Escambia man arrested for allegedly financially exploiting 82-year-old

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — An Escambia County man has been arrested for allegedly financially exploiting an elderly Escambia resident.

On Thursday, Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) arrested Ira Roberts. According to the MFCU investigation, Mr Roberts systematically took more than $17,000 from the 82-year-old’s bank account over 18 months.

He reportedly spent the funds on personal bills and purchases from DoorDash, Netflix, and Amazon, among other stores.

“This man, while serving in a position of trust as a power of attorney, stole more than $17,000 from a senior victim’s bank account to use on himself,” said Ms Moody.

“It is shameful that instead of faithfully fulfilling the role of power of attorney, he stole thousands of dollars to pay his own utilities and bills from DoorDash, Netflix, Amazon and other stores. I am thankful for our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for stopping this exploitation.”

According to the investigation, Roberts, while in a position of trust with the senior victim, transferred more than $44,000 from the victim’s account into his account between June 2021 and December 2022.

Based on witness accounts, facility records, and bank records, Mr Roberts spent more than $17,000 of those transferred funds on personal expenses—not for the use or benefit of the victim.

Roberts faces one count of exploitation of an elderly person or disabled adult, less than $50,000—a second-degree felony.

Attorney General Moody’s MFCU will prosecute the case through an agreement with the State Attorney’s Office for the First Judicial Circuit.