Missouri coin store owner charged with conning elderly man out of thousands of dollars

The owner of a Missouri coin store could face prison time after he allegedly exploited thousands of dollars from an elderly man.

By Sarah Motter

BURLINGTON JUNCTION, Mo. (KCTV) - The owner of a Missouri coin store could face prison time after he allegedly exploited thousands of dollars from an elderly man.

Nodaway County, Missouri, Circuit Court records filed on Monday, July 14, indicate that Gerald R. Galyan, 49, of Burlington Junction, has been charged in connection with the crime.

A probable cause statement filed by the Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office revealed that on June 17, 2024, investigators were contacted about a possible theft. The elderly victim’s nephew reported that several discrepancies had been found in his uncle’s bank account.

Law enforcement officials noted that in total, more than $26,000 had been stolen from the victim’s bank account. The investigation led the Sheriff’s Office to Galyan, the owner of T and J Coins N’ More. 

During an interview with investigators, they said Galyan claimed the victim had paid him the missing money for services he had provided since the victim’s wife had passed away. He then claimed the victim had been a partner in his gold and silver business.

However, the victim told law enforcement officials he never intended to be partners with Galyan. 

The Sheriff’s Office said a search of Galyan’s home and business revealed receipts for the transactions as well as $35,000 in counterfeit cash and counterfeit items.

Court documents noted that Galyan was charged with financial exploitation of an elderly person, stealing $750 or more, counterfeiting and fraudulent use of a credit or debit device on July 14. If found guilty, he could be sentenced to up to 33 years in prison.

A warrant was issued for Galyan’s arrest on Monday with the condition of a $30,000 bond. As of Monday evening, he does not appear to have been arrested on these charges. No further information has been released. 

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Missouri coin store owner charged with conning elderly man out of thousands of dollars 

Texas woman scams Indiana man out of $1.2 million

Story by Matt Christy

NEW PALESTINE, Ind. - A Fort Worth, Texas, woman is accused of scamming a New Palestine man out of more than $1 million over a 16-month period in which she lied to him about medical expenses but instead used the money he sent her to gamble at Oklahoma casinos.  

Lorraine Marie Rew

According to Hancock County Prosecutor Brent Eaton, Lorraine Marie Rew, 46, was arrested in Texas on Nov. 16. She has been charged with one count of corrupt business influence, a Level 5 felony, and 10 counts of counterfeiting, all Level 6 felonies. 

Court documents reveal that Rew met and befriended the New Palestine man on a social media platform and that the two began a relationship. From October 2020 through February 2022, Rew had the man send her approximately $1.2 million.

The man reportedly gathered the funds to send to Rew by drawing from his personal IRA, a mutual fund, checking and savings accounts, along with using cash advances and personal loans.

Rew reportedly had told the man that she needed the money in order to pay for her daughter’s serious surgical procedures and expensive medications along with heart medication for herself. Rew claimed she had to pay the costs upfront but that her insurance would reimburse her later and then she could repay the man. She even made fake email accounts pretending to be her employer and promised the man that reimbursement would be forthcoming.  

A postal inspector found no record, however, of Rew using the money to pay for medical expenses and investigators learned that neither Rew nor her daughter had accounts with the hospital.

Instead, investigators discovered that Rew was using the money to finance her lifestyle, including frequenting casinos in Oklahoma. Over a two-year period, Rew visited one of the casinos 167 times and the other casino 157 times over a six-month period.

"Sadly, this is a case in which the victim's heart was in the right place and the alleged perpetrator took advantage of that," said Prosecutor Eaton.

Rew is currently in Tarrant County Jail in Texas but Eatan stated he has already filed paperwork to extradite Rew to Hancock County where she will face her charges.

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Texas woman scams Indiana man out of $1.2 million

Man charged with counterfeiting, financial exploitation

HUNTINGTON — The following information was provided by criminal complaints filed in Cabell County Magistrate Court:

COUNTERFEITING: One person was arrested after allegedly exchanging counterfeit currency for legitimate bills with an elderly man Tuesday in Milton.

Joshua Lee Gibson, 26, was jailed at 4:25 p.m. Thursday. Authorities in Cabell County charged him with counterfeiting and financial exploitation of an elderly person. Bond was $11,000. According to the criminal complaint, the victim reported to the Milton Police Department with a claim that Gibson had asked for change for a $100 bill. The victim exchanged the large bill for four $20 bills and two $10 bills.

The victim stated he did not realize the bill was fake until he took it to the bank. The complaint states the responding officer observed Chinese markings along the back side of the bill.

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Man charged with counterfeiting, financial exploitation