Three years ago, an Orange County man says he found a box with the word “Christmas” written on it.
This year, he opened it and found a small fortune in U.S. bonds.
Anthony Garofalo, 48, is a single father, who is willing to sift through other people’s trash just to make ends meet.
“I’m disabled and the economy is so tough right now, trying to raise this little guy by myself, with no help from anybody. So we go out scrapping together. We get metals, any precious metals, aluminum, copper,” Garofalo explained.
Somewhere in Central Florida about three years ago, the Bithlo man thought he found a Christmas tree in a box on the curb, something he knew he couldn’t afford, but his son would appreciate one day.
“I happened to see a Christmas tree in a box, said ‘Christmas tree.’ And so it was all taped up and sealed, so I figured well, he was only one month old at the time, this is three years ago and I figured, I would just save the tree until he could appreciate Christmas.”
He said he went out to set up the tree for his 3-year-old son, Rory, and found $50,000 in bonds inside.
Garofalo said he has no idea how to get in contact with the owner.
Donald H. Tran is the owner of the bonds. His beneficiary is Theodore M. Tran.
News 13 worked with Anthony to try and reach them, but their phone number at their listed address in Brunswick, Ohio, was disconnected.
Documents show Mr. Tran worked for several years at NASA.
“What’s right is what’s right and what’s wrong is what’s wrong. I have no right to that. It’s nothing of mine. So, I just feel like since there is a beneficiary, even if this man has passed, his family can enjoy this money and that’s a lot of money.”
Gorafolo said he wouldn’t be opposed to a reward, though.
“Oh no. Not at all, anything he could do to help me would be incredible. We’re scrounging to survive here.”