Fraud ring targeting Cincinnati seniors busted: 10 arrested, $38K stolen
Ten people were arrested and one remains wanted after a fraud scheme stole more than $38,000 from six elderly Cincinnati residents aged 85 to 99.
Cincinnati fraud ring preyed on seniors aged 85 to 99, police say
Ten people have been arrested and one remains at large following an investigation into an organised fraud scheme that targeted elderly residents in Cincinnati, fox19.com reports. Eleven suspects in total were indicted on 29 felony charges after more than $38,000 was stolen from six victims aged between 85 and 99.
The case began when an elderly resident of The Kenwood by Senior Star reported stolen checks from his apartment. The Cincinnati Police Department launched an investigation involving financial analysis, subpoenas, witness interviews and surveillance footage, which uncovered a broader criminal network stealing checks and credit card information from seniors.
Robyn Brown, identified by investigators as the central figure, is the only suspect charged who had direct contact with the victims. "She was the one who was stealing the checks and then the checks were going to different individuals to cash the checks and then splitting the profits with other people," Detective Stewart said. "So, it turned into this whole web of individuals who were involved with this."
Brown had worked as a caregiver for approximately 11 months through Trinity In Home Care, which contracts with The Kenwood to provide aides. She was dismissed as soon as the company became aware of the situation. Aaron Stapleton, CEO and owner of Trinity In Home Care, described the scale of the scheme as "very shocking."
The ten individuals arrested are: Robyn Brown, Monae Mosley, Sean Caldwell, Talilah Telich, Jaylon Malone, Arnando Miller, Sabryna Overton, Melyana Green, Jordan Malone and Morrigan Crutcher. A further suspect, Daryl Bullucks, remains wanted in connection with the scheme.
Charges brought against those indicted include felony counts of theft, forgery, misuse of credit cards and theft from an Elderly Person or Disabled Adult.
Detective Stewart noted that the investigation grew significantly as the inquiry progressed. "It turned into something a lot bigger than just this one individual. More victims came forward and then once we found more evidence, I ended up having to reach out to people because I found out they were victims and they didn't realize," Stewart said. Investigators expect additional victims may still come forward.
Senior Star and Trinity In Home Care both issued statements following the indictments. Stapleton said the incident had prompted the company to strengthen its client protection measures. "This has given us an opportunity to upgrade our client protection initiative to make sure our clients are as safe as possible," Stewart added, noting that background screenings and ongoing verification procedures were already in place.
The Cincinnati Police Department said it remains committed to holding those who target seniors and other vulnerable individuals accountable. Detective Stewart advised elderly residents and those living in senior care facilities to store checks and credit cards in a safety deposit box or another secure location.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)