State Attorney announces new elderly exploitation case in Miami-Dade

Fernandez Rundle: Duo of fraudsters take advantage of vulnerable man with dementia

Roy Ramos, Reporter
Andrea Torres, Digital Journalist

MIAMI – Detectives accused two women — including one who was working as a receptionist at a doctor’s office — of defrauding an 82-year-old man in Miami.

State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced the charges against Nerelis Leiva and Rita Benet on Tuesday saying the women stole from his bank account and attempted to steal his house in Coconut Grove.

“His vulnerabilities were acute,” Fernandez Rundle said about the victim adding that he had dementia and suffered a long-standing illness.

Fernandez Rundle described Leiva, 45, as a “predator” who befriended the victim at the doctor’s office in 2021, visited his home under the pretext of checking his blood sugar levels, and eventually moved in.

Mugshot for 45-year-old Nerelis Leiva. (Miami-Dade County Corrections)

“Once Leiva began exercising dominion over her victim, the bank withdrawals went up to $500 increments several times a month,” Fernandez Rundle said.

Leiva hired Benet, 59, a notary with American International Business and Associates, who worked on the documents used to list the house — which was valued at over $2 million, according to Fernandez Rundle.

“Benet knew that our victim was incapable of understanding what these documents were, and what these documents meant for him and his property,” Fernandez Rundle said.

The victim, who died last year of an illness, had owned the home for over three decades, according to Fernandez Rundle.

Benet and Leiva are facing charges of exploitation of the elderly, grand theft on a person over 65 or older, and organized scheme to defraud.

Mugshot for 59-year-old Rita Benet (Miami-Dade County Corrections)

Benet is also facing two counts of notary fraud, and Leiva is also facing charges of criminal use of personal identification information of a person over 60 years old and unlawfully filing a false document.

Fernandez Rundle said the victim’s alert neighbor reported there were parties at the house and something suspicious was going on. She asked that anyone who suspects elderly exploitation, call the task force at 786-804-6723.

Fernandez Rundle also said The Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts has a property fraud alert registration program to prevent real estate fraud. For more information, visit this page.

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State Attorney announces new elderly exploitation case in Miami-Dade