Woman charged with felony elderly exploitation after camera catches Wayne County theft, deputies say

by: Rodney Overton

GOLDSBORO, N.C. (WNCN) — Deputies in central North Carolina said Monday that a health care worker was caught on camera stealing from an elderly victim.

The incident was first reported in early March when a man who was caring for an elderly person told deputies about a felony larceny, according to a Wayne County Sheriff’s Office news release.

The man told deputies on March 3 that money was missing from the elderly person’s wallet — “so much” money was missing that the man set up a video camera to monitor the wallet, deputies said in the release.

Nine days later, the man filed another report with deputies about the matter.

“The camera caught a health care employee who was coming to the residence on a regular basis, going through the victim’s wallet,” deputies said in the news release.

Late last month, warrants were filed for the arrest of Latavia Sharie Glonesya Brown, 24, deputies said.

Brown was caught and charged with three felony counts of elderly exploitation on March 26 in Greene County, according to deputies.

A court date is set for Brown in Wayne County District Court the morning of April 16, according to court records.

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Woman charged with felony elderly exploitation after camera catches Wayne County theft, deputies say

Elderly exploitation victim uses his story to warn other vulnerable seniors

Story by Shawna Khalafi

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) - Last month, FOX5 introduced you to Robert Cartagena — a 92-year-old man with dementia, who was taken advantage of and scammed out of thousands of dollars.

Now, he’s warning his elderly community to beware of who you trust.

“A lot of it I’ve forgotten, which is probably the best thing in the long run,” said Cartagena.

Cartagena is back with his neighbors-turned-family at Las Vegas Jaycees Senior Community Park after he was taken advantage of, scammed out of thousands of dollars, and left alone in an unfamiliar place without identification.

“One of our residents was exploited by someone that he trusted, and he lost everything. He lost his home, he lost his money, he was basically dropped off at a hospice to die with only the clothes on his back,” said Rob Deken, Community Manager at Las Vegas Jaycees Senior Community Park.

In 2023, Cartagena gave one of his neighbors financial Power of Attorney to help him manage his daily life.

Instead, he says she took it over, racked up charges on his credit card, even sold his house, and kept some of the profits.

“Somebody took over my life and just brought me out there to nowhere’s land that I didn’t know anybody. In a nutshell, that’s just about what it is, taking advantage of somebody else who can’t help themselves,” he said.

Now, Cartagena is sharing his story as a warning to other vulnerable seniors.

“Be aware. That’s the main thing is be aware, especially when you get to our age.”

He hosted a gathering at Las Vegas Jaycees Senior Community Park Saturday to educate his neighbors about the red flags and resources available.

“They’ve been asking about him some people thought he was dead. So we wanted to get him out here so everybody that he’s still here,” said Deken. “He’s not doing as well as he was before this lady got a hold of him, but he’s doing better than when we picked him up.”

Clark County Commissioner Michael Naft also helped organize Saturday’s exploitation education event.

The neighbor who allegedly exploited Cartagena is set to appear in court this month on a felony charge of exploitation of an elderly or vulnerable person. If convicted, she could face up to five years in prison and ten thousand dollars in fines, plus restitution.

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Elderly exploitation victim uses his story to warn other vulnerable seniors

Elderly exploitation, law officer impersonation charges facing Dothan man

by Michelle Mann

A Dothan man is in Houston County Jail charged with first-degree financial exploitation of the elderly and impersonation of a police officer.

Kendrale Lafayette Magwood, 37, was arrested by Dothan Police Department Narcotics Investigators Monday, DPD Public Information Officer Lt. Scott Owens said.

"Investigators say Magwood, posing as a law enforcement officer, used a ruse to convince the victim to buy narcotics from various sources over the course of two months," Owens said. "After receiving information about Magwood, DPD investigators used their own ruse to apprehend Magwood without incident."

Owens said that on Dec. 5, the victim reported to police that he had been used by a law enforcement officers as an informant to buy suspected narcotics for nearly two months. "The victim said he had been made to purchase the 'narcotics' with his own money even though the substances turned out to be imitation controlled substances," Owens said. "The victim had been made to believe he would receive leniency on a previous criminal charge."

Owens said DPD investigators waited for Magwood to set up another “operation” and took him into custody. "Evidence confirming Magwood posed as a law enforcement officer was found in his possession," Owens said. 

Magwood is in the Houston County Jail in Dothan with no bond.

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Elderly exploitation, law officer impersonation charges facing Dothan man

Bill removing statute of limitations of elderly abuse, exploitation makes voting file

GUAM—With the support of his legislative colleagues, Democrat Senator Dwayne T.D. San Nicolas successfully moved Bill No. 243-37 (COR) onto the third reading file during regular session on July 2 at the Guam Congress Building in Hagåtña.

Bill 243-37 will remove the statute of limitations for financial and property exploitation of an elderly person or individual with disability, should it pass into local law. According to the National Council on Aging, up to five million older Americans are abused every year, and the annual loss by victims of financial abuse is estimated to be at least $36.5 billion. The council also states that in about 60% of elderly abuse incidents, the perpetrator is a family member, usually the spouse or the children of the victim.

“The number of exploited elderly is astounding and justifies the creation of legislation to combat this issue,” said San Nicolas, author of Bill 243-37, a first of its kind in the nation. “All of these findings by the National Council on Aging are alarming, something which our manåmko’ and persons with disabilities need to be protected from by putting the law on their side. Financial exploitation of our manåmko’ and individuals with disabilities is a heinous crime that should not have a statute of limitations.”

If enacted into Guam law, this legislation will remove the statute of limitations in cases of elderly and disabled individuals’ financial exploitation and abuse. With this legislative measure, elderly and individuals with disabilities, victims of financial exploitation and abuse, will be able to pursue justice without the added worry of a deadline to file a lawsuit.

“As a government entity that serves the people, the Guam Legislature needs to enact legislation that would protect and help the manamko’ and people with disabilities find justice in incidents of financial exploitation and abuse,” he said.

Moreover, Guam Attorney General Douglas Moylan endorsed the bill during its public hearing on April 1.

“It’s about time,” said Moylan at the April 1 public hearing. “In our court system, there are too many of our manåmko’ that are being found out in guardianship cases and in probate cases that their lifetime savings have been taken from them, especially from their own family members that are ‘caregivers’. As we age everybody’s memories through the natural process become not as sharp as they used to be. I applaud the sponsor of the bill, Senator San Nicolas, for taking up this challenge. Our code is in need of protection right now. Our manåmko’ are in need of protection out there. They need to have the tools to do that. We, the AG’s office, fully endorse it.”

This shall become effective upon enactment. (PR)

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Bill removing statute of limitations of elderly abuse, exploitation makes voting file

Clark County fire battalion chief sentenced for elderly exploitation

Steven Broadwell (Henderson Police Department)

By Michael Bell

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) - A battalion chief for the Clark County Fire Department has pleaded guilty and was sentenced for exploiting an older or vulnerable person, according to court records.

Steven Broadwell, 52, was taken into custody and booked into the Henderson Detention Center earlier this year.

On Wednesday, Broadwell was sentenced to 30 days in jail and given credit for time served of 30 days. He was fined a total of $178 in administrative fees.

“He has been a battalion chief since Sep. 8, 2018. As one of 13 battalion chiefs, he is responsible for a portion of the eastern Las Vegas Valley, generally east of Maryland Parkway,” a source from Clark County Fire said in January.

Clark County said Broadwell is currently on unpaid leave.

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Clark County fire battalion chief sentenced for elderly exploitation

Whiskey Creek woman arrested, accused of elderly exploitation

Patti Newcome. (CREDIT: Lee County Sheriff's Office)

FORT MYERS

A Whiskey Creek woman has been arrested and accused of exploiting an elderly person she was hired to care for during the pandemic.

According to the Fort Myers Police Department, Patti Newcomer is suspected of stealing more than $63,000 for her personal spree which included grocery runs, a car mechanic bill and many gift cards.

Police say Newcomer did not have the victim’s permission to spend the money.

The investigation lasted a year and a half but it eventually led to her arrest.

Newcomer faces four counts of first-degree of exploiting an elderly person, one count first-degree felony of theft of a person over 65 years of age, one first-degree felony count of criminal use of personal identification information, and one second-degree felony count of criminal use of personal identification information.

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Whiskey Creek woman arrested, accused of elderly exploitation

7-month investigation into elderly exploitation leads to CCFD chief’s arrest

 

Henderson police arrested a Clark County Fire Department battalion chief on charges of elderly exploitation after a seven-month investigation, they said

Source:
7-month investigation into elderly exploitation leads to CCFD chief’s arrest

Attorney General Moody’s Office Charges Man for Bilking Seniors with Streaming Service Investment Scheme

News Provided By

Attorney General of Florida

December 20, 2022, 20:40 GMT 

 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution is charging a man with felony fraud and elderly exploitation counts for deceiving more than 300 victims, many of whom are seniors, into investing in a phony streaming-service company. According to a joint Florida Office of Financial Regulation and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigation, Anthony Hernandez operated a criminal-fraud scheme defrauding victims by advertising investment opportunities in a streaming-service company, Oi2Go, on television and social media. Over the course of 13 months, Hernandez bilked more than $1.6 million from victims.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “This defendant placed misleading advertisements on television and social media, tricking victims, including many seniors, into believing that their investment would bring back big returns. Instead, the defendant used their money to pay personal expenses. Working with state and federal partners, we have shut down this devious investment scheme and will hold the defendant accountable in court.”

According to the investigation, Hernandez repeatedly misled a total of 327 victims throughout the U.S. to invest with Oi2Go. Twenty-two of the victims are located in Florida. Through television and social media ads, Hernandez promoted Oi2Go as a company with experience in the field of streaming movies and music, and that the company would repeat the achievements of Netflix, Facebook and Amazon in the stock market. Yet, the investigation uncovered that neither Oi2Go nor Hernandez are licensed or registered as brokers or investment advisors.

When prospective investors called the number listed on the advertisements, Oi2Go representatives collected bank account information and authorization to process payments. Provided testimonies expressed that Oi2Go representatives repeatedly called and emailed to push victims into buying more shares.

The investigation revealed that company representatives used verbal strategies to make victims believe Oi2Go was a leader in content and service, with a network of 1,700 online radios and more than 1,000 affiliated radio stations. After further investigation, authorities did not find any evidence of such a network.

Hernandez stole more than $1.6 million from victims nationwide, including more than $140,000 from Floridians. The investigation found that Hernandez spent the money received from victims on an excessive amount of varied personal expenses, salary payments, cash withdrawals, retail and jewelry purchases, restaurants and credit card payments.

Hernandez is charged with one count of organized fraud of $50,000 or more, a first-degree felony; one count of exploitation of an elderly person or disabled adult of $50,000 or more, a first-degree felony; exploitation of an elderly person or disabled adult of less than $10,000, a third-degree felony; one count of sale of securities by unregistered dealer, a third-degree felony; and one count of cash or deposit with intent to defraud, a third-degree felony.

In addition to these criminal charges, Hernandez will face a civil complaint by the SEC.

Attorney General Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will prosecute the case.

Source:
Attorney General Moody’s Office Charges Man for Bilking Seniors with Streaming Service Investment Scheme

Former Port Orange Police Sgt. Steven Braddock sentenced in elderly exploitation case

Former Port Orange Police Sgt. Steven Braddock and his wife, Mary, were accused of exploiting his mother out of real estate and money.

Frank Fernandez Frank Fernandez, The Daytona Beach News-Journal

 

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Former Port Orange Police Sgt. Steven Braddock sentenced in elderly exploitation case

Bond reduced in elderly exploitation case

by Sandy Hodson

With the prosecutor's support for treatment over possible punishment, an Augusta man who is accused of taking his elderly father's money was granted a bond reduction Tuesday.

Ryan Nair, 42, was arrested last August after an investigation began when months passed without payment for the care of an 84-year-old dementia resident of a Weed Street personal care home. According to an earlier report in The Augusta Chronicle, when an officer tracked down Nair at a local hotel, Nair said he spent all the money supporting his drug habit.

Nair has pleaded not guilty to three counts of exploitation or intimidation of an elderly or disabled adult.

Tuesday in Richmond County Superior Court, Nair's defense attorney, Kelly Williamson, asked Judge J. Wade Padgett to reduce Nair's $100,000 bond set in September. Because the district attorney has asked about resolving the case with drug treatment, Williamson said her office has been working to find a program for Nair.

Assistant District Attorney Geoffrey Alls consented to a bond reduction as long as Nair is kept away from his father's money and is in a treatment program.

Padgett reduced bond to $5,000 for each charge. Nair must pay in advance for the startup cost of electronic monitoring and the daily expense of probation supervision. A drug treatment program is required, Padgett ruled. Nair is not to have any contact with his father or possess alcohol or illegal drugs.

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Bond reduced in elderly exploitation case

GBI: Man arrested in elderly exploitation case

Jeffery Hires was arrested in connection to an elderly exploitation case. (Source: Brooks County Jail)

THOMASVILLE, Ga. (WALB) - A man was arrested and is facing exploitation charges in three different counties, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Jeffrey Hires, 31, is facing two counts each of exploitation and intimidation of disabled adults, elderly persons, and residents in Brooks, Colquitt and Thomas counties. He was arrested in Camden County on unrelated, outstanding warrants and then taken to Brooks County Jail on Jan. 27. He was later taken to Thomas County Jail to be served arrest warrants and then served with the Colquitt and Brooks warrants after his release there, according to the GBI.

The charges stem from a theft investigation surrounding an elderly couple in Brooks County, according to the GBI.

The GBI began an investigation in November 2020.

The investigation found that more than $20,000 was stolen.

“Agents expect that number to increase as they receive additional financial records related to the thefts from various businesses,” the GBI said in a release.

The victims’ bank card was inappropriately used at various locations in Brooks, Colquitt and Thomas counties, according to the GBI.

Additional charges are expected to be presented at grand jury when presented in Brooks, Thomas and Colquitt County at a later date,” the release states.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the GBI Region 9 Thomasville office at (229) 225-4090.

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GBI: Man arrested in elderly exploitation case

Elderly exploitation suspect to remain in jail

by Sandy Hodson

A woman jailed three years ago for multiple charges of neglect and exploitation of an elderly adult will remain in custody because she hasn't been able to post the $20,000 bond.

Attorneys for Julia Hunter, 63, tried to persuade the judge during a Richmond County Superior Court bond hearing Tuesday that her situation is unfair. She has been jailed for three years because she has no money of her own or family able to make a $20,000 bond. If and when she could stand trial is unknown. The chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court suspended all jury trials in the state last month because of the worsening pandemic.

Hunter has pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against her in a 15-count indictment.

She was arrested Dec. 25, 2017, about a month after she was found in the home of an 88-year-old retired medical school professor. The smell of chemicals from the manufacturing of methamphetamine combined with the smell of dirt, mold and rotting food made the home unbearable, according to the officer who responded to the family's and neighbor's request for a welfare check on the elderly man.

Two other people – John Unger, 32, and Grace McCarthy, 26 – also face charges in the same case. They have each pleaded not guilty and are free on bond.

Hunter has no history of felony convictions. The prosecutor consented to the $20,000 bond, but objected to Hunter's request to be released on her own recognizance. Judge James G. Blanchard Jr. rejected the request for an own-recognizance bond in August 2019 and again Tuesday.

Defense attorney Andrew Williams found a 12-week in-patient rehabilitation program for Hunter. Assistant District Attorney Tom Watkins opposed the request for the OR bond Tuesday.

Blanchard said Tuesday that he might reconsider bond if the defense can convince him of Hunter's stabilityto reduce chances of possible flight or harm to the community.

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Elderly exploitation suspect to remain in jail

Deputies search for woman who allegedly stole nearly $300k from elderly person

by Megan Butler

Sheri Stallings is seen in an old mugshot provided by the Wagoner County Sheriff's Office.

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — The Wagoner County Sheriff's Office is looking for a woman who they say stole approximately $283,000 from an elderly person.

Deputies say 51-year-old Sheri Stallings has an outstanding warrant for elderly exploitation.

She's described as five feet, six inches tall, weighing about 125 pounds with brown eyes. Stallings was last know to be living in the Broken Arrow-Coweta area. 

If you have any information, please call the sheriff's office at 918-485-3124 or submit an online tip. As always, you may remain anonymous.

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Deputies search for woman who allegedly stole nearly $300k from elderly person

99-year-old woman in quarantine, but nurse went on a spending spree, police say

A 99-year-old woman has remained isolated for months in a Sarasota assisted living facility due to the coronavirus pandemic, but her credit card was being used all over Manatee and Sarasota counties since early July.

According to Sarasota police, a 29-year-old nurse who worked at the nursing home is responsible.

Police say Yolanda Taite made multiple purchases of more than $2,000, including at a liquor store and nail salon.

Detectives launched an investigation in early July after family members of the elderly woman noticed multiple charges to the victim’s credit card, knowing it was not possible for her to be out of the assisted living facility during the pandemic.

Charges were made at local restaurants, clothing stores and retail outlets in both Bradenton and Sarasota.

Detectives began following the trail of expenditures and collected video surveillance of the transactions.

The videos showed Taite and an unknown male suspect in some of the transactions, on her own, with another female, and with a group of children during other transactions.

While making purchases with the unidentified male suspect, he used a credit card of an 85-year-old elderly male who also lives at the same nursing home where Taite worked, according to the Sarasota police report. She was terminated upon her arrest.

According to the arrest report, Taite later used that same card at a nail salon and when questioned about the male’s name on the card she was using to pay for services, told the employee, “It belongs to a guy I take care of,” according to the report.

Detectives say on the video at a local liquor store, Taite is wearing her work name tag.

The name of the facility was not released, but police say Taite began to work there in February 2019. Management told police that Taite had full access to patients’ rooms where credit cards and Social Security cards are accessible.

Taite was charged with two counts of grand theft from a person over the age of 65, and an arrest warrant has been issued for her to additionally charge her with elderly exploitation after a third family has come forward with a similar complaint.

The investigation is ongoing and detectives believe there may be additional victims. A search for the male suspect also is underway.

Anyone with information is asked to call Sarasota Police Detective Jessica Sullivan at 941-263-6070 or call Crime Stoppers at 941-366-TIPS.

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99-year-old woman in quarantine, but nurse went on a spending spree, police say

Elderly exploitation case continues to grand jury

by Cliff Williams

Bettye Baker

A charge of first-degree financial exploitation of an elderly person against Bettye Wells Baker will go to a grand jury.

Baker, 56, of Alexander City appeared before Tallapoosa County district court Judge Kim Taylor as prosecutors presented enough evidence to convince Taylor proceedings should continue.

Alexander City Police Department Det. Drew Machen said he got the case when the victim and her representative at a local bank called the department because the victim thought she was missing $95,000 from her accounts. Machen said the victim, a family member of Baker, reported the money went missing over a period of two years.

“(The victim) explained to me she was living in California and moved here,” Machen said. “She told me she added Baker to her accounts.”

A representative from the victim’s bank testified there were three joint accounts listing the victim and Baker as owners — a money market account, a certificate of deposit and a checking account. The representative said the money market account had no debit card and up to six checks per month could be written on it. The representative said she noticed nothing unusual about the transactions on the accounts.

Machen said he subpoenaed bank records through the district attorney’s office and determined Baker transferred about $44,000 from the victim into three of Baker’s personal accounts.

“It went to two separate accounts with Ms. Baker’s name and another with Ms. Baker and her husband,” Machen said.

Machen said Baker did not have power of attorney rights for the victim. He said the victim told her she added Baker to help out with paying bills.

“(The victim) said because of her age, her memory wasn’t as good as it once was,” Machen said.

Machen said some of the funds transferred from the victim’s accounts by Baker could be attributed to work on the victim’s home air conditioning system.

Machen said Baker assisted the victim with other transactions related to the move from California.

“When she moved her she had a vehicle,” Machen said. “It was registered in California and transferred to just Ms. Baker. It is now in the name of (the victim).”

Machen said he didn’t know if the victim had a driver’s license or insurance on the car.

Other allegations were made by the victim against Baker which Machen could not support with criminal charges.

“(The victim) said Ms. Baker was not allowing her to leave her residence,” Machen said. “She said Ms. Baker was parking behind her. I didn’t find a criminal act.”

Machen said the victim’s car was blocked by Baker’s car in the driveway.

Baker supplied the court signature cards from the bank showing her as one of the joint account holders through her attorney Derrick Blythe.

Machen said he never spoke with Baker in the investigation and banking records were initially supplied by the victim.

“So the entire case is based on what (the victim) told you and what (the bank representative) told you and what you got in the subpoena,” Blythe said.

Taylor bound the case over to a Tallapoosa County grand jury to determine if Baker should be indicted to move the case to trial in circuit court.

Financial exploitation of an elderly person in the first degree is a Class B felony and if found guilty, Baker could be sentenced to between two and 20 years in a state prison.

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Elderly exploitation case continues to grand jury

Home health aide for St. Pete woman who suffered stroke accused of stealing thousands

The 72-year-old victim had suffered a stroke that left her paralyzed on the right side. Her aide took over her online banking and debit card, police say.

Shantel Monique Byrd, 27, of St. Petersburg, is accused of stealing from an elderly woman while a home health aide. [Pinellas County Sheriff's Office]

By Chris Tisch

A woman hired as a home health aide to help an elderly woman who had suffered a stroke has been arrested on charges that she stole thousands of dollars from the woman over more than three years.

Shantel Monique Byrd, 27, of St. Petersburg, is facing felony charges of fraudulently using another person’s information and elderly exploitation. She was arrested Thursday and booked at the Pinellas County jail, where bail was set at $40,000. She was released the following day.

Byrd was brought in as a home health aide more than three years ago after the elderly woman, then 72, had a stroke that caused paralysis on the right side of her body, according to an arrest report filed by St. Petersburg police.

Byrd stole the woman’s debit card and transferred money from her client’s savings account to her checking account 11 times. She also hid bank statements in the closet at the elderly woman’s St. Petersburg home, arrest reports state.

Byrd called the bank and, using the woman’s personal information, changed the PIN on her debit card and the online log-in to her bank account. 

The elderly woman’s credit card was fraudulently used to make 433 transactions totaling more than $34,000. Arrest reports state that police can prove that 168 of those transactions were done by Byrd in which she took more than $10,500.

The money was used for car payments, utility bills, cell phone payments, restaurant bills, on-line shopping, jail phone calls for Byrd’s boyfriend and paying off her boyfriend’s traffic citation, reports state.

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Home health aide for St. Pete woman who suffered stroke accused of stealing thousands

Pinellas woman hired as caretaker for 97-year-old woman stole from her, deputies say

Shirley Elizabeth Rayner, 52, of Tarpon Springs, is facing a charge of elderly exploitation. Deputies say she forged or altered checks belonging to a 97-year-old woman she was hired to help. [Pinellas County Sheriff's Office]

By Chris Tisch

A Pinellas County woman has been arrested after she forged or altered checks belonging to a 97-year-old woman she had been hired to help, Pinellas deputies report.

Shirley Elizabeth Rayner, 52, of Tarpon Springs, is facing a charge of elderly exploitation. The 97-year-old woman hired Rayner as an “in-home caretaker to assist her with activities of daily living” and paid her in check, arrest reports state.

At some point, the woman terminated Rayner’s employment. Months later, the elderly woman identified 60 checks totaling $46,903 that “appeared to have been altered after she signed it or where her signature had been forged,” arrest reports state.

Twenty-two of the checks had been cashed after Rayner was terminated and three had been cashed after the sheriff’s office began its investigation, reports state.

Rayner was booked at the Pinellas County jail Wednesday and released after posting $10,000 bail. 

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Pinellas woman hired as caretaker for 97-year-old woman stole from her, deputies say

Woman pleads not guilty in Las Vegas elderly exploitation case

Shelly Calderon leaves the courtroom after her initial arraignment at Regional Justice Center on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019, in Las Vegas. Calderon accused of siphoning upward of $13 million from the estate of an elderly Las Vegas couple pleaded not guilty to theft and elderly exploitation charges Wednesday. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

A woman accused of siphoning upward of $13 million from the estate of an elderly Las Vegas couple pleaded not guilty to theft and elderly exploitation charges Wednesday.

With seven counts each of theft and exploitation of an older/vulnerable person, Shelly Calderon, 50, faces one count of forgery and one count of offering a false instrument for filing or record.

Roughly $112,000 of the money prosecutors allege Calderon took was supposed to be used as part of Betty and Ralph McKnight’s purchase of the 138-acre Binion Ranch in Pahrump for $1 million in late 2016, according to an indictment.

Outside of court, Calderon’s attorney, Dominic Gentile, said he plans to take the case to trial.

“This lady is going to be found not guilty,” Gentile said, pointing to a March settlement agreement in a civil dispute between Calderon and Betty McKnight.

The indictment also alleges that between December 2016 and April 2017, Calderon transferred assets worth between $12.7 million and $13.4 million from what was known as the McKnight 1998 Trust into the Oakmont West 2016 trust, which Calderon controlled.

Calderon, a Pahrump insurance agent, “oversaw the amendment of (the McKnight’s) estate planning documents — to her favor — that had been in place for decades,” a Metro report said. Investigators found that Calderon “exploited the elderly couple prior to becoming their fiduciary, power of attorney and trust beneficiary. This fact tends to suggest Calderon’s financial motivation and pattern of exploiting the couple.”

The McKnights were married more than 65 years, until he died in April 2017 at age 90. At the end of his life, prosecutors alleged in the indictment, Ralph McKnight suffered from “cognitive defects as well as mobility issues.”

Prosecutors also said that Calderon liquidated a pair of insurance policies worth more than $250,000 owned byRalph McKnight and deposited the money into her own bank account.

Calderon later used one of Betty McKnight’s credit cards to pay $25,000 to attorney Robert Draskovich in the summer of 2017, while authorities were investigating Calderon and McKnight was suffering from dementia, according to court documents.

In August of that year, Calderon used more than $1 million from the Oakmont West 2016 trust to buy a home and 100 acres of land in Texas.

Calderon is due back in court in May.

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Woman pleads not guilty in Las Vegas elderly exploitation case

Augusta man pleads to elderly exploitation

An Augusta man accused of mismanaging a family member’s finances pleaded guilty Thursday to exploitation of the elderly.

Christopher Deaton, 56, entered his plea in Richmond County Superior Court. Judge Michael N. Annis accepted the negotiation plea of 20 years probation under the First Offender Act. Deaton agreed to pay $2,400 in restitution.

Deaton took control of a relative’s finances after her husband died in 2016. Without her consent or knowledge, Deaton transferred $46,000 into a second bank account, and he put $25,000 in a certificate of deposit under his wife’s name without her knowledge, said Assistant District Attorney Ashley Muller.

All of the money was returned to the victim, Muller said. The restitution was the cost of having to pay two vehicle insurance policies, she said.

Deaton apologized to the victim and the rest of his family Thursday.

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Augusta man pleads to elderly exploitation

Man arrested for elderly exploitation faces new child porn charges

DOTHAN, Ala. (WTVY) — On October 17th, Dothan Police arrested 65 year old Kevin George Hebert and charged him with four counts of financial exploitation of the elderly . During the course of the investigation, officers served a search warrant on Hebert’s phone, which led to more changes.

Police say his phone revealed two images of child pornography. Hebert was charged with two counts of Possession of Obscene Matter with people under 17 years old. Hebert's bond totals $30,000.00.

Officers are also searching Hebert’s home on Charlotte Ct., in Dothan, where they found more electronic devices.

Additional charges may be forthcoming.

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Man arrested for elderly exploitation faces new child porn charges