Driver Accused Of Exploiting Elderly Lancaster Woman After Gaining Her Trust, Pawning Rings: PD
A Pennsylvania man hired to drive an elderly woman to medical appointments gained her trust before taking thousands of dollars, pawning her rings, and misusing her credit card, police say.
Timothy Hollis, 52, of Fleetwood, was arrested by West Lampeter Township and Strasburg Borough police around 7:20 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, in the 1200 block of Historic Drive in Strasburg, according to an updated release issued Friday, Oct. 2.
The investigation began July 28, when a West Lampeter Township officer was called to the 600 block of Willow Valley Square for a report of ongoing financial exploi…
'Just Let Go': Home Health Aide Stabbed Massapequa Woman, 84, Whispered For Her To Die, DA Says
A home health aide accused of stabbing an 84-year-old Long Island woman and urging her to “just let go” was formally charged with attempted murder.
Amanda Fraser, 23, of Queens, was indicted by a Nassau County jury Friday, Nov. 21, for second-degree attempted murder, multiple counts of assault, and endangering a vulnerable elderly person.
The alleged attack happened around 2 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, inside the victim’s Massapequa home on Bay Drive, where Fraser was employed as an overnight home health aide, as Daily Voice reported.
Fraser allegedly walked into the woman’s bedroom, pulled out…
$121K Elder Scam In Plainview Lands Queens Man In ICE Custody: Police
A Queens man is accused of attempting to swindle an elderly victim out of more than $121,000 in an elaborate scam, Nassau County Police announced on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
According to detectives, the 64-year-old victim received a message on his iPad claiming it had been compromised. He called the number displayed on the screen and was told to withdraw his funds from the bank to protect them.
Between Thursday, Oct. 9 and Wednesday, Oct. 16, the victim withdrew over $121,000, which he handed over to several unknown men, investigators said. On Monday, Oct. 20 at 5:53 p.m., the victim realized he w…
Scammer Busted After Tricking Senior Into Paying $40K To ‘Clear Her Name' In Yonkers: Cops
A Brooklyn man accused of scamming an elderly Westchester County woman out of $40,000 by pretending to be part of a federal investigation has been arrested, police announced.
Zhi Wei Zhao, 34, was charged in connection with the scheme, which victimized a Yonkers woman in April, Yonkers Police said on Friday, Oct. 17.
According to the department, Zhao allegedly contacted the victim in April through an email claiming she was under investigation. The message included a phone number for her to call.
When she did, Zhao reportedly convinced her to withdraw $40,000 to “clear pending ch…
Maryland ‘Clown’ Who Scammed 80-Year-Old Virginia Woman Out Of $26K Busted In Sting: Sheriff
An 80-year-old Virginia woman was conned out of more than $26,000 by crooks posing as US Treasury agents — until detectives set a trap that ended with a Maryland man in cuffs, officials said.
The suspect, James Smith, 30, of Gaithersburg, was arrested after showing up to grab another $10,000 in cash from the victim, the Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office said.
Deputies were waiting.
Smith had already squeezed $26,000 from the woman over several days, investigators said.
He and others pretended to be Treasury agents, threatening the woman with “criminal charges” unless she handed…
Whiting Nursing Home Staffers Charged After Elderly Man Pepper Sprayed: AG
A 56-year-old Manchester nurse at a nursing home in Ocean County was indicted by a grand jury for assaulting an 87-year-old man earlier this year, authorities announced Tuesday, Sept. 16.
On Wednesday, March 19, at 8:52 p.m., officers responded to Whiting Gardens, at 3000 Hilltop Rd. in Whiting for a fight between staff and the man, Manchester police said.
The patient, who was diagnosed with dementia, depression, and anxiety had become agitated and began damaging property, Lisa Erickson, a nurse at the facility told officers, police said. The patient was ripping a computer mouse…
3 Manchester Nursing Home Staffers Charged After Elderly Man Pepper Sprayed: Police
Three people at a nursing home charged after an 87-year-old man was pepper sprayed, authorities announced on Tuesday, April 15.
On Wednesday, March 19, at 8:52 p.m., officers responded to Whiting Gardens, at 3000 Hilltop Rd. for a fight between staff and the man, Manchester police said.
The patient, who was diagnosed with dementia, depression, and anxiety had become agitated and began damaging property, Lisa Erickson, a nurse at the facility told officers, police said. Erikson said she deployed pepper spray to de-escalate the situation, and the man was confined to his room, pending the arri…
Hidden Camera Catches Caretaker Punching, Grabbing Elderly Woodmere Woman, Police Say
An elderly Long Island woman was physically abused by a woman tasked with caring for her, police said.
The 83-year-old Woodmere resident’s legal guardian grew concerned after discovering severe bruising on the woman’s body in late February, Nassau County Police said.
When the guardian questioned the victim’s caretaker, 36-year-old Merlyn Fredericks, she said the victim had fallen on multiple occasions, police said.
The concerned legal guardian then placed a hidden camera inside the home, which captured Fredericks punching, grabbing, and yanking the elderly victim, according to police. Th…
Father-Daughter Duo Who Stole $230K From Elderly Victim In Kingston Dodges Prison
A father and daughter who scammed a 92-year-old woman out of more than $230,000 in Ulster County won’t spend a day in prison.
Frank Whittaker, 56, of Kingston, and his daughter, Christine Ellsworth, 39, of Accord, were sentenced to probation and ordered to pay restitution in Ulster County Court on Tuesday, March 4.
The daddy-daughter duo gained the victim’s trust by helping with yard work and household tasks, according to the New York Attorney General’s office. Over time, Whittaker convinced the woman to grant him Power of Attorney over her finances.
But instead of managing her money resp…
Daughter Accused Of Brutally Beating 87-Year-Old Mom In Elverson: PSP
A Chester County woman is facing multiple charges after allegedly assaulting her elderly mother, Pennsylvania State Police announced Monday, Dec. 9.
Kathi Haston, 67, is accused of attacking her 87-year-old mother, Carol Haston, in their home on the 10 block of Stable Drive in Elverson Borough, authorities said.
Carol Haston was transported to Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center by her daughter on Friday, Dec. 6, but medical staff suspected recent physical abuse and contacted police, according to a release.
Investigators said Carol Haston suffered a brain bleed, significant bru…
Son, Daughter's Abuse Led To Death Of Roosevelt Woman, Police Say
A brother and sister from Long Island are accused of abusing their elderly mother to the point the woman died.
Nassau County Police were called to a Roosevelt home at around 2:40 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, to perform a welfare check.
Inside, officers found 85-year-old Carmel McDougall unresponsive. She was taken to a hospital and died days later, on Wednesday, Sept. 18.
An investigation found that McDougall’s 65-year-old son, Michael McDougall, was responsible for the injuries that caused her death, police said.
Detectives also determined that McDougall’s 55-year-old daughter, Nichole Mull…
New City Couple Admits Killing Grandfather, Stealing His Belongings, DA Says
A Hudson Valley man and woman have pleaded guilty to murder and manslaughter in connection with the strangling death of the man's grandfather.
According to the Rockland County District Attorney's Office, the couple "brutally" killed the victim in 2023 at a house in New City sometime between Sunday, Jan. 29, and Monday, Jan. 30.
On Monday, Sept.16, Rockland County resident Constantinos Doonan, also known as "Dino," aged 32, of New City, pleaded guilty to the murder of his grandfather, Constantinos Mastakouris.
Additionally, Jo-Ann Haughey, age 26, also of New City, admitted to manslau…
Hudson Valley Caregiver Steals $164K From Elderly Victim, DA Says
A Hudson Valley woman was sentenced to 5 to 15 years in prison for stealing thousands from a man she was supposed to be a caregiver for.
Dutchess County resident Sabrina Aboshanab, age 33, of Wappingers Falls, was sentenced on Wednesday, Aug. 14, and ordered to pay $164,332.26 in restitution, said Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi.
Aboshanab became acquainted with the victim around 2017 and eventually moved into his home, where she lived rent-free in exchange for agreeing to act as a caregiver for the 81-year-old, who had no relatives to assist him, court docum…
$280K Scam: Father, Daughter Accused Of Stealing From Hudson Valley Woman
A man and daughter have been accused of stealing over $280,000 from a Hudson Valley resident.
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Tuesday, Aug. 13, the indictments and arrests of Ulster County residents Frank Whittaker, age 56, of Kingston, and his daughter Christine Ellsworth, age 38, of Accord, for allegedly stealing more than $280,000 from a vulnerable elderly victim.
After earning the trust of the victim, an Ulster County resident, by providing lawn maintenance and assisting with household tasks, Whittaker and Ellsworth gained access to the then-92-year-old’s checkbook …
4x Felon, Mount Joy Home Healthcare Worker Accused Of $2K+ Fraud: Police
A home healthcare worker – who is also a convicted felon – is accused of defrauding a sick, elderly woman out of over $2,000, Mount Joy police announced on Monday.
Akai Jesus Rosario, 38 of Mount Joy, was working as a caretaker for a woman who was completely dependent on his care when he allegedly committed fraud and neglectful abuse, according to the police release on May 6.
While working for the woman between Nov. 2023 and Jan. 2024, he gained "access [to] her online accounts and complete unauthorized transfers totaling over $2,000.00 to his own accounts," the police stated in the r…
PA Man Steals $50K+ From 'Elderly, Care-Dependent Relatives,' Police Say
A 21-year-old man has been charged after allegedly stealing over $50,000 from "his elderly, care-dependent relatives," police said in a release on Wednesday, Nov. 8.
Joshua Wood of Cleona was taken into custody by the Pennsylvania State Police on a warrant out of the Derry Township Police Department at approximately 11:57 a.m. on Nov. 7, as detailed in the release.
Wood is accused of using his "elderly relatives' bank accounts" to fraudulently take money for himself, the police explained.
"He utilized credit cards, forged checks, and unauthorized access to their bank…
61-Year-Old Woman Hospitalized After Robbery Outside Tewksbury Bank
A pair of middle-aged purse snatchers attacked a woman outside a Middlesex County bank, sending her to the hospital, officials say.
Keith Fauth, of Haverhill, and Christine Brogna, of Laconia, New Hampshire, were arrested on Wednesday, Aug. 9, after they allegedly shoved a 61-year-old woman to the ground of a bank's parking lot located at 1527 Main Street in Tewksbury, according to the Tewksbury Police Department.
Fauth, age 50, and Brogna, age 51, pushed a woman to the ground to steal her purse, an initial investigation suggests. The 61-year-old victim needed to be hospitalized…
