$8,000 Rolex watch listed among St. Lucie County exploitation case purchases

ST. LUCIE COUNTY — A man accused of stealing more than $11,700 from a man with Alzheimer’s disease was jailed on a host of charges, according to records obtained Thursday.

Joseph Fernandez, 56, of the 200 block of Brazilian Circle in Port St. Lucie, was arrested Wednesday on charges including exploitation of an elderly or disabled adult, grand theft, forgery, fraudulent use of credit card and organized fraud after a Port St. Lucie police investigation.

Police began investigating in January, after family members learned from the state Department of Children and Families that their relative was “possibly being exploited” by Fernandez, records show.

Family members noted at least eight automated teller machine withdrawals in June and July 2019, along with an $8,000 purchase at a jewelry business in Palm Beach County.

A detective spoke with the man, who said Fernandez helped him by driving him around for errands. He agreed to pay Fernandez $157 weekly and let Fernandez use his vehicle.

Police asked the man about documents, including one in which he was supposed to give $85,000 and his pet to Fernandez upon his death, with his signature. The victim said he never signed them.

A representative of the Palm Beach County jewelry business said a Rolex watch was purchased in July for $8,000. The invoice said it was sold to Fernandez. It was purchased with the man's debit card.

Police also accused Fernandez of forging the man's signature on the title to his vehicle to “gift” himself the man's vehicle.

Only after a detective spoke to Fernandez’s lawyer and told him of possible criminal charges did Fernandez transfer the title back and return the vehicle, records show.

Family members told police the man died Feb. 9.

Records provided to police showed the man was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

A booking photo of Fernandez was not available Thursday.

Fernandez also was arrested on a charge of resisting arrest without violence after sheriff’s deputies reported he tried to hide before they forced their way into his home to arrest him on warrants related to the case.

Fernandez was held Thursday in the St. Lucie County Jail on $28,250 bond, a jail official said.

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$8,000 Rolex watch listed among St. Lucie County exploitation case purchases