Women charged after alleged elder exploitation began at Union County grocery store

By Connor Lomis

MONROE, N.C. (WBTV) - Two women were charged with elder exploitation on Tuesday after authorities said they coerced a man at a grocery store in Union County.

Records show Sylvia Marks and Brittany Nicholas were charged with exploitation of an elder and conspiracy to commit a felony.

Sylvia Marks (left), Brittany Nicholas (right)(Courtesy: Union County Sheriff's Office)

Marks was issued a $501,000 bond and was also charged with:

• Misdemeanor larceny
• Obtaining property by false pretenses
• Resisting, delaying, or obstructing

Nicholas was issued a $400,000 secured bond and was also charged with:

• Assault
• Resisting, delaying, or obstructing

Extortion allegedly began at local grocery store, deputies say

The extortion of the elderly man reportedly began at a local grocery store, though the store’s name and location were not specified.

Deputies said Marks approached the man and asked if he remembered her, allegedly concealing her identity by telling him her name was Anna. They said she convinced him they knew each other and, over the next several weeks, persuaded him to let her move into his home. Investigators said Marks later invited Nicholas to move in as well, falsely presenting Nicholas as her daughter.

The man reported that he sent about $25,000 to Marks and Nicholas and noticed several items missing from his home. Detectives said the man appeared to have been assaulted by Nicholas a few days earlier, citing bruising on his arm.

Deputies said they were initially called to the man’s home for a trespassing complaint after Marks and Nicholas were allegedly asked to leave “multiple times” but refused.

During the investigation, the sheriff said investigators learned the situation was not isolated, as another victim who lived just miles away was also targeted using the same tactics. 

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Women charged after alleged elder exploitation began at Union County grocery store 

Montreal police say door-knocking initiative led to rescue of abused 75-year-old grandmother

by Joe Lofaro

MONTREAL -- Montreal police say a door-knocking campaign intended to identify vulnerable seniors in the context of the pandemic led to the arrest of a 28-year-old man who had been living with his 75-year-old grandmother and had allegedly been physically, financially and psychologically abusing her for two years.

The grandson was charged with assault following the intervention and the elderly woman was offered assistance through the Crime Victims Assistance Centre and her local CLSC.

It’s just one of the stories highlighted in the review of the second edition of the “Visit an isolated senior citizen” campaign to help identify seniors in need of help.

This year, police knocked on more than 21,000 doors between May 15 and June 15, up from 13,500 door knocks in 2020.

Started last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the initiative partners police officers with volunteers from local organizations to help seniors living in precarious situations by connecting them with resources in their community.

In total, police carried out 188 door-to-door operations this year and spoke with 4,794 people aged 65 and older with the help of 89 partner organizations, up from 32 in 2020.

There were two “criminal mistreatment” events during this year’s campaign, according to police.

Police had to do 33 follow-ups with seniors, compared to 14 last year, for issues such as health, psychosocial, and community services. The majority (21) were for home support or personal hygiene assistance, while seven were for psychological support.

Three seniors visited required a hospital visit, including one man with emphysema who lived alone on the third floor of a building without an elevator and couldn't leave his home.

“In addition, the number of reports of possible situations of elder abuse has increased this year," police said in a news release.

“Citizens met, whether parents, relatives or neighbors, reported cases where people could experience such situations in their area. With the information gathered, the police will be able to prevent cases of elder abuse, or intervene with victims, refer them to the appropriate resources or support them through the legal process, if necessary.”

The initiative is expected to be back for a third year in 2022.

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Montreal police say door-knocking initiative led to rescue of abused 75-year-old grandmother

Bank teller charged in home invasion of a customer who'd made a large withdrawal, authorities say

By Ralph Ellis and Rebekah Riess

Nathan Michael Newell was charged with home invasion and other offenses.

(CNN) A bank teller has been charged in connection with a home invasion at the residence of a customer who'd made a large withdrawal of money, authorities in Maryland said.

A 78-year-old man told investigators he answered his door around 8:30 p.m. Monday and an unknown male forced his way inside, the Harford County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. The intruder assaulted the man until a relative, a 57-year-old woman, intervened, the sheriff's office said.

 

The suspect ran upstairs and the woman called police from a nearby home. When sheriff's deputies arrived, the intruder had fled and was not found during a neighborhood search with the K-9 unit, the sheriff's office said.

 

"As the investigation continued, it was determined one of the victims had removed a large amount of money from the bank," the news release said. "Detectives gained information identifying a teller at the bank as the suspect."

 

Nathan Michael Newell, 19, of Bel Air, was arrested Wednesday at the bank, the sheriff's office said.

 

He has been charged with robbery, first- and third-degree burglary, first- and second-degree assault and home invasion, the news release said.

 

Newell was being held at the county detention center without bond. The public defender's office said Thursday he will be assigned representation.

 

Both residents suffered injuries. The woman was treated at the scene and the man was transported to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center with what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries, the sheriff's office said.

 

Michael MacPherson, president and CEO of Freedom Federal Credit Union, confirmed Newell was an employee of the credit union.

 

Newell was fired, he said, adding vetting procedures while hiring Newell met all standards. Search of online databases showed he faced two traffic cases.

 

"We are shocked and appalled to hear of the events that led to the assault and injury of a longtime member of our credit union," MacPherson said in a statement. "Our thoughts go out to him, and his family, during this difficult time."

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Bank teller charged in home invasion of a customer who'd made a large withdrawal, authorities say

Three charged in assault of elderly man taking too long to cross Colerain Avenue

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COLERAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WKRC) - Two men answered to charges that they assaulted an elderly man because he may have been taking too long to cross the street. A woman is also charged for driving them away after the attack.

Police say on April 1, Timothy Akemon and Daron Adams assaulted 67-year-old Steven Lewis, who suffers from dementia, after he crossed Colerain Avenue. They had pulled over in a parking lot and waited for him to walk to where they were.

According to court papers, they hit Lewis in the head. He suffered a fractured skull and brain bleeds and is still recovering in nursing care, according to a Colerain Township detective who spoke at their arraignments. He still can't walk on his own.

Akemon and Adams are charged with felonious assault. A judge ordered Adams held on $250,000 bond.

Akemon got out of prison in 2016 after serving 15-year sentence for causing the death of his girlfriend's toddler.

"The defendant has a history of attacking defenseless people," said Assistant Prosecutor David Wood.

Akemon is also accused of initiating the assault on Lewis. A judge ordered him held on $350,000 bond.

According to police, a woman, Tina Lay, jumped into the driver's seat while the other two were assaulting the man and drove them away from the scene. She's also charged with felonious assault and is locked up on $75,000 bond.

The case will go to the grand jury on April 15.

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Three charged in assault of elderly man taking too long to cross Colerain Avenue

West Columbia assisted living facility director charged with assault of resident

WEST COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - The executive director of Brookdale Assisted Living Facility has been accused of abusing one of the residents in a police report obtained by WIS.

Gary Mark Tyson, 59, is accused of assaulting two residents in formal complaints made to the West Columbia Police Department.

In one report, the daughter of a resident at the assisted living facility claims that Tyson hurt her mother on July 11. A witness and employee at the home said the daughter called, claiming her mother accused Tyson of forcing her to take a shower, leaving bruises on her body.

Another incident report claims that a welfare check was made when a 911 caller said the facility was understaffed when her mother was picked up and took her home.

The incident report also states that the employee who officers spoke with was the only one on staff, which is a violation of DHEC regulations.

Tyson was arrested on July 28 and charged with third-degree assault.

Brookdale Assisted Living Facility is located on 190 McSwain Drive.

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West Columbia assisted living facility director charged with assault of resident