/2006 1:23:56 PM PST by USS Alaska (Nuke the terrorist savages - In Honor of Standing Wolf)
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To: Responsibility2nd

Bless his heart - my "faith in humanity" meter just went up a notch.


53 posted on 03/16/2006 1:27:01 PM PST by WIladyconservative
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To: freepatriot32; lightingguy

What a good guy.


54 posted on 03/16/2006 1:35:52 PM PST by agrace
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To: freepatriot32
My heart grieves for this father yet rejoices for the integrity of Mr. Rejos
55 posted on 03/16/2006 1:36:37 PM PST by Kimmers
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To: USS Alaska
My name is simply a combination of the initials of three persons.

My parents once found a large amount of cash. They turned it in right away and wanted no thanks for it. In my family, it is taken for granted that this is the right thing to do. Apparently this is different from yours.

56 posted on 03/16/2006 1:50:25 PM PST by Dante3
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To: pgyanke

Hit a nerve, huh?


57 posted on 03/16/2006 1:55:08 PM PST by TankerKC (Pull your head out.)
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To: TankerKC

I'm not going to be baited... follow your own tagline.


58 posted on 03/16/2006 2:01:39 PM PST by pgyanke (Christ has a tolerance for sinners; liberals have a tolerance for sin.)
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To: TankerKC

Hey - thanks for the many fillups; maybe it wasn't you we got gas from, but it sure must have been kin. Can you grab the windshield and check for 32 all the way around? oh, and where's my steak knives???


59 posted on 03/16/2006 2:15:56 PM PST by Chinito (6990th Security Group, RC-135/Combat Apple, SEA Class of '68)
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To: 2LT Radix jr; 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; 80 Square Miles; A Ruckus of Dogs; acad1228; AirForceMom; ..
Diogenes has found an honest man.
60 posted on 03/16/2006 3:05:12 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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