“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Jesus of Nazareth, during his Sermon on the Mount, proclaimed this ‘golden rule.’ And for one teenager, he had zero hesitation after finding a mystery bag on the ground next to an ATM.

Inside? $135,000, in stacks of bills. The 19-year-old criminal justice student had stopped by the ATM to deposit money he planned to use to order socks for his grandfather. The Albuquerque, N.M., teen said his first reaction was pure shock when he saw the bag and its contents.

“I was very shocked,” Jose said. “I’ve never seen so much money.” Photo by Albuquerque Police Department

“When I first saw it, I kind of stared at it for a few seconds, not knowing what to do,” Jose said. “I was very shocked. I’ve never seen so much money.” The young man, who is a criminal justice student at Central New Mexico Community College, said that once he calmed down, he immediately took a picture of the bag. Jose said he never even considered keeping the money. “It never passed through my mind to keep any of it,” he said. And that was all thanks to great parenting.

What she would do if I came home with the money and what she would do with (shoe) to hit me.” Jose said, laughing.

Jose said that he originally considered calling the tollfree number on the ATM, but chose to call 911 so it wouldn’t look like he was trying to steal the money. After he the spoke with police, he placed he bag in his car, while waiting for officers to arrive. Jose said he also made sure to let his mom know he would be a bit late coming home.

Jose Nuñez Romaniz, second from left, with his parents, Carmen Romaniz and Jose Nuñez Juarez, and Mike Geier, the Albuquerque police chief. Photo by Albuquerque Police Department

Once police arrived, they took the bag along with Jose’s statement and information. Once he was home, he said his parents couldn’t believe what had happened, even after he showed them the pictures.

Even police were shocked. “I’ve seen a lot of stuff in 21 years, but this was unique and refreshing for the department and city,” said Officer Simon Drobik, an Albuquerque Police Department spokesperson. “I think this is the biggest amount of money found in Albuquerque and returned.” Police said they believe that a Wells Fargo contractor had accidentally left the money behind instead of putting it inside the ATM.

The city recently honored the teen with a ceremony. During the event, Mayor Tim Keller commended Jose’s honesty. “Man, we all know that temptation. Even just to take a little, just one of those bundles off the top. I mean that had to be really hard.”

Jose also received a plaque, gift cards, sports gear and even a $500 scholarship from an electric company. “My parents got emotional, my mom mostly,” he said. “I was more nervous than anything because it was my first time on the news.”

When Officer Drobik learned that Jose was studying criminal justice to one day work in law enforcement, he had the young man to apply to be a public service aide, “I’ve wanted to be a crime scene investigator or a detective for the police since I was a kid,” Jose said. “I already had my mind set on that.” In the end, for the teenager, it was all about living up to what his parents expected from him. “I did the right thing, and I know my parents are proud and my family is proud as well,” Jose said.

Sources: New York Times  | CBS