Man Who Found $150,000 In His Garden Files Claim For The Cash (VIDEO)

The attorney representing an unemployed Illinois man who found two duffle bags containing approximately $150,000 in cash in his back yard last month is due in court Tuesday to file a claim with the hope that his client can keep the money he discovered.

CBS Chicago reports that attorney Robert Burke is entering an order with the McHenry County Clerk on behalf of Wayne Sabaj, who attracted international media attention when he came upon the money nestled amongst the vegetable garden behind his home in unincorporated Johnsburg, Illinois. Shortly after doing so, he alerted authorities to the discovery -- a decision that some observers have questioned.

Police say the money may have been dropped off following a burglary, but have yet to connect it to any specific crimes. Meanwhile, Burke is confident Sabaj will be able to claim the money for himself -- though he has to wait just over a year after the claim is filed to do so, CBS Chicago notes.

If he is successful in his claim for the money, 49-year-old Sabaj, a carpenter who has been out of work for three years and lives with his 78-year-old father, said his first big-ticket purchase will be getting his teeth fixed, according to the Chicago Tribune. As for those who say they would have kept the money and not alerted the authorities if they were posed with a similar dilemma?

"[I]t wasn't my money," Sabaj told the Tribune. "I just figured I did the right thing."

Despite Burke's confidence, Jessica Drahos, assistant state's attorney, explained to the Tribune that even if the money's true owner does not come forward during the year following Sabaj's claim being filed, he is still not guaranteed to receive the money.

WATCH a report on how and where Sabaj found the surprisingly valuable duffle bag last month:

Comments

[checkmoot]

09:30 AM on 10/26/2011

Wanna bet, now that he has turned the money over to the police that they wont figure out a way to keep it ?

[barbara0309]

10:12 AM on 09/15/2011

If I were a dentist, I'd have some "free days" where you volunteer your time and donate services....like helping someone like this fellow fix his teeth for free. I mean, there are enough PAYING customers and insurance payments, so why not give back to those who are in need and have not?

[george lamberis]

10:35 PM on 09/13/2011

You can't disagree with how people choose to handle these type of situations. However I'm more than concerned that his name is now out there and somebody is missing their 150k.

[KevinGregg]

08:39 PM on 09/13/2011

C'mon, Bill Gates, you know about this story, right? Spring for Wayne Sabaj getting his teeth fixed. We'll all feel better following this story if Wayne can do interviews with a toothy grin, thanks to you.

[Mr Hankey]

04:12 PM on 09/13/2011

Some people on this thread are commenting that the guy should have just kept the money and not reported it....yea, that would be tempting for anyone....but cash is serialized, and if it was originally stolen from a bank, couldn't it have the exploding dye wrapped up with it? I think he probably did the safe thing.

I hope he gets to keep it! Would be nice if it could accumulate a bit of interest while he waits.

[tissa]

03:53 PM on 09/13/2011

Dude, you didn't have to tell ANYONE. OMG

[jimg4805]

12:45 AM on 10/26/2011

Very true tissa but what if it had been temporarily stashed there by drug dealers and when they came looking for there money they don't as a rule have a very good since of humor. And I don't think they would have believed him when he said what money I didn't find any money. At least this way every one knows he called the cops and maybe it will come back to him in a year I hope he gets to keep it that would be way cool for him and his dad

[ApolloniaBliss]

03:44 PM on 09/13/2011

He's a dummy. I would have kept that money and told nobody. I am just being honest. If I found it in my back yard. Its shouldnt be there in the first place. GOD works in mysterious ways for those who believe. If you're a non-believer please DO NOT reply to my comments. Very much into my creator.

[Hnorc]

03:21 PM on 09/14/2011

While you are being honest, what if the money had belonged to a drug dealer? You'd be fish food by now. BTW, your creator would not have saved you either.

[ApolloniaBliss]

05:13 PM on 09/14/2011

Consider yourself REBUKED!

[Hugh Briggs]

06:26 PM on 09/14/2011

Wow bringing GOD into a bad decision is beyond belief.

A wise man once said 'If you didnt drop it, dont pick it up'

That cash could have been from a robbery (Bank heist or something) -Serialized cash and then you would be sitting in Jail

That cash could have belonged to Organized Crime -You would be in the bottom of a river wearing cement shoes.

That cash is likely illegal $$ and who-ever left it there will be back. Now that the people that left the cash know it is in police custody, they have no real incentive to return to attack the home owner.

Gotta think better that that 'Bliss'.

[ApolloniaBliss]

08:26 PM on 09/14/2011

You watch too much TV. I can see it now a ganster throwing money in someone's backyard. Its not illegal to have money but drugs a different story. Don't concern yourself with my shoes. $150,000, I would have been on a plane. You just bent out of shape that you didnt find it. Its funny how people are honest when its not your honesty not in question. I didn't bring GOD into anything. I said, GOD works in mysterious ways. I didn't say GOD gave him the money. If it was me and I found it, I would have not gave anything to the police. I been there and done that at a store I use to work for and the store kept the money. I called the police and asked them about the found money and the police stated that the store is in charge of how they handle the found money. A customer dropped it and If it wasnt claimed I was suppose to get the money. So please give me a break. I wouldnt have turned in nothing. Bottom line.

[GeoToronto]

03:25 PM on 09/13/2011

After watching "No country for old men", I'd be paranoid as anything if I kept the money...but I'd keep the money, Friendo.

[satanmademedoit]

03:11 PM on 09/13/2011

sweet! i'm cheering for him!!! poor guy just wants to fix his teeth...soooo expensive!!! go wayne!!!

[Arto Mykkyra]

02:35 PM on 09/13/2011

Babe, where's my shovel? I'm going to the garden, will send you a card from Bahamas.

[1differentdrummer]

02:33 PM on 09/13/2011

Great, good for him. Now he needs to watch his back.

[Durango]

02:30 PM on 09/13/2011

Drug money?

Dropped by Omar?

[tissa]

03:54 PM on 09/13/2011

What?

[Durango]

04:43 PM on 09/13/2011

Watch the WIRE.

Best television ever

[LLeGrande]

02:25 PM on 09/13/2011

Just wait and see how the 'government' will lay claim to the money. Just wait.

[Cyke101]

02:16 PM on 09/13/2011

Man, that's gonna be one excruciating year for Mr. Sabaj!

[WoBuYaoTweet]

02:11 PM on 09/13/2011

He was smart to turn it in publicly. There was the case a few months back of the guy who mysteriously found $100K in his bank account but didn't report it, and then wound up in court for theft after spending the $$. In this case, the idiot drug runners who tossed their cash into the guy's backyard now know he no longer has it, and hopefully won't go after him (right away).

Besides, it's not like $150K is enough to retire on. If it'd been $15 million, then maybe I would've hopped the next plane to Grand Cayman & changed my name...

[Sing Out and Slap Iron]

02:28 PM on 09/13/2011

Grand Cayman? Oy, talk about aiming low.

[tissa]

03:56 PM on 09/13/2011

Way different if this was deposited in his bank account. You then HAVE to report that--it is electronically tracked...just a matter of time before they find out the mistake.

But finding cash in your backyard means it is YOURS.

[veryberry]

05:23 PM on 09/14/2011

I agree that it is his. And I mean morally. I don't know about legally. Money buried like that in the garden was obviously "hidden" there by someone to whom it didn't belong. Maybe a bank robber, or an embezzler. or a blackmailer or something. Therefore, it is fair game. Certainly doesn't belong to the government. Of course he has to find a way to keep it safe without his bank and without spending much. If he flashes a gorgeous smile suddenly, there will be problems.
If I found, say, an envelope stuffed with cash -- even $100., I would make every effort to find the owner. People leave stuff at restaurant tables, bathrooms, near cash machines, retail counters, etc. all the time. They are absent-minded and they need their money.
This guy could try to find the "owner" of the stash, but he then becomes a witness after-the-fact to a possible crime and might not live out the week. Whoever "owned" the money illegally will not claim it because how can they explain to police how they got it? It might be held by the city or state for seven years or so and then go into the general fund, like unclaimed tax refunds.