Utah Man Finds $150,000 in Cash, Returns It to Police, and Receives Only $500 Reward
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH — A Utah man who discovered a bag filled with $150,000 in cash lying in a grocery store parking lot made the honorable choice to turn it in, only to receive a modest $500 reward in return. The man, identified as José Nuñez, said he did the right thing — though he admitted later that the small reward made him briefly question that decision.
Bag of Cash Fell from Armored Truck
According to reports, Nuñez spotted a bank deposit bag in the parking lot of a grocery store and quickly realized it contained a large sum of money. The bag was later confirmed to belong to a credit union, which had accidentally dropped it from an armored vehicle making deliveries earlier that day.
Instead of walking away, Nuñez carried the bag into the store and informed employees of what he had found. They immediately contacted police, who recovered the money and confirmed the total — a staggering $150,000 in bundled cash.
Police Praise His Integrity
Local police commended Nuñez for his honesty, emphasizing that his decision likely prevented a significant financial loss for the credit union. “Most people would have been tempted to keep it,” an officer reportedly said during a brief ceremony honoring him. “But José did the right thing without hesitation.”
Despite the praise, Nuñez’s good deed sparked conversation online after he revealed the reward was only $500 — a small fraction compared to the massive sum he returned. Holding a check presented by the credit union, he joked, “I wish I kept it after they said $500,” though he clarified he was still proud of his actions.
Mixed Reactions Online
Social media users shared mixed opinions about the outcome. Many applauded Nuñez’s integrity, calling him a “rare example of honesty in today’s world,” while others argued that the reward did not fairly reflect the value of his decision. “Five hundred dollars for saving $150,000? That’s not even one percent,” one commenter wrote.
The credit union said the $500 reward was meant as a token of appreciation for his actions, and the funds could be used toward college tuition or educational expenses.
Despite joking about the small payout, Nuñez said he has no regrets about returning the money. “It was the right thing to do,” he said. “Even if the reward wasn’t what I expected, I can still sleep well knowing I did the honest thing.”
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